Eve here – PR Executive and SLBPR’s resident vintage lover.
Here’s the deal. Over lockdown I had an epiphany. A shameless spending-shaped one.
I am a lover of all things fashion – and with this I’ve developed a habit of buying things a bit too often and sometimes that are a tad expensive (sorry mum).
However, I am a shopper with a conscience. As much as I love changing up my look, I recognise fast fashion comes with consequences. But then there’s the consequences on my bank balance; as much as I love you Paloma Wool, ya draining my funds.
So, I needed a compromise. Over the past few years I’ve often dipped my toes into the world of second hand without success. But this time there was a fire burning, an eBay shaped one. I sat for hours scrolling through listings, perfecting my search criteria in order to bring up the best items. Sometime later, offers were accepted on a 70s maxi dress made in Florence and a hand crocheted dress. Over the coming months, these purchases became rather frequent and now once again, my wardrobe would be about to burst if it had doors.
But over the past few days, whilst placing sneaky bids in the office, I’ve noticed this whole “second-hand September” campaign running across social media which instantly made my vintage senses tingle. I read up on all sorts of info and posts that people were producing – and one thing in particular got me.
“Gentrification” is thrown out there a lot – in particular towards vintage, and this rubbed me up the wrong way. I sense a lot of entitlement when it comes to second hand and vintage clothing – that it should be inexpensive just because someone else has owned or worn it – something I can’t wrap my heads around when it comes to vintage.
Now let’s get one thing straight. To me, vintage is anything 1970s or older. Nothing aggravates me more than some ugly checked shirt from the 90s being referred to as vintage when it’s no doubt the same age as me (1996 represent).
These items, whether it’s a dress, or a suit or even a brooch, are a piece of history. Fashion now, and for a long time has been built on trends and styles of the past – they’re something to be treasured and appreciated – and this has every right to come with a price tag.
Yes, the odd time you find an absolute vintage steal, an overlooked gem lurking in the dark depths of eBay - as I sit writing this I’m currently wearing a 1960s beautiful matching knitted waistcoat and skirt which I paid the grand total of £20 for - but realistically vintage pieces are collector’s items, to be looked after and loved for more years to come.
I agree, there are Highstreet “vintage” shops putting ridiculous price tags on “vintage” Kappa sweatshirts that have no doubt been fished out of a by the kilo warehouse – but this line should not be blurred with fashion’s real past.