WHY???????

'Why vintage?'

'You've really changed recently, I've never known you to post so many pictures of yourself. Although you do look nice in them. What started all this?'

This is what a friend asked me over dinner one day. I hadn't seen her for 6 months and although my collection of vintage clothing had been growing over the past 18 months, it had gradually been expanding into my social media world and many were beginning to wonder what was going on.

Their former introverted friend had suddenly been transformed into a bright, bubbly, confident extrovert. Previously their friend had never been seen in a dress only jeans and no make up and now here she was in lots of photos and selfies with cat eye liner and bright red lips, tea dresses, circle skirts, bandanas and victory rolls.

This is what vintage culture does.

You start of by purchasing a beautiful swing dress (for me it was for a wedding) and then you try out a matching vintage hairstyle. Next comes a 40s style tea dress and a few bandanas for your hair. Then you visit your very first vintage fair. Before you know it, your eagerly waiting for the next and you start to rummage through charity shops. The thrill of finding that one perfect item, whether its a brooch or shoes or a necklace, that single one item is your treasure. Just like an archaeologist excavating an ancient site in the hope of finding that precious artefact.

This is how I succumbed to vintage. It had always been in me, the interest, the fascination, since I was a young girl. Hearing my parents listening to a 50s mix tape in the car or my elder brother listening to Buddy Holly whilst building a model 1957 Cheverolet in his room.

But what I did not realise at the time was how comforting vintage was. It welcomes you with outstretched arms that embrace you. Reminding you of happy memories gone by. Memories of brightly coloured Tuperware in the kitchen cupboards, dinner being served out of patterned pyrex dishes and caravan holidays, eating breakfast out of a green Berylware bowl. All happy memories.

With happiness, along comes confidence hand in hand. Vintage clothing has to be the most flattering of clothing there is. The quality of the cuts and styles fit superbly almost any shape. It can be worn by all ages, cultures and sizes. Whether you are a size 6 or a size 26 there is an outfit to suit. When your clothing fits well and hugs and skims in all the right places it immediately boosts your confidence. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you then stop worrying about what other people think of you.

It is liberating!

xxx