Vintage ethics and styling: London is the hub

Nowadays, with the increased awareness of environmental issues and sustainability, shopping for vintage clothing is the coolest way to be an ethical shopper . Charity shops are full of vintage, so you can donate while you shop. Moreover, instead of turning to fast fashion that exploits developing countries with cheap labor and landfills, why not buy what has already been made and worn? This is by definition recycling: less waste on the world and a reduced carbon footprint, since fewer resources are used in the sale and production of secondhand items. Fashion is no longer a guilty pleasure, and vintage clothing a necessity. Ethical clothing, for example organic cotton tee shirts,  is generally unattractive and hard to get hold of,  but it doesn’t have to if you decide to turn to thrift stores to renew your wardrobe. If the second hand aspect does not bother you, vintage clothes allow you to be unique and fashionable without breaking the bank – it is no longer about having the newest designer bag, but about being able to feel proud of a unique find, at a reasonable price and at a better quality. Indeed, past decades used better quality materials and techniques, and in general vintage clothing lasts much longer than cheap items found on the high street. Vintage clothing is also collectable and therefore you should look after them to make sure they do not lose value over time.

Creating a vintage outfit demands a strong sense of style and individuality, as the styling and accessorizing certainly take more efforts than with a predetermined high street ensemble. To avoid London high street’s monotony and the possibility of matching a few other girls at a party, building one’s own vintage collection is a surefire way to turn heads. Whether you shop for it online or in a shop, you will treasure for  a vintage piece for a very long time, for its unique aspect and originality makes its yours, and yours only. A fashion forward person is no longer one who buys the newest, most expensive pieces from a big department store, or a designer boutique. The fashionista of today makes an outfit look exciting and interesting by picking out old and new pieces from her closet, and by accessorizing it cleverly. Anyone who knows how to make a old piece look current and modern by customizing it or styling it should turn to vintage to make sure they stand out from the crowd. And this is why  a lot of brides turn to vintage for their wedding dress. If you can be bothered to look for hidden treasures, and spend time on it, vintage is the way to go.

Vintage clothing not only stands out for its original cuts and fabrics, it also stands the test of time, if it’s good vintage. Indeed past eras used much better materials and techniques in the production of clothes, and all of this more a fraction of the prices shown in the high street!