Alice Catherine

If you’ve followed my outfits for a while now, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of vintage clothing in general. For some people, even the idea of vintage shopping is enough to put them off – a lot of us don’t like the idea of parting with our hard earned money if someone else has worn it first, or if it has a suspicious looking tear in the material. I completely understand why some people might not be the biggest fans of the whole vintage experience, but for me personally, I love nothing more than stumbling across the perfect vintage piece that my wardrobe has been crying out for. I get a real sense of accomplishment that doesn’t often present itself when shopping on the high street – a feeling of not only picking up an item that has a few stories to tell, but also that I’m investing a little more ethically…

By this, I just mean in the sense that I’m not buying endless fast fashion pieces, but rather pieces that are well made and likely to last. After all, if a vintage item has made it this far, it’s bound to last you for many years to come without falling apart. This can’t always be said for fast fashion brands (especially after a few washes) – I often find that I only get a few wears out of things, or that they bobble or become misshapen after the first week of ownership. I’m also of the opinion that vintage doesn’t have to cost the earth – during the past few years it’s almost become a brand itself, so a lot of well known vintage stores will significantly bump up the prices of items that are in reality, worth half the price. As much as I love to visit new vintage stores when I’m in a new city, my favourite way to source vintage for a long while now has been online. Particularly websites like Etsy, Ebay and Depop that advocate the notion of independent selling and allow us to pass on our once loved clothing to someone else who is likely to appreciate it more. It’s very true what they say – 0ne man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and I happen to be a born and bread treasure hunter…

If I told you that I picked up the above check blazer and satin gold blouse for under thirty pounds, would you believe me? I probably wouldn’t believe me either – they are a match made in heaven and just the statement pieces my wardrobe was lacking for the party season ahead. I find it really fun to mix up the new and the old, some of my most favourite looks are a combination of the two. I would definitely encourage you to go and check out your local vintage stores, or failing that, just get acquainted with some of the previously mentioned platforms. Entering as many key words as possible is essential, and make sure you get to see at least three to five images of the item before clicking that purchase button. Always always always check the sizing too – I happen keep tape measures all over the flat for when I need one handy, and they really do help to ease your mind when investing online. The outfit above is one that I’d happily wear to an event or after work drinks and feel completely comfortable in – both vintage pieces are in pristine condition, and work amazingly when paired with denim. I’ve also been wearing the blazer with jumpers underneath for a more daytime look, and something tells me that the gold blouse would work really well underneath a pinafore dress too. I’d love to hear what your favourite vintage purchases (if any) have been in the comments below and whether you agree that there’s just something a little more magical about wearing vintage…

Alice x

Photography by Adriana

Blazer – Vintage (similar here & here) | Blouse – Vintage (similar here) | Jeans – Whistles | Shoes – Office (similar here)| Bag – Zara | Earrings – Pamela Love

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