D.J. AM – I honestly have no idea how many tees I own. It’s pretty scary though. I have hundreds. I am an addict, period. So when it comes to shirts, I indulge. I can never have too many t-shirts. I don’t know the rarest one I own but I’ve never seen another Eric B & Rakim – Paid in Full shirt. Nas saw me in it and seemed almost pissed like “how come that’s not mine?” I think my favorite though is my De La Soul – 3 feet high and rising promo tee. It glows in the dark and has the four questions from the game show skit on the album on the back. And wait,…
J. Crew has come a long way from the East Coast prep look it once embodied. Now it’s a (relatively) affordable style resource for many types of guys, offering versatile suiting for the office man, some broken-in chinos for the outdoorsy guy to wear with a Barbour jacket and, for the arty hipster, a secret-wash shirt paired with vintage jeans. Speaking of jeans, Frank Muytjens, the company’s vice president of men’s design, tells us about the debut of the Levi’s Vintage collection at the men’s stores (available for sale as of today) and gives us a little insight into life at J. Crew H.Q.
She’s having a fantastic summer with the success of her All I Ever Wanted tour, and last night (July 29) Kelly Clarkson took her road show to Columbus, Ohio for a performance at the Ohio State Fair.
Following a groove-filled set by opener Eric Hutchinson, the “Since U Been Gone” songstress took the stage in front of a packed house. Sporting a vintage-style Debbie Harry t-shirt and black jacket … Continue Reading
Our post the other day about “Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future” brought in a larger response than we expected so we thought we’d follow up on it today with a bit of a sound-off. Shockingly, many of our readers were surprised at the message we put forth on Tuesday. Some even thought it was a bit preachy on our part. For those of you who were offended, we have this to say, “We should not have to remind you to be Green.”
Every year, one million tons of textile goods go into landfills. Most of them can be recycled. LA Vintage, has been sorting through twelve million pounds of clothing and five million pounds of shoes annually to help bring that landfill number down just a bit. The vintage clothing you see on our site is the result of these efforts. It has been recycled instead of being thrown away to be buried beneath the earth.
For those of you who are wondering why clothing is considered a threat to the environment when placed in a landfill, think about three of the elements that are common in textile manufacturing: dyes, fire effluents, and fasteners such as zippers and plastic buttons. The latter are often made of plastic, which does not break down over time. Dyes and fire effluents will break down gradually but cause toxicity in the soil.
Shoes offer an even greater threat when they’re casually thrown away. The dyed leather and plastic in shoes can leave an area designated for landfill unusable for decades. Wildlife and vegetation will gradually die off and miniature “deserts” will be created in the midst of high population areas. It doesn’t matter how far away from your home the landfill is. Eventually that desert will spread and affect future generations.
What we just described is the one small aspect of being Green that affects the vintage clothing industry. As a provider of vintage clothing, we feel it is our responsibility to do our part to preserve our environment. Being Green isn’t a fad or a ploy with us. It’s the way we do business, and it always has been.
Are you tired of giving (or getting) the same old gifts on birthdays and holidays? You go to the store and what you see is what everyone else is wearing. There’s no originality to it. If you’re going to buy someone clothes for a gift at least buy them something that’s unique. That where vintage clothing comes in. Every item of vintage apparel is different so you can choose something that best fits the personality of the person you are buying the gift for.
There are two types of people that might enjoy a gift of vintage clothing, men and women. That’s right. You can find vintage clothing or accessories for just about anyone. Everyone has a specific taste that needs to be satisfied when they buy clothes and that flavor is available at vintage clothing sites and stores. All women have a specific type of dress, top, or skirt that they like and all men want a vintage t-shirt and pair of jeans that makes them feel young again.
Even the kids can benefit from a gift of vintage clothing. Check out what your teenagers are wearing. You might have a better shot at getting them to wear a gift from you if you buy vintage. If you are a kid and looking for something for your parents, you can get an item of vintage clothing for a whole lot less than what you will pay for new clothes at the mall. See if you can dig up some old pictures from their teen years and buy them something that looks like what they used to wear.
Birthdays only require that you buy for one person, but gift giving holidays like Christmas involve large groups of friends and family members. Budgets don’t stretch quite as far as they once did so vintage clothing becomes a more affordable alternative that you should look at. Don’t view it as buying used clothing. Consider it the process of purchasing classics. You can have fun with it, too. Buy everyone in the family outfits from a certain decade and go out to a restaurant together. At some point during the meal you might realize that you look pretty good and you’re really comfortable at the same time.
Vintage clothing makes a great gift. Buy a guy a pair of old jeans and a flannel shirt and you’ll see him wearing it more often than any of his other clothing. Pick out a vintage t-shirt for one of your kids and you’ll soon find you have to steal it from him to wash it. And while you’re at it, buy yourself a nice dress from the 80’s and a designer handbag that you just happen to come across on a vintage clothing site.
Do you remember where Led Zeppelin toured in 1972? How about the winner of the World Series back in “68”? Or that slogan that Pepsi used during the 80’s? What was that? Michael Jackson was the spokesperson for them back then, right? No one can be expected to remember all of these things but there is a good chance that these memories are preserved on a vintage t-shirt somewhere.
Vintage t-shirts with tour logos from rock legends, winning sports teams, and even commercial shirts from bygone eras are easily findable at most vintage clothing sites. Purchasing one will help to preserve these memories and provide you with a comfortable and unique t-shirt that your friends most likely do not have. You can put it away as a collector’s item or wear it. It’s lasted this long so if you take care of it there’s no reason you can’t get plenty more use out of it.
On October 2, 1972, Led Zeppelin performed in Budokan, Tokyo. In 1968, the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games after being down 3-1. In 1984, the slogan for Pepsi was changed from “Pepsi Now!” to “The Choice of a New Generation” with Michael Jackson as the new spokesperson. There’s a vintage t-shirt for each of these events and you can buy it at a vintage clothing site.
So how does preserving the past with vintage clothing protect the future? Think green. One million tons of textile goods go into landfills every year and the majority of that is in clothing that people are just throwing away. By buying vintage clothing like commemorative t-shirts you can actually help save our environment. Imagine what would happen if everyone bought just one item of vintage clothing a week.
It’s Monday and LA Vintage would like to ask all of you today to spread the word about preserving the past and protecting the future. Encourage everyone you know to buy one item of vintage clothing this week. It could be a vintage t-shirt, a vintage dress, a pair of vintage shoes, or just an old bomber jacket, pair of jeans, or flannel shirt that looks comfortable. Tell them they’ll be helping protect our environment for our children’s future. If that doesn’t work, tell them they’ll get comfortable clothes for great prices. If that doesn’t work, encourage a different friend to buy two items of vintage clothing.
The following stories have all had an effect on the vintage clothing world in the past two weeks. Celebrity appearances, re-appearances and deaths often have an impact on fashion and the first half of July has seen all three in abundance. We’ve been paying attention.
Here’s our Friday Top Five for July 17th.
1. Release of “Public Enemies” – Johnny Depp has always been inspiring but now he’s become the poster child for vintage fashions from the 1930’s. “Public Enemies” is not only an exciting film, it’s a showcase for some of the finest and most stylish clothing ever manufactured. Expect to see fedoras and formal wear galore this fall.
2. Emma Watson’s Dress Malfunction – Emma Watson (Hermione) drew international attention to vintage clothing enthusiasts by wearing a classic Ozzie Clark number to the Harry Potter preview this week. Unfortunately, the dress malfunctioned and she ended up exposing far more than she wanted to.
3. Stone Temple Pilots On Tour – Scott Weiland is no Kurt Cobain, but his and the 90’s Grunge band’s return to the stage after eight years has flannel-clad, cargo shorts wearing teens from a new generation lining up to hear their fill. Add them to those from the last generation who want to connect with their lost youth and you have a renewed demand for vintage clothing.
4. Michael Jackson’s Passing – Get ready for the return of the red and black leather jacket and sequined glove (not). Michael’s demise has brought about a resurgence of his music and a renewed interest in 80’s vintage clothing is certain to follow. Radio and TV stations are doing Michael Jackson tributes featuring bands, performers and clothing from the four decades he entertained us.
5. Cornhuskers will Dress Vintage for 300th Sell-out – The Nebraska Cornhuskers announced last week that they would dress in vintage 1962 uniforms for their 300th consecutive sold-out game on September 26th. The uniforms will be auctioned to the public in the fall as complete sets of pants, jerseys and helmets. The minimum bid accepted will be $500 per.
Everyone has costume parties in the Fall and Winter, but what about a vintage clothing party in the Summer? The very lack of clothing on those hot summer nights makes it more of a challenge for your guests and you’re more likely to see some of those hot summer outfits from the 60’s, and 70’s. You’ll see short baby doll dresses, mini skirts, low cut hip-hugging bell bottoms, halter tops, and bathing suits that either show all of that great figure or leave a lot for the imagination.
Styles change every year but maintain a common theme for usually a decade at a time. Those same themes come back around in a cycle every twenty or thirty years. Throw a party which focuses on one decade and you’ll be amazed at how much some of the vintage clothing styles resemble the clothes of today. What was once considered “cheesy” or “poor taste” may actually seem pretty cool today. Invite your friends to experiment and have fun with different outfits and you’ll have a party they’ll be talking about for years to come.
Don’t forget to add in some period music to go along with the vintage clothing theme you select. A big hit in the summer seems to be 50’s Beach Party or a 1960’s Love Fest (without the acid). Another theme making a comeback is the Black Light Look from the 70’s, always a cool visual affair with colored sequins and party guests glowing in the dark. Play a little Supertramp and some Jefferson Airplane (before they went into space) and you’ll see a lot of smiling, happy faces.
A good part of the attraction of vintage clothing is the fun that you can have with it. Playing dress-up is something that goes back to our childhood and we never really lose the wonderment of it. Get a bunch of adults together, put them in costumes, play some music that makes them dance or reminisce, and they’ll act like children again. More accurately, they’ll behave like teenagers, without the awkwardness and reckless acts of stupidity. Hopefully.
Barbeques are great, but they get old after a while. Sitting around telling stories is only fun after a while if you invite different people. Spice up your Summer this year by doing something different. Send out some funky-looking invitations, provide your guests some links to vintage clothing sites on the internet, and ask them to show up wearing specific era clothing. You can buy music, get it for free on the web, or as an added twist ask your musically talented friends to bring their guitars over. Life was simpler in years past. Sit around an open fire and sing a few songs with some good friends. You’ll love it and want to do it again soon. Guaranteed.
The term “Grunge” has been tossed around quite a bit since its inception back in the 1990’s but what does it really mean? How does vintage clothing play into the concept? They are actually a good match. The Grunge look, which has caught on as a result of the large musical sub-culture of the same name, has now gone mainstream and become popular even with those who don’t listen to that type of music. The truth is that the look is comfortable and affordable, and that’s where vintage clothing comes in. Let’s look at the clothing elements of the Grunge look and you’ll understand:
*Jeans: Jeans for a Grunge are expected to be torn and dirty looking. It’s okay to tear them yourself if you like but worn and faded looks much more natural. If they’re too torn they could expose things you don’t want showing or leave you cold in the winter. Wearing pajamas under them is okay. Both the jeans (already worn and faded) and the pajama bottoms are available at vintage clothing sites.
* Flannel Shirts: Another item from the past that is popular at vintage clothing sites and worn often by Grunge. A flannel with a ripped sleeve (but not all the way through) is a pretty common look.
*Khaki or Cargo Shorts: Not generally considered a vintage clothing item but they’ve been around long enough to be seen on many sites that offer apparel from the 80’s and 90’s. Definitely cheaper to get them vintage than pay retail.
* Corduroy: Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain both wore corduroy and the corduroy coat has become a Grunge mainstay. You can definitely find corduroy on vintage clothing sites.
* For the girls: Tights, baby doll dresses, boots, high heels and Chuck Taylor’s are all popular items at vintage clothing stores and websites. If you’re shopping for Grunge, you’re shopping vintage.
Grunge, in their purest form, don’t really concern themselves with what they wear. They’ll throw on whatever happens to be available and be okay with it because they’re comfortable with self. The sub-culture, however, has produced a Grunge look that many have adopted and the elements of that look can be found in the vintage clothing market. For some it has nothing to do with the music of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice in Chains. It’s just a comfortable way to dress and it costs a whole lot less than going to the mall to buy clothes.
So what about the dudes, the men who might not believe there is something for them in a vintage clothing store? There are plenty of different items available in the vintage market which will make a guy happy with the way he looks and have a minimal impact on his wallet. The Barracuda jacket, for instance, was sharp looking in the 80’s and is making a strong comeback today. If you find one on a vintage clothing site, buy it. They’re classic and stylish for any occasion.
This is just one example of clothing that was once trendy and is now considered unique. Wearing fashions from a few decades back is okay if you purchase items that fit you and your personality. Fashion is, after all, an expression of self. If you’re a slave to retail or designer clothing then you’ll never really express your own individuality. Wear something unique that hasn’t been seen in a few decades and you’ll stand out as a man with some taste who dares to be different.
Shoes are one area where styles have changed but not enough to be drastic. Other than the slightly different footwear like snakeskin boots, the shoes worn in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are perfectly acceptable and even fly under the radar in today’s business and social circles. Shop carefully and you can come up with some comfortable and stylish vintage shoes for a lot less than what you would pay in a retail store.
Vintage T-Shirts are also a hot item for men. Remember that Led Zeppelin 1972 North American tour? Do you have a t-shirt from it? Chances are even if you were around back then and went to one of the shows you’ve lost or destroyed the t-shirt long ago. If you search you can find one today at a vintage clothing site. You could also find all those sports championship t-shirts for the Niners, Cowboys, Steelers and even the Reggie Jackson led Oakland A’s.
Men who wear vintage clothing generally are free thinkers who aren’t afraid to be different. Michael Richards, who plays “Kramer” on Seinfeld, is a good example. Check out his wardrobe on the show and you’ll see it’s mostly vintage stuff. Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is also seen regularly in the thrift stores and dozens of other male celebrities are opting for the “retro” look more often during awards ceremonies and other functions. So it’s okay if you want to wear vintage clothing too. It’s not just for women, you know.
Everyone has costume parties in the Fall and Winter, but what about a vintage clothing party in the Summer? The very lack of clothing on those hot summer nights makes it more of a challenge for your guests and you’re more likely to see some of those hot summer outfits from the 60’s, and 70’s. You’ll see short baby doll dresses, mini skirts, low cut hip-hugging bell bottoms, halter tops, and bathing suits that either show all of that great figure or leave a lot for the imagination. 
