vintage

Vintage, not a mere “USED”

Treasure hunting

In Japan, the age of 20 is a big year. We get many gifts and blessings from parents, grandparents, relatives, and literally everyone we know.
When I turned 20, my parents asked me what I wanted for my 20 years celebration. A new bag, dress, shoes…? Perhaps that’s what they were expecting me to say.

However, I said I wanted my dad’s pair of jeans and my mom’s trench coat.
Since my teenage years, I have always enjoyed sneaking into my parent’s closets and randomly trying on their clothes. (I hope they are not reading this blog…) For me, their closet was a load of excitement, like a treasure box.

Vintage has a STORY

My dad gave me a pair of jeans from Gianfranco Ferre. He bought it when he visited Italy 30 years ago. It was the first trip to Europe with my mom, he said.
My mom then gave me a trench coat from Burberry. This was what my dad gifted to her 30 years ago.

These two pieces have some personal stories connected with my parents. They aged with them.
Yet, my parents were happy to give them to me because they liked how their favourite pieces would be worn more frequently, rather than being just stuffed in the closet.

Aged, but never actually
Even after 30 years, they are perfectly holding up. The shape and colour beautifully remain. Because of their high quality, they last over decades, and their value never fades.

I love my parent’s vintage items not just because they are “vintage”, but I do enjoy wearing them because I am giving a new life to the pieces of clothing, which is something truly special.

I brought them here in Italy, and guess what? I went to my first fashion show in Italy with my coolest one. The first pair of jeans my dad bought here 30 years ago.
I can’t wait for another 30 years with these two pieces.

So what is your story with your vintage items?

*

A piece written by Kotono Sakai, a Japanese girl studying history and fashion at Cattolica university in Milan and interning for suite123

Vintage, not a mere “USED” Read More »

What if I don’t have money?

What if I don’t have money? This is a question we are asked frequently, from young people and those who don’t have much money to buy quality clothes but want to change their lifestyle, cutting out fast fashion. What can they do? What are the options?

This is a topic we have explored and discussed many times with our community. We know about the reality, the tough times we are experiencing all over the world. Also, we are all in the same boat, so we have to find solutions together. Uplifting the lifestyle of our community is a crucial step.

First of all, we believe it is a matter of educating ourselves to consume differently, a conscious choice on our part. And there are things we can do, which perhaps require a little creativity.

No money, but much style

When we were young, we used to transform our clothes. For instance, we used to take a pair of denim jeans and unseam the legs. Then, give them the shape of a maxi skirt with a front or back slit, and resew. Same procedure for the short skirt version.
Grandma’s white linen slip-dress worn with a belt and a nice cardi became a summer dress. Don’t forget vintage ties! They can be cool belts. Training yourself to see and wear items in a different context is just a game of fantasy and style. So, open your family closets and play!

Vintage pieces are the perfect timeless choice. Investing in some good vintage pieces should be on top of your list. We just want to clarify what we mean by vintage: clothes coming from past years or decades. When we see second-hand fast fashion clothes sold as vintage on some resell platforms, we cry. That is not vintage! Vintage has a quality that lasts for decades, not what fast-fashion can offer!

How to build a timeless wardrobe

This is our advice to avoid the look of a character who jumped out of Grease. We would suggest buying only two new quality pieces, one top – one bottom, and mix them with the vintage. In this way, your outfits will be modern and unique.
Timeless quality items will stay with you for a very long time. If you can, just add two more the following season and keep on mixing the new ones with the vintage. The ability to mix, by the way, is the fun side of fashion and the true essence of style.

So, replying to question: What if I don’t have money? Instead of eating up whatever brands make with the sole intention of making us over consume, by using a little creativity we can update our clothes. Give them a new life and mix them in a new way. We can renew our wardrobe even with a limited budget.

We are grateful for the quality of our interactions that keep the discussion alive. Thank you, community!

What if I don’t have money? Read More »