3.2.17

LESS IS MORE I

It's vintage...


Hand-me-downs and second hand clothing. These are phrases and wardrobes most people probably want nothing to do with. You are probably imaging old cast-offs peppered with holes and stains, or some sort of 00s trend sported by Lizzie McGuire or the Olsen sisters in a twelvie twin movie, which we’re all really hoping would just stay dead. Am I right?

So, let’s rephrase: vintage.

As a poor uni student with a penchant for retail therapy and a ‘treat yourself’ mentality, the world of ‘op shopping’ and your mother’s closet is a much less cruel one. I’d like to introduce a series titled ‘Less is More’, because in my opinion ‘vintage’ pieces really offer you something a bit special at bargain prices. Like a library, this world samples pieces in different styles, colours, fabrics and times. Every piece of clothing you pick up tells you a story and has the power to take you on a journey, whether it’s an old band T-shirt drumming a tune in your head or a leather jacket impelling you to impulse buy a Harley Davidson.

These pieces will no doubt be relevant to your personal style but also to society at one point or another. The universal truth of fashion is that it is cyclic; trends will always come and go. No matter what you wear or when you wear it, the beauty of it is that it will serve as a window either into the past, present or future.

The first piece I am showcasing in this series, for me is a window into Chanel Haute Couture. This beautiful creamy beige A-line skirt is the perfect metaphor for the lavish designs of Karl Lagerfeld gracing runways around the world. The carefully stitched linen from a distance could be mistaken for a tweed ensemble which in my opinion has become a signature fabric employed by the fashion house. It’s elegant and the delicate fringing, slight wrap and simple buttoning are the perfect detailing. This piece could serve as a winter/fall garment paired with boots and a turtle neck, or a spring statement when you add some colourful accessories. 

Despite ridiculously good pricing this skirt definitely doesn’t scream awkward hand-me-down, even though it very well could have been someone’s grandmother’s. 

But, with a little tweaking and styling, you simply flip your hair and say it’s vintage. 






 Photography: Anke Bezuidenhout

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