I have to say I was thrilled at Beauty Plus Power’s Vintage finds post, particularly since Minneapolis is rich with consignment, thrift and vintage stores and very poor in vintage options. That said, vintage isn’t all hearts and flowers; I’ve actually avoided it when I could fit vintage pieces because of a well-meant fashion disaster years ago, when my mother sent me off to homecoming in a pink fifties shift that my grandmother owned. I was too young to really carry the style well, and besides, it had pockets - so not appropriate for a homecoming dress. Now that I’m older and have more control over how my wardrobe is executed, I can give the look considerably more thought, especially since I’m definitely built for the 1940s styles.



Dress in vintage well, and with caution.



Here are a few tips I would suggest:

• Know how the clothing was worn in its day; it’s well worth looking at old costume books from the library. Once you understand this -




• Be deliberately anachronistic. Those of the newer punk generations have this down; it can be subtle, from chocolate boots instead of heels, to extreme, like a striped shirt underneath the dress bodice. If you’re more conservative, blazers layer well over old-school dresses, and since the blazer wasn’t introduced until women became prevalent in the workplace, it’s a perfect piece of anachronism.




• Go easy on your vintage piece - the fabric is older, and in most cases it’s been worn and washed many, many times. These are pieces you MUST handwash.




• Keep accessories small - a single charm bracelet or scarf. If you’re wearing vintage, keep the focus on the vintage piece.