What's in the Closet??

When you are out on the town in a posh bar everyone seems to be wearing something trendy and modern. It may even seem like they are all wearing the same types of clothes! What’s the point in fashion if all you are going to do is end up dressing like everyone else? Luckily the trend of vintage shirts coming back into fashion has meant that there is still a way of standing out from the crowd, whilst blazing a fashionable trail of your own.

If you look at the types of vintage shirts available in the shops you will notice that they can co me in a variety of different vibrant colours which are quite often overlooked in the professional world. It is often tempting to go for a simple black and white look, however if the idea is to wear something completely different to the rest of the crowd then it may be advisable to go for something a little more colourful and creative. There is no doubt that a well stitched vintage shirt when combined with a new pair of jeans and some trendy trainers will bring out an entirely different side to you.

In this day and age it is entirely understandable that people will want to wear clothing that is fresh and modern. It is perfectly natural for people to see what everyone else is wearing and want to be included. No one likes to feel left out, however rather than being noticed and appreciated for what you are wearing you may actually end up feeling like you have simply got lost in the crowd. If you get the sense that you are guilty of having become one of the people who blindly follows the pack in whatever trend has caught on then do yourself a favour and stop right now. You can only benefit from experimenting with various different looks. You owe it to yourself to discover which looks will suit you best. Experiment with a few different vintage shirts will certainly get you noticed quickly.

Because the styles are old it is understandable if you think that they have fallen out of fashion and no one really loves them anymore. The simple fact is that some looks will always be timeless. Even after all the decades you will still see the odd person wearing a vintage shirt and it won’t look out of place. Many trends and styles will come and go but there will always be fashions that you can come back to time and time again.

The downside to all this is that if you are looking to buy these items of clothing in a large shopping mall it may be difficult to track them down with most of the high street shops being major brand retailers. A sensible alternative would be to simply do an online search and toy should be able to find some internet retailers of both ladies and mens designer clothing. You wont have the advantage of being able to try the clothes on, however if you order the clothes and find that they are unsuitable then these online shops will usually have some sort of returns policy.

Author Bio: Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of Room 14 Menswear, a UK retailer of mens designer clothing.

Throughout history, men and women have decorated their clothing with brooches, pins, hats and other accessories to add style, colour and appeal to their own appearance in order to improve their standing within their own community.

From the earliest bone pins and animal skins to the latest twenty-first-century fashion handbags for a Friday night outing and ornate hats for Royal Ascot the motives have been the same – to impress others and to demonstrate (or to increase) their perceived status in society.

This article hopes to explore the history of such items and help to shed light on why on earth we go to so much effort to impress our peers.

Religious Accessories

Many religions define themselves by their clothing and accessories and can be considered “fashion” as it can be argued that they are primarily cultural in nature. Some modern examples of historical influence in this fashion are the Jewish and Islamic headcaps and the Islamic headscarves; the hijab (the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women) and the burka (the head to toe dress which covers the face except for the eyes).

Whilst Christianity has not adopted clothing as a defining characteristic (outside the Church), the cross has become an accessory of choice for many Christians (often as a brooch or necklace), as has the fish symbol (often seen on the back of cars). Perhaps the only exception to this is the attire worn in Christian ceremonies or the “dog collar” often worn by vicars and priests on a day to day basis.

Vintage Necklaces

Necklaces are perhaps the oldest of accessories, with current thought dating their origins to Africa over 75,000 years ago. The oldest known example of this are from perforated beads made from the shells of snails found at the Blombos Cave (75,000 years ago) and beads made of Ostrich shell at Enkapune Ya Muto (40,000 years ago) both in Kenya.

Hand Bags

Handbags are a mainstay of modern vintage Women’s accessories with one survey attributing (on average) every 30 year old woman owning 21 handbags totalling a staggering 111 handbags in her lifetime!

Popular types of handbags include; clutch (a small evening bag), satchel (used to carry books and papers), duffle bag, tote, messenger bag and sling bag.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses originated essentially as a health concern, as protective eye wear to stop the sun light and other high energy rays from dazzling and causing discomfort (and possibly blindness), particularly in winter sports such as skiing. Nowadays it is just as likely to be seen in an English street in heavy rain as in the Alps in heavy snow!

21st Century Design Companies

Some of the most famous accessory design houses in the world today include Prada, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Hugo Boss, Chanel, Dolce&Gabbana, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Mulberry.

Sunglasses have become part of modern popular culture and are referred to as “sun cheaters” in the USA and “Sunnies” in Australia, and have long been associated with celebrities, particularly with Hollywood style actors – often stemming from a desire to mask their true identity from the general public.

Author Bio: This article was written by Robin Kittler, an established fashion author with works covering topics such as fashion history, vintage clothing accessories and fashion trends in 80s clothing.

The First Trousers

It is said that the Achaemid Persians, the Iranian Scynthians, the Sacae were the first to develop and wear what we would today recognise as trousers.

Trouser like clothing did appear as early as the 1300s in early British society, as “braies”- a kind of undergarment. It wasn’t until around the 1600s in Hungary that true “trousers (i.e. an outer-garment) appeared, although they didn’t become culturally engrained in western society until the 1700s with the inception of a cartoon character named Pantalone.

The Origin of the Word “Trousers”

The word “trousers” actually comes from a Gaelic (Irish or Scottish) word, “triubhas” which were a kind of close fitting shorts.

Why are “Trousers” Pluralised?

Trousers can trace their history back to the a time (around 1500 A.D.) where a pair of individual “hoses” were worn, one on each leg, starting the reference to this type of clothing as being plural which has carried on into the modern word “trousers”.

At this time, the hoses were called “trews” which were undergarments. By the 1600s, the “codpiece” (covering the groin) was integrated into the trews and the “breeches” cam into being as knee length with an “fly” type flap for hygiene purposes.

Sailor Fashionistas

It is perhaps sailors that are responsible for bringing full-length trousers into popular fashion. They wore a baggy kind of trouser called a “galligaskin” and also an early kind of denim jeans both of which entered popular culture at some point during the 1800s and 1900s.

The Architecture of Trousers

The modern formal trouser comprises of five distinct areas consistent with most styles and cuts; the trouser legs, belt loops, pocket, pleat, fly and cuffs (bottom of the leg).

Mens Trousers

Men have worn trousers almost exclusively as covering for the lower body since the early 1600s with the exception of shorts, the Scottish “kilt”, the religious “cassock” and a number of other lesser known styles of clothing. Before this point, men usually wore clothing more akin to skirts and dresses.

Womens Trousers

It was not really until the 1800s and 1900s that trousers became widely fashionable for women, when versions of men’s trousers were worn by women for outdoor work. This was particularly true in the coal mines of Victorian England when women in a Wigan coal mine caused scandal by wearing trousers to perform their mining duties. In short, it was far more practical to wear trousers than movement restricting skirts for their coal shovelling duties, so they wore trouser and rolled the skirt up to keep it out of the way. The image of women wearing trousers really took off in western culture in the 1800s with images of American “cow girls” and other western working women.

Popular Forms of Trousers

The most famous and popular of style of trousers include Jeans, Dungarees, Jodphurs (used by horse riders), Culottes (knee breeches), Tracksuit Trousers (sports trousers usually with an integrated tie-cord instead of belt and belt loops), Cargo Trousers (combats), Plus Fours (knee length plus four inches) and Pantaloons (knee length.)

Author Bio: This article was written by Robin Kittler, a world renowned fashion author working for Rokit to promote their range of vintage trousers for men and ranges of vintage clothing for both men and women.

There are product designers all over the world who must be dreaming of creating a long-lasting design icon, something that will ensure their place in the creative industry’s hall of fame. These are items that remain in the memories of those who appreciate style, form and function long after the original products have been removed from the shelves. Some of the classic styles and designs of the past seem to live on forever and none more so than some of the items that have come out of the fashion and jewellery sectors.

Imagine how many new products are created everyday in the design studios of manufacturers every day. Hundreds of new toys, electrical appliances, clothes, vehicles and all kinds of smaller items go on sales every week. You would think that the chance of a designer creating something that would eclipse all that has gone before it to be fairly slim. Staying at the top of the consumer’s product wishlist is tremendously difficult and, what was yesterday’s favourite product, is often quickly replaced by a new pretender for the top crown, especially in these days of rapid technology advances.

But there are some hit products that seem to retain their design status and remain highly desirable long after their original design first hit the market. Products like the Volkswagen Beetle, a Charles Eames office chair, the Rolex Oyster watch or the Moka coffee pot designed in 1933 by Bialetti. All are instantly recognizable and originals are now worth far more than their original selling price.

The world of fashion is also no stranger to iconic design and the list of revered garments and items is growing all the time as trends change and new styles are brought to the public’s attention. Anything that lasts longer than a few years must have something special about it and styles that keep returning to find a place in the wardrobes of the fashion conscience can be worth substantial sums, especially if they originated from a highly regarded designer.

In the world of shoes that are some iconic designs whose original names have now been accepted as general terms to describe a whole category of shoes types, like brogues, Oxfords, Mary Janes, Chelsea boots and Go-go boots.

For some designers it takes just one specific design to rocket them to stardom and long lasting fame. The French designer Sonia Rykiel is one such person whose desire for more suitable fashions while she was pregnant in 1962 led to her setting about designing her own garments. One of the items she wanted was a more suitable sweater, so she designed her own version, which became known as the Poor Boy Sweater, made the cover of top fashion magazines and is now known the world over. The first design led to numerous variations, not just as maternity garments, and a skinny version of Rykiel’s sweaters became one of the fashion icons of the sixties. The poorboy name comes from the tight fit of the sweater, which gives the impression that the wearer was not able to afford a full-sized sweater. The poorboy is more suited to slim bodies and became popular again in the 1990′s when it was paired with other tight-fitting clothes like tight jeans and baby doll dresses.

Elsa Schiaparelli is another designer whose period of fame goes back even further. This Italian designer was also a knitwear specialist originally but later became know for some iconic hat designs. At her time of influence, in the 1920′s and 1930′s, her designs, which were influenced by some of the Surrealist creative geniuses of the time like Salvador Dali, were viewed to be very strange and leading edge. One of her designs, a skirt that resembled a pair of shorts, shocked the crowds at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in 1931.

Some her most sought after designs now include her 1950′s wool felt hats, her evening dress that featured a lobster design drawn by Dali and famously worn by Wallis Simpson and also the unusual “shoe hat” that she designed for Dali’s wife in 1933.

Perhaps a more mainstream design icon is the instantly recognisable design of Burberry items featuring the well-known Burberry plaid. So popular has this design become that its iconic status has almost become tainted through over exposure. The Burberry fashion empire dates back over 150 years to when Thomas Burberry setup in Basingstoke of all places and first came to prominence after designing material for a waterproof outer garment called the Gabardine. Another famous coat came later when Burberry was commissioned by the British services to amend an existing design for use in warfare. This became known as the iconic Trench Coat. The company’s trademark check design became so popular in the 1970′s, 80′s and 90′s that it was almost harmful to the Burberry brand. So you see that fashion icons are not always beneficial.

Author Bio: Robin Kittler spends his time as a fashion journalist for Rokit vintage clothing who collect and supply a range of vintage womens clothing and vintage dresses

There is an early ’90s revival on the horizon and it’s beginning to emerge this Spring – the dungaree. Why not be at the frontline of fashion and make your own pair of dungarees? It couldn’t be easier!

Things you will need:
- Denim
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Thread
- Fabric pencil
- Measuring tape
- Old trousers
- 2 buttons

Instructions:

Step 1

Fold your existing pair of old trousers in half, so that you have what looks like one leg. Then lay the trousers over a double layer of your dungaree fabric. Trace around the outside of the trousers, and then add a half-inch to all sides, which allows for the seams. Then cut along the outside lines.

Step 2

Take one of your new trouser leg pieces and lay it over a double layer of fabric, then use it to cut two more trouser leg pieces.

Step 3

Measure across the front of your chest and down to your waistband from that point. Use these measurements to draw a square on a single layer of your fabric. Add half inch seam allowance to all sides, and cut the square from the fabric. This will be the front of your dungarees.

Step 4

Measure the distance from your chest to the back of your waistband, going over your shoulder. Draw a rectangle on a double layer of your fabric that is this length plus 1 inch, and 3 inches wide. Cut 2 of these rectangles. These will be your shoulder straps.

Step 5

Lay two of the trouser leg pieces together, right sides together, and then pin the straight outer edges together. Stitch these together 1/2 inch away from the edges and press the seam allowances open. Do the same for the other two trouser leg pieces.

Step 6

Lay the two trouser legs together, matching up the curved centre back and centre front seams. Stitch these seams together half-inch away from the edges and press the seam allowances open.

Step 7

Line up the inseam edges of the trouser legs and stitch them together, going over the seams at the centre back and front. Turn under the hem of each leg a half-inch and stitch them in place.

Step 8

Take the square piece of fabric and fold the top and side edges under a half-inch. Stitch the edges in place, and then add buttonholes to the top corners. Line up the bottom edge of the square with the front of the waistband edge of the trousers, right sides together. Stitch the square to the waist, a half-inch away from the edges. Fold the rest of the waist edge down a half-inch and stitch it in place.

Step 9

Take the shoulder straps and fold under one short and both long edges a half-inch, stitching the edges in place. Stitch the remaining raw edges to the back of the waistband, going over the waistband stitching. Add one button to the finished edge of each shoulder strap.

Now you will have your own home-made dungarees ready to wear!

Author Bio: Robin Kittler is a fashion author with expertise in the vintage clothing industry having recently conducted fashion research into vintage dungarees as part of Rokit’s true vintage ranges in London.

I was walking in Notting Hill, West London about four years ago when I was stopped by one of those extraordinarily trendy Japanese women who seem to look good, no matter how ridiculous their outfits. I thought she was going to ask for directions, but, in charmingly Japanese accented English, she asked if I would sell her the denim jacket I was wearing.

I wasn’t offended, or surprised by her request. The jacket is a red tabbed, denim blouson, single breast pocket, with yellow stitching and rear belt. I had stopped a man in Portobello Road two or three years earlier and asked him to sell me the same jacket. I knew it was a desirable Levi vintage of the 40s or 50s and I paid £15.00 ($30.00) for it.

I asked the Japanese lady how much she wanted to pay? She smiled, thought for a minute and replied: £400.00 ($800.00). I was surprised, but I was pretty well off, at the time, I didn’t need the money. I thanked her, very much, we bowed to one another, she giggled and we went off in different directions. I never saw her again.

In the early seventies, having returned from a year in Spain, I arrived penniless on Portobello Road. I crashed with friends and they introduced me to a guy making a good living from recycled denim, bought by the ton, ripped, re-cut and made into coats, jackets and shirts. He and I became friends and eventually partners.

At the time, denim was considered very low-grade by rag merchants, who recycled most of the rags they collected for use as wiping cloths in industry. Denim is not very absorbent, so it was cheap. A ton of washed denim cost us £75.00 ($150.00). In the early seventies it was not the fashion to wear your denim with holes or rips, so the denim we were buying was nearly always in good condition and reusable.

We took it in turns travelling around the UK, visiting rag yards with which we had agreements to sort and save denim. We also bought denim from the USA via a dealer named, Mr Denim. At his warehouse in Croydon, south London, we were allowed to sort through piles of denim pants and denim jackets and, as much of this denim was collected from prisons, large numbers of denim overalls (bib and brace). For each garment we were charged £0.75p regardless of condition. We found many interesting vintage denim garments too and we always had a ready market for those on Portobello Road, where we opened one of the very first stalls selling vintage.

Unfortunately we could never buy enough denim to make into clothing to satisfy our customers. People would queue outside the door of our workshop in Basing Street on the days we received new stock from our machinists and fight over whatever arrived. One of those customers decided to use the name we’d painted on the door in pink paint, but had neglected to register, turning it into a very successful brand name.

One of our very best customers for the denim clothes we were making was an Italian, with a shop in Kensington Market. Years later he became a very successful vintage watch dealer and we have remained friends. A couple of years after the Japanese lady stopped me and asked to by my denim jacket he saw me wearing the jacket and he asked if I would be willing to sell it to him. I told him about the Japanese woman and asked if he would pay more than £400.00? He offered £300.00. He said the jacket was rare, but prices had fallen since the Japanese lady had made her offer. So had the pound sterling against the dollar and £300 then was little more than $450. I thanked him and refused his offer.

I probably would not have sold it for a thousand pounds. Although it is now a little tatty at the edges and faded, I love it. I’m always looking forward to the next offer though.

Author Bio: Visit VintageRagTrader.com!

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Lace is a fascinating fabric, beautiful, intricate, delicate yet deceptively strong and sexy too. When I’m out hunting for vintage I am always delighted to find an interesting piece of vintage lace or a vintage lace garment.

When I was young, I enjoyed some of my summer holidays in the country, where I stayed with a fat auntie who suffered from narcolepsy. She could fall asleep without warning during almost any activity including walking. On several occasions I entered her kitchen to find her asleep at the sink with her hand deep in a washing-up bowl. She often fell asleep while riding her bicycle. It was only due to quiet country roads and a few miracle escapes that she lived to be eighty-four.

My aunty was a collector of all things vintage. She hoarded anything old and although she had very little knowledge of what she was buying, her intuition was sound – she had a good eye. Her house was a vintage treasure trove, a messy jumble of Victoriana and early twentieth century bric-a-brac. She hardly ever left the house without returning with a newly acquired object and they weren’t always small. In her garden stood a small private chapel that she used for the storage of large pieces of mostly dark brown furniture in need of restoration and a couple of pianos. Nothing that entered the chapel ever came out again.

A lace cushion she kept on the wide window seat in her parlour always fascinated me. She had bought it from a widower in her village, whose wife had inherited it from her grandmother. The last piece of lace the grandmother was working on before she died was still attached, as were all of the little bobbins and their threads. My aunt said it was Belgian and that the grandmother had been Scandinavian. The cushion was soft satin and the piece of lace attached was extremely fine. I wondered if the grandmother had glasses, or if she worked with a magnifying glass? Although I was told never to touch the cushion I regularly altered the position of many of the bobbins, knowing that it would never be noticed.

Maybe it was because of my fat aunty and the lace cushion that I have always been attracted to vintage lace. According to Wikipedia fine lace has been manufactured since the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. Unfortunately I have had to content myself with viewing museum examples of these very early pieces and representations by artists, like Van Dyke.

Over the years, however, I have bought and sold several manufacturers’ sample collections of vintage lace. I was recently very pleased to be able to purchase a large scrapbook of vintage novelty lace in many colourways and wide variety of designs – I do hope my scanner can do them justice.

This collection of vintage lace includes many large document swatches perfect for conversion, reference, trending or inspiration on mood-boards. Lace is definitely on-trend this year and will probably be much bigger in summer 2011. It looks as though almost any apparel manufactured for women this summer could be made with lace, have a lace trim or lace panel: blouses, skirts, dresses, t-shirts and even overcoats and bags will be appearing on the high street in lace. Vintage lace will be the inspiration for many of these products.

I didn’t inherit my auntie’s lace cushion. She left it to a female cousin who sold it.

Author Bio: Visit VintageRagTrader!

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