Monday, February 27, 2012

But don't vintage clothes.... SMELL? (Sponsored by Monday's Child)


That's right, I have the coolest sponsors. On this bright and shiny Monday morning, I bring you a sponsored post from our lady Celia.

Hi folks! Assuming you're not completely over me after #BOOBSWEEK, I'm back to share my knowledge of vintage fashion, why you should consider wearing it if you don't, and why it's a fantastic option for your wedding. Now, before you go telling me that vintage clothes are just old rags that smell bad, let me school you a little. Thrifted clothes (which, I'll add, also have a special place in my heart) are what you're thinking of when you picture "old" and "smelly." But vintage, TRUE vintage, especially if it's been well preserved through the years, is quite the opposite of that. For those of you who aren't aware, I own an insanely rad collection of vintage clothes (if I do say so myself) that mostly comes from one woman's estate, and that happens to, believe it or not, NOT SMELL.

At this point, I've been wearing vintage for most of my life, and I'm not here to tell you that it's because I'm cooler or more vintage than you. I grew up going to private schools where I exclusively wore uniforms. "Free Dress" days are a pretty huge deal when you spend most days of your life wearing the same exact thing as the few hundred other kids you're constantly surrounded by. I discovered and became a fan of vintage because it was my way to stand out. If shopping at the mall meant looking like everyone else in non-uniform clothes, then I wanted absolutely nothing to do with places like The Gap and Contempo Casuals. I found individuality through wearing vintage, and it is why I still wear it today. When I saved every dime I had to buy myself a 1940s black satin gown for my prom, there was absolutely no fear of running into some other girl wearing the same exact dress. And on that note, don't think that vintage is so outside of the norm that it can only be outrageous or wacky. Although there are certainly many pieces that lean toward the more unique end of the spectrum, vintage can also be very simple and classic.

If you're new to the world of vintage, I understand that it can feel somewhat overwhelming. Simply put, if you get to understand the different eras and fit, vintage clothing starts to become a lot less intimidating. The first thing you should know right off the bat is that modern clothes are made to look good on hangers, whereas vintage clothes were made to look good on PEOPLE. Most vintage garments really don't come across so hot when they're just hanging in a shop or closet, so it's very important to give stuff a chance even if it looks stupid or unflattering. For the most part, it's impossible to tell how most vintage pieces are supposed to fit or lay until you literally put them on. I can't tell you how many times I've looked at a dress and thought there's no way I could ever sell it, and then been blown away once I slipped it onto a dress form. This would be an example of such a dress. When I pulled it out of storage, it looked like a tablecloth with sleeves, but was surprised to see that in reality, it had a lovely shape (it's not pinned anywhere on the form).

Also in regards to fit, a common complaint I've hear throughout the years is that vintage clothes run so much smaller, and generally speaking, this is true. HOWEVER, it is extremely important to remember that up until the 70s, women wore SERIOUS undergarments. And by SERIOUS, I mean that those ladies knew how to contain their wobbly parts and floppity milkers. Older pieces were made to be worn with these gut-cinching unmentionables, so always keep that in mind if you have it stuck in your head that vintage simply does not fit your body type. I'm not saying you have to invest in some Spanx, but you should at least consider it.


Alright, let's move onto the real reason I decided to write this post. Since this is a wedding blog, I'd like to share my brand spanking new BRIDAL selection with you guys. I think it's safe to say that most of you who read East Side Bride aren't exactly conventional brides planning conventional weddings. This is exactly why wearing vintage is such a brilliant choice for your wedding. You don't have to buy a traditional wedding gown to look like a bride. Shit, you don't even have to buy a traditional vintage wedding gown to look like a bride. As I've been digging through my collection in the past few months, I've come across a number of dresses that I would've LOVED to have been married in.


When it comes to wearing vintage for your wedding, the possibilities are endless. I think many brides fear the idea of looking dated in a vintage wedding gown, and I totally get it. Although that very classic look is stunning in its own way, it is definitely not a look that all brides can or may even want to pull off. But why not consider looking beyond typical wedding gowns? If you don't want to stray too far from the norm, there are a plethora of white/off-white/ivory vintage gowns and dresses out there that would work perfectly for a wedding. Also, make sure to keep in mind that all you need to modernize a vintage piece is to properly accessorize it. Personally, I find this to be one of the best examples of a bride WORKING a vintage dress, and managing to still look up-to-date.


If you're a more adventurous bride, color is always a great option. I find that brides who are willing to wear color tend to stick with pastels, but who says you can't go insanely bold and surprise all your guests? No one who matters, that's who.

Oh, and one last thing... make sure you don't forget about your awesome bridesmaids. After all the love and support they've provided, don't they deserve to look killer, too?


Thanks again for having me, guys. And don't forget, true vintage is timeless and gorgeous. Not smelly.

22 comments:

  1. ugh you have THE most killer selection. that reserved barely pink wedding dress? i gasped when i saw it. question, celia- how does one reserve a piece with you? say, if we're hunting for a particular shape or color would it be a good idea to contact you & see if you have something along those lines?

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    1. aw, thanks! you can always pay a nonrefundable deposit to reserve a piece. i totally know what it's like to love something and not be able to afford it right away, so i'm totally willing to work with people.
      if you're looking for something specific, just shoot me an email. i still have TONS of inventory that needs to be listed, so i just might have something that will work for you. in fact, i've been working with the one and only caftan bride to help her find a dress to wear to a wedding in the south of france. ooh la la!

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  2. i only take issue with your definition of thrifted. doesn't that just mean that it was purchased at a thrift store? that does not automatically mean smelly, and can often mean vintage. just sayin.

    also, aaaaaaaaaaah gorg!

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    1. AH SHIT SHIT SHIT this is me, jamie

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    2. Jamie, although I agree that it is possible to find true vintage along with the hundreds of pairs of bongo jean shorts in thrift stores, as thrift store shoppers, you and I are very well aware that the salvation army has a certain *scent*. The difference between shopping at a thrift store and buying a garment from a vintage seller/dealer is that you're getting an item that's been properly cared for. My items have been cleaned, treated for stains when possible, had zippers replaced if need be, and generally combed through for any imperfections that can be fixed. If you can name one thrift store, not vintage store, where they apply the same attention to detail, I'll fold. ;)

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    3. OH MY GOD i would never imply that a thrift store does what you do. LORD NO.

      that doesn't mean that, with dedicated "thrifting" you can't find a vintage piece in amazing condition.

      the difference is you have to put in the WORK.

      in no way am i devaluing your product AT ALL. i just don't want you knocking on thrifted shit. ;)

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    4. whatev. @esb. just like, my way of acknowledging that i screwed up. and am now continuing to.

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    5. i know, sweets! just making sure other people who read this who aren't as familiar with the thrifting/vintage world don't get the wrong idea.

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  3. Tailoring is SO important. I love the structure built into dresses from the 40s-60s and the way that they skim or move away from the body to create an insanely flattering shape. I rarely look as good in new clothes as I do in vintage.

    My dress (thanks for the shout-out Celia!) was several inches too big all over and I had a great tailor take the entire thing in, dart by dart and pleat by pleat to keep the original details. I adored the way it turned out.

    Can I also meantion that vintage wound up being super affordable (compared to a traditional wedding dress)? Even with painstaking alterations, my dress cost less than $400.

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    1. Seriously. I bought one vintage dress for $300, changed my mind, bought another for $400, got that one tailored and STILL didnt spend as much as a brand new gown. Seemed like a no-brainer to me!

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  4. gross admission #442: i have a bit of nostalgia for the thrift-store smell. not when it's actively nasty, and i get it out of the clothes i thrift promptly, but y'know, in the same way ian frazier likes the way russia smells. you get that wave of old book glue and musty upholstery and think, "ah, yes. the world of bargains."

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    1. i'm inclined to agree.


      but i do wash my hands when i get home.

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    2. ugh i wash my ARMS when i get home in case they grazed something groadey

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  5. i shower, but let's be honest: i do that when i get home anyway.

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  6. i shower, but let's be honest: i do that when i get home anyway.

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  7. Hi

    Caftan Bride here. Just wanted to say that Celia is definitely the most patient, helpful and all-round ace person to work with. I had absolutely no idea what I was going to wear and she's managed to sift through my rambling missives to narrow down what it is I'm looking for.
    She's an absolute gem. Brides, go forth and seek out Celia and her dresses.

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  8. Hello, just weighing in for UK brides and because I need to make a decision . . .
    I'm about to go for a second look at a vintage wedding dress - this very afternoon! I'm in London and I went to Fur Coat No Knickers http://www.furcoatnoknickers.co.uk/ on Saturday. It was awesome, they have a selection of beautiful vintage dresses that you get to try on and they're also dress makers so they'll adapt the dress to fit you perfectly or to fit in with your ideas.
    Very relaxed, very calm and fun atmosphere, no pushy stuff and a really good shop.
    I loved lots of the dresses and I've put one on hold, but it's budget-busting. These don't come cheap, I've done a bit of googling, there are other vintage shops I could try or I could attempt Etsy and Ebay, and find a good seamstress which would be a lot cheaper. Or I could get everything done with these guys and I like them a lot. If I'm in love with the dress this afternoon I think it'll be worth it. Well I wrote my decision out . . . ace.
    Ta, Bride of East London x

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  9. I have such a soft spot for vintage - it is like being part of a love chain - someone once loved that piece - they you fall for it - and if you look after it - so will someone else!
    Somehow vintage demands you take better care.

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  10. This post on traditional vintage wedding dresses is as valuable as a piece of real history. It is really like feeling the past on your skin and the way you look wearing vintage clothes is like taking you back to better times when you were younger and the days were brighter.
    Even today’s youth who didn’t have the chance to wear this type of clothes, might be greatly benefited by changing the one-fits-all modern clothes to the classier and more personalized vintage clothes of different eras. Even the 80s has really nice clothes to offer which have passed the test of time, and because their owners simply love them, they have kept them in immaculate condition, smelling much nicer than newly bought pieces of clothing.

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