How to Battle With Underarm Stains
Lets face it, vintage clothes are by definition second hand garments, and this means that in most cases vintage clothes have been worn before. Many vintage garments have underarm stains, for instance.
Discoloration and underarm stains can be caused by deodorants. Deodorant underarm stains are white, powdery dry markings that can often be removed by spot dabbing with white vinegar. Also lemon juice works in a similar manner. Remember to use a lint free clean white cloth!
Excess perspiration left on a fabric can often create weakness or colour damage. Therefore it is a good idea to protect your vintage garments by using dress shields. These detachable underarm cotton inserts are sewn into wool and silk dresses to prolong their wear and reduce the cost of constant cleaning. Dress shields protect the dress brilliantly from damage, so do yourself and your lovely vintage dress a favour and get yourself a pair of dress shields today!
Sanna 9. March 2008 | How to? | Comment
How to Build Your Wardrobe?
I know from experience that building a highly personal, practical and wearable wardrobe doesn’t happen overnight. I started to pay more attention to the content of my wardrobe last summer when I realized most of my clothes weren’t, so to speak, “me”. For me putting more thought into my appearance required a lot of soul-searching, some inevitable misses and moments of excitement and joy. Yes, my wardrobe inventory is still unfinished but I guess I’m already on the right track. I have followed three hands-on guidelines when trying to gain control over my closets: acquiring the classics, mixing it up and highlighting my interests with accessories.
I have noticed that acquiring the classics, no matter how boring it might sound, is a good idea. It is wise to stock up on basic pieces that can serve as a foundation to a variety of looks. You know the famous LBD, right? If you don’t have it, get one. When paired with the right pieces, there is no event that smasher can’t get you through. Timeless separates such as a nice pair of black trousers, a white button-down shirt or an all-purpose gray cardigan will come in handy as well, trust me.
Can’t afford to shop at designer stores? No worries, mix it up and be resourceful in putting together your wardrobe. If the majority of your wardrobe’s content is from cheap fast fashion chains, think accessories. Pair a fabulous bag, shoes or sunnies from a posh designer store with your H&M dress. Ferret thrift shops for retro dresses, kitschy T’s and vintage wool coats and you’ll get the look that makes you stand out in a crowd.
Your look should say something about you and what you are into. If you are a bookish type, for instance, try a pair of funky glasses and preppy vests. Remember that fashion is a form of expression, so feel free to expose your personality and highlight your interests with accessories.
I know I have said this before but I’ll say it again: The best accessory a gal can have is self-confidence. Know yourself, love yourself, express yourself. If you think you look good, other people will too.
Sanna 6. February 2008 | How to? | Comment [6]
How to Recognise an Authentic Designer Scarf
When I got more interested in accessorising I did a little online research on how to recognise an authentic designer scarf. It’s always wise to be careful when purchasing so called designer scarves such as Hermès, Chanel, Lanvin and the likes via the internet as there are a high number of fakes circulating out there. Use your online resources and check the authenticity of the name and details printed on the scarf before purchasing it, especially if you are buying the scarf as an investment!
Opt for silk scarves
Silk scarves are sought after by most collectors although many rare vintage scarves were made from rayon. This was the case particularly during the second world war era due to the fact that the use of silk was prohibited as the war progressed.
Purchasing an authentic silk item will benefit you in many ways. Not only will it look amazing because the quality of the material is higher than other materials but an authentic silk piece will also last much longer. A true piece of silk is likely to last twice as long as the knock-off materials (for example materials that are only 50% silk and 50% other materials). Besides, silk is said to be one of the most comfortable clothing fabrics on the market right now. The sleek, glossy and luxurious feel of silk on your body will outweigh the cost in a second.
Help! Is my silk scarf authentic or not?
There are three practical and efficient ways to determine the authenticity of handmade silk: consider the weave, the luster and do a burn test!
1. You can determine the authenticity of silk by examining the weave. Remember that real silk weave is handmade of natural fibers. Therefore it clearly displays small flaws in the thread. All imitation materials, polyester for example, are machine-made fabrics and show a perfect appearance with no flaws or lumps.
2. You can determine the authenticity of silk by examining material’s luster. Authentic silk is made with one colour for the warp and another colour for the weft. This is what gives silk its natural sheen, gloss and luster. Holding a piece of real silk up to the light will change the overall colour tone depending on the angle of the light. On the other hand, imitation fabrics won’t act this way.
3. The last test is the burn test but please remember that you are doing this at your own risk! The trick is to take a thread or two of silk and light them. They will leave a very fine ash and smell like burnt hair. Furthermore, as soon as you put off the flame, the threads will stop burning. On the other hand, if you burn imitation silk, it drips, creates black smoke and continues to flare after the flame is put off. Consider the burn test your last resort although it is the most certain way to determine authenticity of your silk garment.
Make sure the hem is hand-rolled
Usually vintage designer scarves come with hand rolled and stitched edges. A genuine rolled edge will appear to be very plump on inspection but it gives a lovely soft finish for a scarf edge.
Happy hunting!
Sources: Wikipedia, Asian Nouveau.
Sanna 13. November 2007 | How to? Accessories | Comment [12]
How to Get Your Money's Worth?
I have always believed that I’m able to build a relatively cheap, highly personal, practical and wearable wardrobe by going vintage. As vintage gets trendier, the prices are going up. For quite some time now I have wanted to make every single euro I spend count, so when vintage hunting, I have kept the following questions in mind:
How will the clothing look on me?
I don’t want to look silly so I want to make sure that the garment fits with my personality. Also, I want to keep in mind that I buy something for right now, not for when I lose weight, change my hair cut or buy new specs.
Will it go with other pieces in your closet?
I have learnt the hard way that even the most spectacular blouse is not a good buy if I don’t have the skirt, shoes or other accessories to go with it.
Do I really know what I’m getting?
I want to make sure that I’m aware of any pinholes, stains, rips or repairs on the piece. Imperfections are not necessarily deal breakers with vintage clothing, but I want to be aware of any issues before I make the purchase. If possible, I also want to inspect the fabric and seams to make sure the garment will not fall apart after only a few wearings.
Can I keep up with the maintenance?
Been there, done that. Pieces that are only dry clean or handwash can become a prickly issue. If I see something gorgeous that needs some special maintenance, I try to think twice to evaluate if the piece is really worth the trouble.
Is it really vintage or just butt-ugly?
Not everything labelled vintage is a wise purchase, I should be the first one to admit that. I want to be certain I enjoy a piece for itself, not because it is labelled vintage, collectible or a designer item.
Last but not least, I want to make sure I’m going to wear the garment in question frequently. Any piece of clothing is only worth its cost if it’s regularly worn so I want to be certain I’ll be getting a good return on my shopping investment.
What are your tips to get your money’s worth?
Sanna 11. October 2007 | How to? Shopping | Comment
How to Find Vintage Clothing
Vintage hunting has recently become pretty toilsome, thanks to the ever growing interest in vintage items and the rise of internet trading. Fortunately there are some tried and tested tips on how to find astonishing vintage clothing. All you need is a little time, patience and some background research.
1. Be prepared
There are a few things you should know before you you start looking for vintage clothing. First, you should take your measurements; your height, waist, hips, inseam and bust will do. Knowing your measurements is important because sizing standards have changed. Even if you are the perfect size 8 by today’s standards, you may find that vintage clothing marked that size are either too large or too small for you, depending on the era. Accurate measurements come especially handy if you are vintage hunting online and unable to try on the clothes.
Second, think about the current content of your wardrobe. Would those vintage pieces come for everyday use? Or are you looking to make a statement at the next big bash? Perhaps you are tired of looking like everyone else or having trouble finding clothes that look good on you? Whatever your reason for vintage hunting is, you should know what you are looking for. It is easy to get carried away when shopping, so be prepared and make a list of the types of clothing you want to focus on.
2. Know where to go
The vintage hunter has many options. If you want to be able to inspect and try on pieces before buying them, you may want to focus on second hand shops or vintage boutiques near you. Give Google or the local Yellow Pages a go and find out your options. One of the advances of these stores is that the clothes are usually in very good condition and the sales staff is well-informed and clued-up.
Remember that thrift stores and consignment shops can house spectacular clothing and are often cheaper than more trendy vintage stores. Usually, thrift stores and consignment shops don’t accept pieces of clothing that are unclean or in very poor condition so you can find some treasures at really good prices.
If you are shopping online it is wise to understand the function of the sites you usually visit. Some sites are online vintage stores and others serve only to unite sellers and buyers. Try to find a store with a fair return policy. Make sure that the seller provides detailed descriptions of the merchandise, close up photos of any flaws and accurate measurements of every garment. If you don’t see the item of your dreams, ask for it. Or is someone of your favourite bloggers wearing outfits you adore? Keep your eyes and ears open and ask for tips.
3. Successful online shopping
It’s always good to search regularly; for example, eBay allows you to list auction or fixed price items for one, three, five, seven and ten days periods. Many sellers use long periods, so try to do the searches at least every three days or so.
Another good tip is to find misspellings because this way you can find high quality designer pieces that have an error in the title. Not every person offering vintage clothing is an experienced vintage dealer. Often people are just cleaning out their wardrobes and don’t have experience with either selling online or vintage clothes. Get creative! Sometimes it is easier to find a high quality vintage piece searching for a designer’s name or searching on fabrics. Special fabrics, such as cashmere, silk, velvet or mink are the favourite fabrics for many famous designers.
If you find the vintage piece of your dreams, don’t enter your highest bid too early. It is wiser to wait until the final minutes of the auction because you may end up getting the item for much less than if you bid in the first few minutes of the auction.
After being successful a few times purchasing online, it is wise to keep a list of your favourite sellers. If it is possible to sign up to be emailed when your favourite seller adds new pieces of vintage clothing, use this option. If you are looking for good opportunities, browse through vintage pieces by lowest price first. On the other hand, if you need to purchase high quality vintage piece, browse by highest price first. If you have lots of free time in your hands, browse the newly listed vintage items every day. This is a way to make sure that you never loose a great piece of vintage clothing.
All these tips will give you the chance to find all kinds of vintage clothing. Remember that you can build a special vintage wardrobe without spending a fortune. Happy hunting!
