For the past two and a half years, I have been curating my own vintage collection and selling it in the basement of my mom's store, Marmalade. It began as a way to earn a little extra money during my college summer breaks and grew into an actual small business venture for me. I noticed that high-waisted shorts became a staple for girls my age, so I sifted through local thrift stores to find vintage Levi's and Wrangler's to make distressed cut-offs on a rack in the store. This rack grew to include t-shirts by the end of that summer, and then on to a full store by the next summer. As I started collecting more items, I noticed a trend of the things that I was attracted to. Unconsciously, I was drawn to items that I saw in magazines, runways, and street style. I loved high-waisted denim, pleated skirts, and oversized blazers that were frequently spotted on the most popular fashion girls but also likely found among your mom's old clothes. And I think that is what first interested me in collecting vintage clothes. I could interpret runway looks by using vintage clothing. That soon became my goal when buying for my store. I wanted the merchandise to be a reflection of what I thought was either timeless or trendy. I avoid 50's style dresses because bodies have changed and they are hard to fit. I favor items from the 70's, 80's and 90's with a select few 60's pieces. I want to make sure the fabrics are in good condition and wearable, always assuring that the garments smell as fresh as possible. I don't like the idea of looking stuck in 80's. I want to preserve the well-made pieces and encourage people to shop more second-hand. Vintage fashion does not have to look dated if it's styled differently than it once was before.
In partnership with Found Shop Vintage, I styled a shoot using all vintage clothes to reflect my favorite 2018 trend for fall. As white blouses dominated the Instagram scene for the summer, I wanted to find a way to carry the western and prairie trend into fall. Shot in film, I created a couple of layered looks that are eclectic and modern, but also celebrate the beauty of the past. A trend for then, a trend for now, and hopefully a trend that will carry itself into timelessness. Check out my looks below and how you can achieve the look for everyday.
Denim on Denim
An outfit formula that is certainly not new but very relevant. This is the most basic outfit to achieve that western look. I paired it with more of a feminine secretary blouse to avoid a look too literal. If you are looking to dive into the trend but do not know where to start, it is here!
Jacket Layering
Using a printed jacket from Found Shop, I wore it over a long buttoned-up jacket (worn as a dress) with a high neck ruffle top. To wear it more casually, I would swap the blouse with a tee and wear the both jackets open over jeans. It was also time to ditch the cowboy boots for some Dr. Martens.
This is jacket layering... part two. Wearing a delicate dress in colder weather is only possible with layering (if you live in a chilly climate). With this collared dress from Found Shop, I paired it with two coats and boots. I have read in magazines that layering jackets is best done when the shorter one is under the long one, but I like to break the rules. I wanted to show off the fringe on the blazer. Because the coats are the same color, it looks more like one piece. The monochrome effect creates a streamlined look whereas multiple colors would look too choppy. I would also add any color of tights here and maybe a Chelsea boot.
A lil' Fancy
white blouse. Sans horse print jacket, I think that a sheer skirt and puff-sleeve blouse would look stunning at a holiday party with heels and sparkly jewelry. You can wear opaque tights under the skirt or a slip. The blazer is a nice masculine touch for the pretty fabrics here. PSA: Chanel also debuted similar looks from their Pre-Fall show I wanted to create a dressed up ensemble that still captured the rugged western feel. The jacket is a thrift store find that is a quite literal take on the western trend with the pattern (yee-haw). I played with monochrome again with a sheer shirt and literally as I was writing this.
Layer a Summer Dress
Floral print 90's dresses like this one is a staple that I carry in my store. I love to pair these grunge dresses in the summer with sneakers. While it is floral, it does not need to be cut off when the temps drop. Here, I layered it over a classic white button-down and a reworked jacket from a Gunne Sax dress that I bought at Found Shop. This dress was gorgeous on its own but too small for me. I decided to take out the back zipper, open it up, and wear it reversed as a jacket. Longer jackets like this are a statement piece to be worn over basics like jeans and a tee or a simple dress.
I really enjoyed my time styling and shooting these looks with Found Shop. I usually steer clear from overly "trendy" items, but, on the contrast, I like to experiment and embrace the items that I believe will last. In my opinion, the classic Americana western look will always be "in". Small accents such as a hat or belt with your everyday uniform can make a big impact if you don't want to go all out for the full look. I guess during this process I realized that I have a lot more Wild West/North Idaho girl in me than I thought.