by Bee Townsend
MAKE DO AND REPRODUCTION
So, you’ve discovered a love of vintage and decided to change your entire wardrobe. After saving, you manage to buy yourself some beautiful vintage pieces and, with full confidence that you’re never turning back, you donate your entire assortment of ill fitting, poorly made fast fashion. Then, upon taking a second look at your new-to-you wardrobe, you realise nothing matches!
This is the woe of the vintage-lover; unlike the all-you-can-eat buffet of the high street, vintage shopping is a potluck game. It can take years to find the pieces on your wish list, and sometimes those key items that would really tie everything together seem entirely elusive. Reproduction clothing (newly produced items based on original vintage patterns) can be a great way of filling these gaps.
Of course, the kind of reproduction pieces you buy will depend on your wardrobe and personal style, but for a vintage novice I would suggest starting with shoes, undergarments, and basic casuals. These items are particularly hard to track down in their authentic form (due to being worn everyday and lacking the care given to occasion pieces), and they really make or break a vintage look.
They say every outfit starts with the shoes, but boy it can be hard to find a pair of wearable vintage shoes that fit! For this reason, my shoe collection consists almost entirely of reproductions. My favourite labels include Lulu Hun, B.A.I.T (But Another Innocent Tale), and Memery Shoes. If you’re picky about keeping things true to the era these brands generally categorise their shoes by decade, making it easy for you to find shoes to match your vintage pieces.
Undergarments are the foundation that fashion is built on. If you want to achieve the silhouette of a land-girl, a Dior New-look model, or a sweater girl, then you should invest in some quality reproduction lingerie. Add a bullet bra, a waspie, and a pair of seamed nylon stockings to your wardrobe and you’ll see your outfits transform before your eyes. My go-to brands are Revival Lingerie and What Katie Did.
Finally, as much as we love vintage style, no one wants to be glammed up 24/7 (unless you’re Dita Von Teese). So, every wardrobe needs good, comfy basics. I love a pair of Freddies of Pinewood 40s style jeans or some Vivien of Holloway Katherine Trousers, paired with a Rocket Originals knit. These items are comfy, replaceable and paired with some vintage accessories, look like the real deal.
Remember, the only rule is that there are no rules. How you mix and match your vintage and reproduction pieces is up to you. By dressing vintage you’re already going against the norm, so don’t be afraid to try something different!