Vintage: Is it just a fad?

If you pay attention to advertisement these days, you can't help but notice a trend of buying preloved clothings everywhere, from shops to pop up stores around town. Does it ever occur to you why the owners of these beloved items decided to let go of their treasures, and what were the reasons they bought those items in the first place?

I have always loved anything VINTAGE but mind you there are different ways of interpreting the word. Vintage could mean expensive designer label items previously owned by someone  or it could mean something 'old' / 'worn' which you could find in charity shops that cost a fraction of the original retail price. I am sure each one of us can relate to one designer or another, adoring one brand over another. I am a die-hard Chanel aficionado and to me, it is the essence of the label, the timelessness of the designs which attracts me at the start; and only after I read about Coco Chanel and her life did I fall for the brand even more. Her personality is imprinted in her designs and products; even long after her death, not to mention the superb craftmanship and her legacy which I personally find extraordinarily impressive.



I can't afford Chanel, nor am I a woman of high maintenance. As a personal stylist, I enjoy expressing my authenticity through mixing and matching my treaure finds in second hand shops. Inspired by the Chanel runways,  I am at a passing phase of donning classical, Chanel-ish personality which captures the spirit of Coco, so recently my wardrobe is filled up with lots of pearls and tweeds, minus the Camellia and Chanel No.5..


Making an investment in designer label clothings is all about weighing up the pros and cons. It is haute couture vs fast / cheap fashion. I appreciate the care and meticulousness of the seamstresses at the atelier put into individual garment. However, not only our tastes and preferences change and evolve over time, the high maintenance of those garments including dry cleaning and proper storage must be considered before making purchases as such.

Having an online boutique where I sell unique pieces handpicked from Europe and Australia, I am attracted to the Spanish designer label DESIGUAL lately, something on the opposite side of the spectrum to Chanel. It says a lot about my attitude and personality at this time of my life...a need of colour and sparkle, diversity and looking youthful, the texture of some of the dresses I bought might even suggest a change of my lifestyle to come!

I have nothing against designer labels but admire the designers for their creativity and sense of style. However, I don't advocate buying the limited edition unless you have the extra money for indulgence in high end fashion.Instead,  I encourage my clients to delve into their psyche to re-discover themselves (through my style personality analysis) and wear her essence with the existing pieces that they own or which they found in second hand shops. Talk about sustainable fashion...