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Friday, April 17, 2015

༺ 2015 does 1950s: A Vintage Look via Modern Clothing ༻

1950s faux fur swing jacket statement piece | Lavender & Twill

Pastel pink to soften up this monochrome 1950's look | Lavender & Twill

Sweater clips add lovely detail, as do belts with ornate buckles | Lavender & Twill

1950s vintage look using modern clothing | Lavender & Twill 

Confession time! 

Though I’m sure you have already guessed from the title what I am going to say, here it is.

Only one item in this entire outfit is vintage. 

*le gasp!*

Can you guess which piece it is?  And no peeking at the outfit details!  (⌒ ▽⌒)

I hadn’t realized when I was putting together this outfit that most of it consisted of retail items ~ in fact, one third of the clothing is quite new, as in I bought it this season!

I think this makes an excellent point however ~ you don’t have to buy vintage to dress vintage.

I started with a simple A-line skirt, then channelled my inner Dita and popped a cropped t-shirt on to keep the outfit more ‘casual’ and less ‘business’ looking.  I added a pastel pink cardigan to soften the effect of the black and white monochrome {a styling decision influenced by Briar Rose from this post.}, a carved clasp belt for interest, and gold sweater clips for sparkle. Then I tossed my faux fur swing coat on top for some extra warmth and texture.

What I really liked about the whole ensemble is that any of these items could pass for vintage, and by styling them in an era appropriate manner, you really can’t tell that they are new.  Unless you happen to see the labels!

And that’s the great thing about vintage.  So much of it is about the way you style it, not what you are actually wearing.  It’s so easy to personalize ~ less vintage can be more with the addition of classic retail pieces, and it can be mixed up so that you look modern or like you stepped out of a photograph ~ you can really wear it any way you’d like too!

So tell me, do you have any favourite retail clothing that is “I can’t believe it’s not vintage!”? Which classic items do you buy from the shops rather than buying vintage?  Mine are cardigans.  I hardly ever buy vintage cardigans, and I have a box stuffed full, and overflowing, of cardigans of every shape and color.  It seems to work well for me. (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ

xox,

bonita

Fun note: I wore this outfit when going out for breakfast with friends and happened to have the most perfect hair day ever ~ right before I had to go get it cut at the hairdressers!  ( ゜-゜)…  Isn’t that always the way?!  

P.S. ~ It was the faux fur swing jacket.  I bought it at a Canberra vintage fair, and though I don’t know the exact era, I peg it as late 1950’s to early 1960’s.

༺ ♡ ༻

Tortoise Shell Bow Barrett | Chemist Warehouse
1950s Swinging Fluff Faux Fur Jacket | Vintage Fair, 2012
Cotton Candy Cardigan | Kmart, Current
Pop of Black Crop Tee | Kmart, Current
Pearl Starburst Sweater Pins | eBay
Butterfly Buckle Belt | New Look, Old
Houndstooth Fever Skirt  | Kmart, Current
Mimi Mary Jane Heels | New Look, Old

༺ ♡ ༻

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Youtube | Bonita Vear

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful!! :) You know how I feel about mixing vintage and modern so yay I love this outfit - that fur jacket is stunning! I sometimes think it doesn't get cold enough in Sydney to wear fur but I look forward to wearing more in the UK!

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  2. Fur is certainly fun element to add to an outfit; it feels so luxurious and glamorous, I know you'll enjoy the chance to add it to your stunning looks. :) ♡ ♡ ♡

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  3. You look gorgeous! I love how the pink cardigan and the red lipstick add a little punch to your black and white outfit, and I think the color palette really helps sell this as a vintage inspired look. And that is an absolutely perfect hair day! This whole look is just fabulous.
    I'm right there with you on dressing vintage using modern clothes. I'd say my wardrobe is about 60% modern and 40% vintage right now, so I'm regularly wearing a modern skirt and top with a vintage cardigan, or something like that. It's nice not to have to worry that you're going to destroy something delicate, frankly.

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  4. Ah you know this is right up my street - virtually my entire wardrobe is modern, but often styled to look vintage, so I definitely approve! You look great, that skirt is so fab. CC x

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  5. It is a lovely outfit and it is good to see what can be done to style modern outfits in a vintage way. I have a houndstooth fit and flare dress which looks 1950's but is modern and I wear it loads.

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  6. Oh, I so know what you are talking about! When I first started wearing vintage, I didn't have any children. Three babies later {that are rapidly turning into rambunctious toddlers!} and I worry all the time about stains and strains, the nemesis of every vintage wearer.


    I find I'm turning increasingly to modern-posed-as-vintage pieces, and reproduction because it's just that much easier to wear and take care of. :)

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  7. And you always look stunning Cici, so that certainly is a lovely way to wear vintage inspired looks. :D

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  8. I have been loving the 1950's looks that have hit the shops; they really have been great for fleshing out my wardrobe! Fit and flare are the best. ; )

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  9. I was always a bit worried about ruining vintage pieces, and now that I am (like you, I imagine) routinely pulled by little hands and covered with milk/banana/drool/avocado etc, I am leaning even more that way!

    The beauty of classic pieces is that they really have lasted the test of time and can be styled in so many different ways. Your choices in this outfit are an impeccable example!

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  10. Yes, little children really do make you worry about wearing vintage! That's why I tend to reserve it for outings I know that I don't have to be so concerned about it getting wrecked ~ and change out of it immediately afterwards!

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  11. Your outfit is so beautiful! I love that skirt, and your sweater clips are so cute. Also, may I add that your curly hair is just adorable? :) I love vintage style fashion, but everything I wear is reproduction vintage. I would love to own an actual vintage piece one day :).


    xo, Serli
    www.lesoleilchic.blogspot.com

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  12. Thank you Serli! <3
    Reproduction vintage is great, and so is actual vintage. To be honest, I love them both but I'm glad there are so many vintage stand-in options now! There certainly wasn't a few years ago when I started wearing vintage style. :)

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