Vintage Hot Tips



Problem 1: You adore it, but it's too small. 

Corsets enabled women to faithfully fashion their figures in hourglass form but since we modern women are far less committed (or is it that we're less masochistic?) to cookie-cutter perfection, we may find it difficult to zip our favorite dresses without ripping the seams. No need to worry-there are other ways to show off your tiny garment. Why not hang it on the wall or display it on a body form? I know what you may be thinking: "I don't want to look like I live in a boutique." And you won't, if you do it right. Don't make the dress the centerpiece of the room; let it serve as an accent. Choose a dress that matches the color scheme and overall aesthetic of the room and you'll be fielding compliments from guests before you've even set out the hors d'oeuvres.

Problem 2: It's too big!

So it fits in the waist and the bust is too big? We can thank the bullet bra for this departure from reality. What to do? Alter it. Episode after episode of Antiques Roadshow may have ingrained in you the lesson that any modification results in a decrease in value. This may ring true for furniture but riddle me this: how valuable is an article of clothing you can't wear? Take that dowdy dress with potential to the seamstress, raise the hem, take in the sides, and flaunt it already!

Problem 3: Pulling it off.

Pulling it off is easy if you follow some simple advice: Modernize it. Don't relive it. Tailor that dress to give it a contemporary fit. Pair a vintage tie-neck blouse with skinny jeans and flats. Wear a 50's shirt dress with new patent leather pumps. Accent a new dress with vintage jewelry. Mix and match new and old to create a style all your own.

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Guide - Caring For Your Vintage Garment

So you've found the perfect item of vintage clothing and it is in wearable condition, but it is discolored and perhaps has some stains? How do you clean and care for the piece, to ensure that it will last for years to come?

First, check your antique linen or garment for places where it may need to be mended. It is best to do any mending or reconstructing before you wash it, as washing can aggravate tears and rips. Then, check for spots that need cleaning. We do not recommend dry cleaning, because the process uses strong chemicals that can damage delicate fabrics and timeworn garments. Instead, use a gentle washing solution. You can mix one gallon of distilled water with 1/4 cup of a gentle washing solution and 1/4 cup of a gently non-chlorine bleach. If your piece is fragile, you can lay it between two sheets of washed cotton fabric. Soak your garment in a plastic tub or sink. Be careful handling your garment and do not wring or swish it around. Fabric and lace is most fragile when wet, and so it is best just to leave the garment in the solution and let time do its work.

After some time, you will see the solution discolored with dirt and residue. Pour out the solution and replace with fresh water. You may need to repeat this process several times if the garment is very yellowed and stained. Lay out the garment in the sun, making sure you turn the garment so that all sides are exposed to sun. For rust spots on whites, you can try sprinkling a solution of lemon juice and salt and place the garment in the sun.

If you are ironing vintage linens, iron on low heat and iron on the wrong side of the fabric, using a thin layer of fabric between the iron and the garment. When storing linens, make sure you store them clean. Never store in a cool, well-ventilated area. You can also store your garments and linens in acid-free paper or fabric bags (linen, cotton or muslin.) Never use plastic garment bags to store your pieces. Do not store in cardboard or cedar chests because the acids in cardboard and unvarnished wood can cause linen to yellow and streak.

By following these simple instructions, you can protect your vintage piece, to enjoy for years to come. re soiled garments or linens as dirty linens encourage mildew.

Golden Rules for Hand Washing Vintage:

You find perfect vintage dress or the 50's circle skirt & it is an extreme bargain and your are so excited fearing your world will whd if u dont snarch it up, then you get it home and you are ready to admire and snuggle it close to your body and finally you see tiny unidentidied spots, oh what to do??? Dont be upset as this guide may help you turn your dissappointment into a salvation of hope. It just requires a few steps, a little knowlwdge, patience and love before your beloved bargain becomes the new dust rag for your record collection.

Important things to remember : always check the integrity of the pieces by determine the content it is made from

Tools needed : washing machine, spot treatment or hand for handwashing

If you attempt to launder in the washing machine here are some quick tips:

• Turn garments inside out
• Check a hidden piece for possible bleeding
• Remove all belts and other attachments
• Use cold water delicate cycle
• Know that spin cycle and the agitator can damage delicates

If you plan to handwash more delicate items keep these tip in mind. Pulling or wringing can damage fibers or cause tears.

• I do not recommend using a dryer. To dry a garment, lay flat between two fluffy lint free towels to absorb water or drip dry on a padded hanger. Another no no is bleach. Chemically it it too harsh for most fabrics. It can also cause yellowing and a breakdown of the fibers.

The methods listed below are just a small sampling of products used to fight stains like permanent marker, blood, mildew, makeup, food, wine, and rust. Always test a small hidden area and check the fabrics' integrity.

• Fabreeze, great for refreshing items just spray and let air dry They just came out with an odor eliminator that really works well on tough smells, just add and launder.
• Fab Detergent, a powerful enzyme cleaner for stubborn stains good for soaking a garment or adding with other detergent for double the cleaning power.
• Downy, cold water wash a great standby for washing delicates like vintage lingerie and cashmere sweaters.
• Lux Soap, a little goes a long way. I use in combination with a soft toothbrush for stubborn stains.
• Baby Detergent, the detergent used for babies is also gentle and powerful for tough enzyme stains.
• Club soda, another faithful standby that helps the stain not to set.
• Lemon juice, a natural remedy that works well on rust and mildew.
• White vinegar, great for underarm discoloration and deodorant staining. Just dab on dab off.
• The sun, a natural bleaching agent in the suns rays help whiten as well as help with mildew killing the bacteria.
• Steam cleaning, a great investment to press your favorite vintage pieces but great to help loosen grime and dirt before cleaning. 

When in doubt you have several options. You can keep it and wear it and love it imperfections and all. I believe that is what vintage is all about.

I hope you have found this guide useful and will have fun shopping on Pieces Of Key for more great treasures.

Cheers! 

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Guide - How to Shop for Vintage Clothing

Love clothes with a story? Looking for unique or period pieces? Worried about the impact of large scale production and sweatshop labour? Want to stick to a budget and get great clothes? Then vintage, thrifting, charity shopping, rummaging... Whatever it's called in your quarter, buying second-hand clothing is the thing for you!

As well as finding one of kind pieces, buying second-hand helps keep your wardrobe fresh, your wallet padded and lessens the environmental impact of textiles production. So what's not to love? Here's your guide to get shopping!

Quality Control

You have found a gorgeous, nay, divine dress. Simultaneously 20s Flapper girl, 50s burlesque star and ultra modern woman, it is as though someone looked deep into your soul and produced an outfit for what they saw there. You carry it into your home, slip into it and... Disaster! You realise it's missing an essential irreplaceable button! Here's how to avoid a potentially heartbreaking situation.

Check for common problems:

• Count the buttons. Count the button holes. Do they match? Look out for reattachments and spare buttons. Don't forget to check zips, hooks and lacing too.
• Run your fingers along seams, checking for loose and wonky stitching.
• Check for tears and holes, particularly on the shoulders and underarms of tops and the back of trousers and skirts. These areas get worn and stretched the most.

And if you do buy something and find you don't like something as much as you thought, don't just throw it out. Recycle it, give it to charity, alter it or start a swap meet!

Tough Choices

Within such a melting pot, it is inevitable that you will have to make some hard calls on what to hold on to and what to leave for someone else to love.

Tips on sorting the wheat from the chaff:

• What fabric is it made of? Wool, cotton and other natural fabrics tend to last longer and are better investments than polyester or nylon.
• Is it unique? Could you find something either similar on the high street?
• Is it a staple or an occasion piece? If you're only going to be able to wear it once or twice, and you don't absolutely adore it, put it back.
• Make a list of items you want, and think about what you already have. Think of any stylistic signatures you have: are you known for your love of leopard print? Revered for your wearing of red? If you see it, go for it!
• Know what you have. Try not to buy with the idea that "I'll find things to go with it": have an outfit in your wardrobe already to complement it.
• Finally, if you're really umming and aahing, buy it. You'll have something to stimulate your creative tendencies, and you'll either be supporting a charity or a friendly local vintage shop owner.

Happy rummaging!

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Vintage Clothing Introduction

Vintage Clothing

Not just because an item is considered old, you can automatically call it “vintage”. Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or secondhand garments originating from a previous era. Just like fine wine, vintage clothes are aged. The more they age, the greater their value becomes.

Generally, clothing made before the 1920s are considered as antique, while clothing made during the 1920s to 1980s may be considered vintage. However, a vintage purist may tell you that anything made within the past 15 years is not vintage, but considered as contemporary. That said, one not only has to check the dates, but also the craftsmanship that goes along with vintage clothing to determine its authenticity.

Vintage clothing was designed to be worn for years, therefore they were made of robust quality and were meant to be passed down from one family member to the next. Garments usually have unusual buttons, hand finishing, hand embroidery, handmade lace, appliqué, beading and other techniques.

Some Tips on How to Identify Vintage Clothing

• Identify the fabric. Read garment labels, compare the fabric to identified fabrics in your closet, at the fabric store or conduct a burn test. If the fabric is synthetic, most likely the garment was produced after World War II. Nylon, the first synthetic fabric, was available to the public in 1940 in the form of hosiery. General garments made of nylon were not widely available until the 1950s.

• Examine the zipper as its location has changed throughout the decades. A zipper in the center of the back of the dress indicates the garment dates to the late 1950s or later. A zipper starting under sleeve and ending at the waist or hem indicates the dress was created anywhere from the 1930s to the 1960s. Before the late 1930s, women wore dresses that were fastened or closed with buttons, ties or clasps

• Observe the cut. Hemlines and sleeves have changed throughout the decades. Hems did not rise above the knee untill the 1960s and armholes were very narrow in the 1950s throughout the 1970s. In ladies' wear, waist measurements of dresses were much smaller in proportion to hip and bust measurements in the 1940s and 1950s as compared to the succeeding and directly preceding decades.

Know Your Vintage Clothing Condition

Undertandably, because vintage clothing is not new, it is important to determine its condition before purchasing. This is especially useful when buying clothes online as it will help you determine if the garment is worth investing.

• Mint – the item is in pristine condition, as when it was originally made, showing no signs of wear
• Near Mint – showing the slightest signs of wear
• Excellent – showing typical signs of wear due to occasional use
• Very Good – the item is considered wearable but has some surface flaws (staining or soiling)
• Good – an item is wearable but cannot be returned to excellent condition even if repairs are made

p/s :buying a vintage pieces should be considered an investment as well as a fashion statement.

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