Tips for Dressing Vintage!
+ A foolproof method for deciding what vintage decade suits your style
Whether dressing for a costume party or building your everyday personal style, I have some tips for “dressing vintage.” If you’re not sure how to identify which vintage pieces fit your style or what to search for, stick around—At the end I’ll share a foolproof method for defining your vintage style using Pinterest and a pen/paper!
1) Look at Photos!
This might sound obvious, but my biggest tip is to look at real-life photos of what people actually wore! You might be surprised by how garments were paired in everyday life, which can inspire new ways to style pieces you already own. While fashion magazines, films, and TV shows are great resources, they often showcased only the most expensive, couture designs. I prefer finding images of regular people in their daily lives because they offer more practical inspiration.
For example, when I was researching women’s pants from the 1920s, I scoured fashion magazines and couldn’t find anything. But after looking at photos from rural Minnesota communities, I found dozens of examples! If you’re unsure where to start, I have a Pinterest board featuring my favorite extant images and garments from the 20th century—check it out here!
2) Choose Cohesive Accessories
When it comes to accessories, consider the occasion! People in the past were practical, especially pre-1970s, and certain garments were reserved for specific events. If you’re wearing a 1950s cocktail dress, pairing it with saddle shoes (which teens often wore) might not make sense because those shoes were considered too casual for an evening look. Likewise, a 1980s professional working woman probably wasn’t wearing suspenders wither power suit… Think about the occasion, age, season, and time of day. While assembling a 1920s evening look, I went through countless photos and realized evening dresses rarely featured gloves—this discovery changed my whole look!
Of course, personal style comes first. If you like mixing “non-cohesive” pieces, go for it! Style is about creativity and expressing yourself. This is just a starting point!
3) Hair & Makeup
I recently saw this TikTok by my amazing mutual Isabel Chan (@_isabelchan_), where she styled a plaid set, probably from the 1970s(?), but her iconic hair and makeup made it feel distinctly 1920s! Hair and makeup trends have been incredibly specific through the decades. If you’re really into a certain era, spend some time learning about its signature beauty styles—or develop your own vintage-inspired twist.
If you’re just experimenting or feel like your outfit seems "too modern," adding a few vintage touches to your hair and makeup can make a big difference.
Finding Your Style
If you’re unsure what decade or vintage style suits you, try my quiz—or use THIS foolproof method that I love:
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