Fashion Minute!
It goes without saying that touring is great. It gives us a chance to get out of our routines and experience multitudes of different cities and cultures. Out of all the bonding activities bands can do on the road, one of our favorite things to do is hunt for vintage stores. Down south, it’s the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. in SF,Wasteland on Upper Haight is a veritable treasure chest.
We hear the term “vintage” thrown around a lot these days. From vintage cars to vintage cooking utensils,it seems that everything in
existence in the modern market has some kind of aged counterpart. The trouble with these aging pieces is deciphering whether it’s vintage, or simply old. Textbook vintage is supposed to be “of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality.” True “vintage” items have inherent value. That’s why it’s often confusing to go to a trendy new store and see a “vintage” section of dresses made from cheap synthetic fabrics. Thanks to my sister-in-law Clyde Blunt, I’ve picked up a few key shopping pointers and I’d like to share them with you.
1. Know your brands. When digging through piles of old garments at flea markets or thrift stores, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. Many sellers don’t realize they have a pair of Ferragamos in their pile of shoes or a vintage Coach bag in their bin of purses.
Just to name a few…
2. Quality. A true vintage item will be made out of the best and most durable materials. If the leather is still in pristine condition after 30 years, chances are it’s going to last for another 30 (with proper tlc, of course).
3. Vision. It’s important to know what looks good on your body. Keep your eyes peeled for a flattering bodice or an interesting pattern. The skirt length is always secondary–I get the majority of my found dresses hemmed. The majority of vintage skirts come to an awkward length at the shins. To modernize them, I take them up as far as I can while keeping the proportions of the dress in tact.
Like I mentioned, a lot of my inspiration comes from my fabulous sister Clyde Blunt. Take a look at her some of her look book photos from a recent shoot entitled Spring Belles!
Clyde brought this dress to a honeymoon photoshoot,and Lauren quickly snatched it up.
You can catch this lovely gem now on stage with honeymoon now!
and here’s one with me!
I hope this quick fashion minute helped inspire you to shop!
Now get to your nearest Goodwill and start digging.
