Holiday Shopping for Vintage Fashion

By SARAH KELLY

It’s hard to go through the holiday season without thinking back on holiday memories of waking to find a cover of white frost on the ground or the soft sound of flour scattered on the table before the sugar cookie dough is rolled out.

A distinctive piece of clothing can evoke memories in much the same way.

If you are at a loss as to what to get your friends and family this Christmas, consider vintage. Buying clothes and accessories second-hand is a great way to both spend your money wisely, and make sure that your gift is thoughtful and chosen with the recipient in mind.

Vintage clothing symbolizes something more than trends throughout the decades.

In our mechanized world of iPhones and Twitter feeds, it is nice to know the generations that came before us, to remember a simpler time.

Vintage-inspired looks made a strong impact on the 2011 fall and winter runways, and the trend has made its way onto the street, and our campus.

This week’s profile, Stephanie Ospina, creates a perfectly balanced vintage inspired look. Stephanie, a senior majoring in Spanish and business administration, pairs a pleated green skirt from Urban Outfitters, a nod to the 70’s, with a delicate cream button up blouse from Spain.

“I try to get a lot of my stuff there, just because no one else has it,” said Ospina, who often visits family in Spain. She accessorizes with black lace-up shoes and American Apparel tights with a subtle, yet sweet, heart shaped print. She adds an edgy spin to her feminine outfit with a cardigan complete with a skull and cross bones print, an eBay purchase from Japan.

“I’m really eclectic,” she said of her sense of style. Her entire look is accented by a pearl necklace.
“I took it from my mom,” Ospina said. “I don’t really know where it came from.”

Ospina plans to turn to vintage site Etsy for her holiday shopping this year.

“I love that website, I think everything is so charming and am usually browsing through it anyways,” she said.

Other great places to find vintage pieces are boutiques such as Beaucoup Vintage downtown (208 William St.).

If full-price vintage items in store or online are out of your price range, consider shopping carefully at thrift stores and on eBay. You never know what you may find.

Ospina’s view on fashion encapsulates the only rule in vintage shopping. “It’s very whimsical; it’s fun for me,” and that is exactly what the holiday season should be about, too.

Image courtesy of Sarah Kelly/Bullet