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Vintage Fashion Style Tips

"How to Wear Vintage: The Key Elements of Vintage Fashion"

You can either make or break your outfit with vintage. If you overdo it with heaps of accessories, layers and patterns, it'll totally break your look. If you've decided to wear vintage but still want to look modern and chic, scroll further down for my Vintage Fashion Style Tips.

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How Do You Wear Vintage Clothing?

From Knitting Bureau '48 Sewing Patterns

Pick one vintage garment and let it be your outfit's center-piece! Clothes and accessories that are older than you deserve this spotlight.

If you're wearing a colorful boho dress, keep the rest simple!

That means:

Add a few basic accessories that don't draw too much attention (eg. plain jewelry in gold or silver, plain leather bag)
Add modern pieces to create an up-to-date vintage look (eg. gladiator shoes, a plain belt around the waist)

If you want to tone down the dress, add a plain black cardigan!

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How Many Vintage Clothes and Accessories Can I Wear in One Outfit?

As long as it doesn't look like you came out from the Hollywood set of a Victorian movie then you'll look chic. Vintage is not a costume. The trick here is to keep your outfit balanced with 50/50 vintage and modern pieces. This rule applies to both vintage fashion and the current fashion trends.

So if you choose to wear a vintage blouse, you'll need to balance it with modern pants or skirt. Or if you go for a vintage dress, a pair of high heeled modern sandals will do -- imagine a long maxi dress from the 70's with modern open toe wedge sandals. How gorgeous isn't that?

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Start with Vintage Accessories

If you want a creative and varied wardrobe, cheap vintage accessories are your best bet. A few pieces can give your outfit a whole new look. And it's much more cost-effective because you can buy lots of accessories for the price of one vintage dress.

If you want to show off a fab find you purchase from a vintage or thrift store, use it as a focal with core pieces from your wardrobe such as jeans, a simple boyfriend blazer and a basic white tee. Starting with a key item (for example a purse or a scarf) in your outfit is a great way to dressing a bit vintage without risking anything.

Click here for more tips and strategies on buying womens vintage clothing online and off.

What Is Typical Vintage?

Not everyone's comfortable wearing something someone else have worn before. So if you're not comfortable wearing used clothes you can always buy garments and accessories with vintage-inspired details instead of the real thing.

Keep in mind that most of today's fashion is somehow inspired by the past -- so you can easily find new clothes that look vintagey.

Now let's take a look at accessories and details that will instantly add a vintage-effect to your outfit!

Trinkets and Lockets

Attach these charming beads to a 18 inches or longer necklace chain and wear it with any casual outfit.

Distressed Leather

Distressed leather jackets, bags, boots and bracelets, anything that looks used, give a cool touch.

Scarves

Borrow your grandma's floral scarf! Other vintage patterns are paisley, ethnic embroidery, polka dots.

High waist

It's chic, sexy and retro. It'll define your waist. Choose between high waist jeans, pencil skirt, shorts or pants, and tuck in a cute top!

Flared pants

These 70's style type of pants will definitely flatter a curvacious shape. Balance the look by tucking in a fitted top or blouse!

Hats

Put some zest in your outfit with a vintage hat. For example, add a cool contrast by wearing a fedora hat with a boho dress or with jeans and a white dress shirt. Other popular vintage hats are newsboy/bakerboy and ivy which are suited for fall/winter outfits.