Recently I took a stab at four general vintage-wearing personas, modes of style that you might choose for every day, or flit between. One of these styles, The Vintage Mixer, generated a lot of comments. It seemed to need expansion.
First, a quick review. In that previous blog I proposed that there are—
1. Wear-with-alls: Not driven by vintage, just looking for a unique, quality vintage piece here and there
2. Time travelers: The total look, hat-to-shoes right out of a vintage Vogue
3. Walking works of art: Creative and bold, using vintage but not necessarily all vintage
4. Vintage mixers: Mostly or all vintage, put together from various eras
That last type? Too broad. I'm now proposing these four distinct types of vintage mixing personas:
All-vintage Mixers
Era mashing
The Era Mashing Mixer is a purist about wearing mostly vintage, but as to which era, she is an iconoclast. For one outfit she may mix a 1940s jacket with 1970s wide-legged trousers, a 1950s blouse, and a 1960s bag. This might be done with purposeful harmonizing, or ironic wit.
Zara wearing a 1940s hat and belt, 1950s sunglasses, a 1970s polka dot dress, and a 1980s marabou jacket. I love that #justbloodywearit is her constant hastag and motto! Courtesy of @zeebeezsazsa on Instagram
SPECIALIST MIXERS
Showcasing collections of specific vintage pieces
The Specialist Mixer might see herself as a collector, connoisseur, and wearer of certain favorite vintage items in particular. She may tote vintage handbags, or cuff herself in vintage Bakelite bracelets, wear vintage modernist-print Vera scarves or pieces from the 1970s by Yves Saint Laurent. Her wearable collections may be estimable.
Just two of the many amazing vintage bakelite bracelet stacks the vintage maven Sandi of @lorrelmae has shown on Instagram. (Also, check out her Etsy shop!)
MODERN/VINTAGE MIXERS
Interested in vintage, but interested in modern fashion too
Modern/Vintage Mixer types may seek out vintage that interprets new styles, or new styles that echo vintage. Not one to set aside the present state of fashion, but also fascinated by the past, the Modern/Vintage Mixer is a creative blender of the old and new.
People that I know in this group are sometimes motivated by the green side of vintage, being anti-fast fashion, careful to be sure their modern fashion purchases are ethically and sustainably made as often as possible. Sometimes their contemporary pieces consist of the basics, and they use vintage as the mainstay of their wardrobes.
Stop and ask! says Nicole, @theartyologist on Instagram and blogging (about vintage, sustainable fashion, art, and photography) at theartyologist.com
INSPIRED-BY-VINTAGE MIXERS
The goal is the total look, sometimes using vintage repro clothing
This mixer contingency may not be able to find what they need in good shape and in the right size (at the right time), or simply want to wear something that looks vintage that they needn’t worry about if jitterbugging or pruning the rosebush. Often these mixers are close to Time Travelers, their full-on vintage look created with a certain amount of repro vintage-style clothing. The Inspired-by-vintage Mixer might, for instance, wear repro shoes and jeans with an authentic vintage sweater and scarf.
Photo from the account of Instagram's @missharlowdarling; also be inspired by the Harlow Darling blog
What do you think? Do you wear your vintage like any of these stylish mixologists?
I you enjoyed this, you might like my book Wear Vintage Now! Choose It, Care for It, Style It Your Way, available now!