Sometimes I’m kind of sentimental about my clothes. I’m definitely that way about my jewelry. Most of the items I wear daily/near daily have a story or a person attached to them. For example: my wedding ring, a super simple diamond necklace I got from my husband, the cuff I got on my anniversary last year, I even have my mom’s old watch sitting on my dresser waiting for a new battery. I love items with a story attached to them.
That’s kind of what thrills me about vintage clothing. I wonder who wore it before me? Was it an old man professor, or a housewife baking pies or someone who worked their fingers to the bone? I like vintage because of the history and it feels like the item is one-of-a-kind.
In my estimation, vintage clothing will be near-extinct one day. Because so much of what is bought and sold today is of subpar quality and often made from synthetic fibers, most of today’s clothing won’t live long enough to be ‘vintage.’ Fifty years ago people spent a higher proportion of their income on their clothing and it was an event to buy something new. They bought fewer items because clothing was expensive. Most apparel was still made in the U.S. and it was usually built to last. Today’s vintage market will attest to that.
Part of the allure of vintage clothing for me is also the styles. Sometimes it’s hard to find a modern take on what you’re looking for (like a big chunky wool cardigan) and vintage comes up with the answer. I found this hand knitted wool sweater (made in the Donegal Highlands of Ireland!) on Poshmark. It may be a touch professor-ish, but I’m embracing that. It’s extremely warm and notice anything? No pilling. Not sure how that’s even possible, but maybe vintage wool is more sturdy than today’s wool.
STYLE NOTES:
Last week, I shared all about my take on ‘uniforms’ and this outfit seems to fall into the Alt 1 category. This explains why I felt so darn good when I wore it the other day. We headed to a local science museum and I spent the afternoon following my kids around. I knew it was a good outfit because I hardly thought about it once it was on.
Army Shirt | My husband’s from bootcamp. It’s softer than a baby’s bottom. I almost threw it out a few weeks ago because there’s been a big ugly bleach stain on it for years. But then my smart hubby suggested I just cut that part off. Boom! Now it works well as a women’s T-shirt. Similar option with an Oregon vibe (size up for loose fit).
Vintage Cardigan | Found mine on Poshmark, but I scouted a few Irish versions on Etsy: very similar, crew neck cardigan, pullover. Be sure to read measurements closely when shopping vintage.
(DIY) Cropped Denim | I’m wearing an older pair of Flea Market Flares from Madewell, but I’d suggest you try this dead-sexy version, which is made in the USA.
Saddle Bag | Cuyana
Ankle Boots | Loeffler Randall
Cheers,
Andrea
I have almost the exact same sweater but cropped, knit by my great aunt many years ago… you’re giving me courage to rock it ;)
Yes! You should!! Cropped sounds super cute too. I love that it was made by your great aunt.
Love, love , love the sweater! I have a few sitting in my favorites folder on Etsy and on my watch list on eBay. I was going to buy one last month but it’s been so warm here I kept putting it off. I still may pull the trigger on one this spring to have in the mix for next fall. I have loved them since the 90’s, so I think it should be a good investment! I want to get an oversized one, although then there’s the possibility I will have to share with my husband. :-)
It is definitely on the warm side! That is so cool that you remember them from the 90’s. I remember a lot of 90’s fashion but not these. I love the quality of it, and of course the texture. Husband-clothes sharing can be fun! Unless you both love it too much…
Note on pilling from a wool / textile history nerd: softer wool has a lower micron count (basically a measurement of fiber diameter) and shorter fibers, so it pills more easily. I know that there are genuine skin irritation concerns for some people, but overall I think we’ve convinced ourselves that we need the softest fibers at all times for all garments, when really we just need our next to skin layers to be soft, and we can stand for our outer layers to be made of more coarse wool. Cashmere cardigans are lovely (and super low micron) but they just don’t wear as long and well as cardigans made from mid-grade or high micron wool, like those classic “fisherman” style cardigans. Yours is gorgeous, by the way :)
Thank you Jess! I was hoping someone would weigh in on this arena. That makes a lot of sense! I agree, I think we kind of have ridiculous standards for how wool should feel. Thanks again for your insights!
Great outfit, Andrea! I completely agree about piling on vintage sweaters. It’s virtually nonexistent. I don’t understand why I have decades old cashmere that looks terrific while my newer sweaters look worn and pill terribly. If anyone knows what he answer, please share.
Regarding the saddle bag, do you think it would fit an iPad? I’ve been looking for a structured messenger bag that isn’t too heavy and this might do the trick.
Thanks so much!
Alex, you should read Jess’s comment, she totally weighed in on the pilling factor.
As for the saddle bag, what size of an iPad? I don’t have one so I’m not too familiar with how big they run.
Great sweater–looks like it will be very versatile, and has a great story. Coincidentally, I read about those Irish sweaters on Dritgirl last week. She posted some great videos by this older gentleman and his passion for Aran sweaters. Minimalist fashion is such a small world!
Also, I’m with you on the pilling issue…I wonder what it is about newer manufacturing that even more expensive things pill, it’s not just the fast fashion that seems to do it. Sigh.
Check out Jess’s comment! She totally clued me. And I think I clicked on that link over at Dritgirl. I don’t remember the video, but I liked what I saw about the sweaters. Must have stuck in my head, ha!!
Can I ask how you figured out sizing? Most don’t come with a specific size.
Shopping in person! I think it’s way too hard to try and do it online. But if you absolutely had to, I’d measure a pair of your favorite jeans, and then ask the seller to provide measurements of the jeans you’re looking at and see how the two compare. Between vanity sizing and years of washing and drying, the tag size is almost pointless!
I’m not sure how long clothes will last with the quality of duds dropping so I hesitate to call them vintage, but thrift stores seem to be thriving! I can always find great…fast fashionish clothes for $5-$6! I won’t shop from retail outlets myself. The human and environmental cost is too great.
Fast fashion causes really fast turnover – people want the newest style or color. I also think stuff shrinks more and we change size, causing even more stuff to end up at thrift stores.