Why not Vintage?

I began this blog with hopes of helping those struggling with wearing vintage or being an old soul in a modern world. In fact, I was dealing with such problems myself. Since I was 15, I developed an enormous passion for Old Hollywood/Vintage styles. Since then, I delved even deeper into history--one that I embodied since childhood to be frank. I grew even more interested in Victorian/Edwardian or Tudor to Celtic history. Nevertheless, I think back to when I was 15. I started acquiring vintage pieces and wore them to school for the majority up until freshman year of university. It was during this time that I began noticing the stares I got around me on campus. I began to notice how I was the only one that wore such vintage clothing(at least that I've seen among my peers), and felt self-conscious and uncomfortable. I didn't like having such attention on me. So I did what I thought was best and by my second year, had gradually decreased the amount of vintage I wore to the point where I only wore such classic pieces occasionally. I did end up feeling better--not getting stared at constantly or judged. I found myself somewhat dressing up more like my peers. Looking back at it, it just doesn't feel right either that I dressed the way I did to assimilate. I look back then to my high school years, and how I often dressed vintage and didn't notice how people viewed me weird. I just did what I liked and was happy. Why such different sentiments at university?

Well these days, I look at those Vintage/Retro YouTubers that I follow, such as Rachel Maksy and Bernadette Banner--I admire their passion, their ability to easily create such vintage clothing replicas, and their lack of care for criticisms and stares. I dream to be like that. To be able to freely dress as from whichever decade I pleased--to show my passion for history. Maybe just not during university but once I start to work...

On a good note, my experience in France greatly helped me develop a comfortable enough hybrid of my passions and want for less criticism. I managed to incorporate classic enough yet loved vintage pieces into my daily style--to dress in ways that could be labeled as retro yet acceptable in today's society. I wore a 1940s coat I bought in England most of the time--mixing it up with timeless pieces, such as a somewhat loose white button up and skinny Levi's, with oxford shoes. I wore turtlenecks with skinny jeans or mom jeans with retro-looking flats, and a headband for a 60s feel. I wore a dress with a large pointed collar for a 70s feel. I would sometimes curl my hair into that 40s Lauren Bacall look with my classic outfits or do a french messy curl. I adopted an English style in a sense. I must say, it may have also helped that I was in France, where fashion was more maintained and timeless--more "dressy" compared to their American counterpart.

Back from France, I found an online store, "Adored Vintage" that sold both authentic vintage pieces as well as vintage-inspired modern pieces. This seemed perfect for me. I could delve into my love for vintage whilst dressing up rather "normal" in a sense. I managed to find a blouse reminiscent of Edwardian blouses though modern-made--suggesting its timelessness for today.

With such advancements in style, I hope it will be enough for when I return to my last year of university without having to look too different from my peers or feel self-conscious. Perhaps, with such gradual rediscovery of vintage/retro fashion--I may soon be well returned to my path of true vintage fashion in daily wear.

So, why not vintage?