Shopping for Vintage

Vintage clothing provides a fantastic opportunity to wear beautifully made garments that are totally individual, as well as a small piece of history. It was only a few years ago that wearing vintage clothing was strictly for fancy dress parties and yet today the sartorial trends could not be more different. Vintage fashion is now coveted all over the world, and style icons such as Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are regularly photographed wearing gorgeous clothes by designers whose heyday was decades ago. Contemporary designers are looking to the past for inspiration and translating long forgotten designs into modern pieces, whilst high street stores such as TopShop, Oasis and Urban Outfitters stock vintage or vintage-inspired lines which make this look accessible to everyone. Whether as a wearer or collector of vintage fashion, this book provides all the information on how and where to buy vintage fashion.
Beginning with a look at the legacy of over 70 seminal designers from the last 120 years and the key fashion pieces that defined each decade, it looks at how to separate vintage clothing from that which is antique, retro or simply secondhand, as well as hints and tips on what to look for and how to haggle when you find it. With contributions from the doyennes of the fashion industry - from Hilary Alexander to Miuccia Prada - the book is packed with much sought after insider 'fashionista' tips about what to look for when buying vintage, how to recognise something of value and, perhaps most importantly, where to find it. The final section of the book contains an exhaustive list of the names and addresses of vintage outlets all over the world, as well as vintage fashion fairs, websites, auction houses and flea markets. Far from being the prerogative of the rich and famous, "Shopping for Vintage" shows how we can all own a little piece of fashion history.