How to add vintage vibes to a modern dress
Outfit ideas | Dress by Jenny Yoo; Headpiece from Allegra Vintij; Heels from Bella Belle Shoes.
At the beginning of 2020, I celebrated the new year by paying tribute to the 1920s and did a fun editorial photoshoot with Brooklyn-based fashion photographer Ashley Gallerani. That was the first time I realized how much fun it was to mix something new with something old, and transforming a look with a dress that was designed for today into one that has a hint of yesterday.
I have always loved my grandparents’ sense of style and elegance as a kid and would often play dress-up with my grandmother’s accessories. In fact, when my grandpa passed away, I asked if I could keep one of his many handmade blazers. My mom was so kind; she got it tailored a little so it would fit me better. To this day, I still very often get compliments when I wear his blazer out.
When it comes to styling vintage looks, however, I’m nowhere near an expert. So in addition to some of my own ideas, I talked to a few people who are actually way better at acing the vintage vibe than I am. Read on to find out what some of their personal tips are.
< Tip No. 1 > “Pearls are a must” — My dear grandma
The first person I spoke to was my beloved grandma. I mean, how could I not? She was apparently the fashionista back in the day.
“If you want to look like me when I was in my 20s (she forgot I’m already in my 30s right now), then you’ll need to add pearls,” she told me when we FaceTimed the other day. “I used to always make sure I put my pearl necklace or earrings on before we leave the house.”
Well, good thing I do have a soft spot for pearl accessories, so that wasn’t too hard to accomplish! And in case you’re searching for quality pearl accessories, be sure to check out the fine jewelry brand, LAGOS.
< Tip No. 2 > “Accessories are always a good addition” — Edisa Shahini, Founder of Disi Couture
Based in Vienna, Edisa (@edisashahini) is one of my favorite bloggers; I absolutely adore her elegant style and classy outfits.
When I asked her how she adds vintage vibes to modern clothing, she told me that accessories are her immediate go-to’s.
“Either a nice vintage hat, scarf, jewelry or a vintage bag — accessories can polish up any look.”
Edisa emphasizes the importance of blending the old and the modern in a “sophisticated way,” which is a good point because we want to make sure we don’t cheapen or complicate a look by overdoing it!
I’m a hat lover so adding a vintage hat sounded like something I can easily do. I also feel like hats — or headpieces — often add a touch of mystery, and that may be the key to getting that more reserved and refined vintage look, too.
Depending on the print and how you style them, silk scarves also seem to be a great (and easy) choice to make an outfit appear similar to one from the bygone days.
< Tip No. 3 > “Add a vintage jacket” — Michelle Leigh, Founder of vintage shop Allegra Vintij
If you scroll through Michelle’s Instagram (@michelleallegra), you will indeed spot several chic vintage jackets and blazers on her feed!
When she told me her tip, I could relate because my grandpa’s 30-year-old blazer is actually the easiest piece to grab when I want to add a vintage touch to an outfit.
If you are looking for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, Michelle’s online shop Allegra Vintij has a wonderful collection of clothing and accessories in which she curated herself.
Vintage Blazer with Embroidery
This 100% silk cropped blazer with puff sleeves features 4 beautiful gold buttons, as well as an embroidered floral print.
Now $29.20 (Was $73.00)
< Tip No. 4 > “Try adding gloves” — Mary Gui from Layers of Chic, and Founder of Sock Candy
I actually did a duet with vintage fashion blogger Mary Gui on TikTok once, styling a 1950s look! I remember thinking my look didn’t seem quite “complete” at first — but then she ques the gloves, and voilá, I was ready for a full day of baking.
I’ve always felt like leather gloves, even in modern-day styling, have the ability to effortlessly elevate any look. And I believe that’s because back in the day, women in the middle and upper-class society would often wear gloves to social events, so it may be subtle but wearing the right gloves was associated with one’s status.
Leather or suede leather gloves are great options, but Mary also mentioned lace gloves which sounded so dreamy to me! They are certainly mainly for aesthetic reasons, as they can be impractical. However, having said that, lace would be a perfect choice if you’re looking to create a more feminine look, to soften the outfit, and be more ladylike.
Mary also mentioned that adding a vintage box bag may be a great way to give any outfit a vintage vibe. And I actually just realized we both each had a box bag in the same TikTok video! But I honestly still think it was the gloves that made all the difference.
< Tip No. 5 > The hairstyle makes a huge difference
When I did the vintage photoshoot with Ashley pre-COVID last year, I spent an hour on my hair trying to get those old-school waves. When my hair was done, I remember even in my pajamas, I looked like I was from another era simply because of the hairstyle.
I also pinned up the bottom half of my hair for one of the looks because I noticed a lot of women in the 1920s had shorter hairstyles! It wasn’t until later on when it became a trend that men would have shorter hair, while women, longer.
< Tip No. 6 > Retro sunglasses to the rescue
I also noticed that anyone with a pair of retro sunglasses immediately has a vintage glow. I personally love cat-eye sunglasses because I find them to be the most complimenting to my round-shaped face.
If you don’t want to get a brand new pair, one of my favorite places to find retro sunnies and secondhand designer sunglasses is at The RealReal. That’s where I got my heart-shaped sunglasses from Saunt Laurent, for instance.
What do you do to add vintage vibes to your looks? Leave a comment below and share your tip with me!
As always, thank you for stopping by Happily Ever Style.
xoxo,
Tricia
And why I love traveling with them!