The Time Is Now

I'm a huge Smiths fan, my heart dances to Joy Division and I have all 7 Radiohead albums - basically in every sense I am a cliche. Like my friends, I'll devote my self to most of the post-punk grunge tracks of the 80's, and those lovely velvet blazers.

That magical decade- the 80s, which I still can't believe it was 30 years ago, has seen a huge revival in the past 5 years especially. One of my favorite ode to the 80s of recent is Megan Washington's clip for her single rich kids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx1OeqtLyws
how spectacularly sexy is her Lycra body suit? This back flip from the complete desperation of the 90s to leave the 80s well behind in the garage, makes me ponder the very question of what is and isn't vintage.

A vague definition might be anything older that 20 years, but from decade to decade we see some many changes in music, fashion, politics and society in general, a 15 year old slip dressas an example of popular fashion movement of the past should have enough credibility to be considered vintage. So before numbers, years and timelines and Vintage Theory are developed, lets cast our eyes to the past and see if any logical deduction can present me.

The idea that each movement is born out of rejection of another seems like a good start -classicism vs romanticism or capitalism vs socialism or existentialism vs determinism and maybe the 80's romance with matching velvet with tutu skirts vs Juicy Couture's tacky "cheap" luxury of velour tracksuits? If fashions react towards eachother, in broad terms decade by decade, then this should be the marker or definer of vintage: when an item of clothing of 10 + years is exemplery of a rejection towards another fashion movent.

In considering this the "new" ripped jeans look, this fashion is probably better (its debatable) than the colour attack of embellished denim of 90s (I still shiver when I happen upon diamante encrusted jeans) which can be declared "Vintage"!

So if fashion is all just simple chemistry, just cause and effect, I'm going to hedge my bets that the effect of your dark skinny legs circa 2006-2009 will produce a revival of the violently coloured jeans, long after the current acid wash is done and dead, it'll all be red, violet and emerald jeans.

So what is vintage, what time line can I declare this is... and this isn't? Well I figure if its an item that marks a reaction from one decades wear to another's, then its vintage.

Silk and Leather = Pleasure

I'm wild about vintage scarves. They were the first things I really started to hunt for, I have tens of scarves from a variety of time periods and designers. Shortly after my obsession with scarves began I found myself interested in old evening bags after inheriting some from my grandmother. So this post is going to be dedicated to the classic relationship between scarves and bags.

This page has a beautifully animated tutorial of how to get the scarf bag look below

http://www.liedownithinkiloveyou.com/howtoscarfabag.php

This idea, is brilliant because it transforms an ordinary clutch to something much more. A scarf tied around a bag's strap is a great sophisticated day look. While a hand rolled silk scarf on the neck and a vintage clutch scream classic evening glamour. Printed scarves are probably the most lovely in my opinion, good quality ones have vibrant colours and bring instant attention to your outfit. If you're tired of all black and don't want to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe, affordable accessories such as a vintage scarf or bag are great closet rejuvenators.

1) is an 1970s Ostrich Skin Bag with silk scarf and second-hand nina ricci lace scarf

2) Late 1960s metallic evening bag with vintage Givenchy silk scarf

3) a 1960 beaded clutch with Yves Saint Lauren scarf
and 1970s butterfly brooch


So with Spring coming around the corner, tie a floral scarf around your day time tote, and your ready to go and fraternise with the season's new flora and fauna.