For the longest time in my life, I was in limbo when it came to very necessary things like my look, my style, my tone of voice, my persona and things like that. It took me ages to figure it out but I like to think that along the way, I got in touch with my inner self but didn't quite know that at the time until very recently.
When I started my blog/company i.e. Barbara & 1923, I actually hired a strategist who figured out that one of the innately unique things about me was the fact that I loved being comfortable and I loved classics. Along the way, I figured out my love for vintage style was unchangeable - shoes, clothes, designs, colours, hairstyles, accessories and even pictures.
People always ask why so here are 5 reasons why I wear vintage pieces and why I think you should too.
1. It is affordable
Don't lie! As much as you love to wear the latest designs and even trends sometimes, you really don't want to be using up all your hard-earned money to get clothes that you'll want to change after a couple of years. For me, clothes aren't really my thing but I love the style, cut, fit and even fabric of vintage clothes + being a cheapskate? There was no way I was going any other way.
2. They are great as discussion points
Ever went to an event and struck up a conversation based on mutual interests? Happens to me all the time actually and my outfit is usually one of the hot topics of these conversations. From the style of the cut, to the fabric or how I'm wearing it, my clothes have always been an identifier and a topic of discussion in different places.
3. It's a support for small businesses
I've only ever gotten my vintage outfits from Instagram stores. My patronage means their business thrives and when people admire the clothes on me, they, in turn, will also patronise those businesses. Overall, these small businesses will thrive from this patronage, hire staff and improve the economy as a whole.
4. They are often more durable
I have 'true' vintage outfits I got from my Grandma and I have some I've purchased over the years from way back as old as 8 years ago (some are even constant favs whenever they make a feature). While I'm not careless with clothes, we all know those favourite items that either wore out or tore or ripped cos the fabric was tired. I've had my fair share of those and can say for sure that the vintage items I've owned had to be given out if I got tired of them. Here are 3 clothing items as evidence
My fav multi-coloured Jacket
Left: A workday at DDB Lagos in 2015. Right: Hanging out with Banke Meshida-Lawal when the Lekki store launched in 2013
Left: A midnight shoot at home during the COVID lockdown in 2020. Right: At the first Beauty Africa Expo in 2015
A V-neck red top
Left: A midnight shoot at home during the COVID lockdown in 2020 (same top with jacket above). Right: Daily OOTD updates when I worked at MTN Nigeria in 2014 (same top at the Beauty Expo with the jacket above)
A blue multi-colour skirt
Left: At the one and only WIE (Women of Africa in Entrepreneurship) conference in 2014. Right: A work day at Ogilvy Africa in 2019
5. More value for money
I've gotten old designer items that are not produced anymore before as part of a vintage purchase e.g. a Balmain dress with the old Balmain logo, a Nina Ricci blouse which I only realised it was Nina Ricci when I wore it the second time to work (I was super stoked)
The best part for me is how well my thrift N2k finds go so well with my N20k modern items. So, you can go right ahead and do a mashup of the old and new if straight-up old-school isn't your thing.
Convinced yet?
Might take a while but worth it if you ever want to try vintage clothing sometime.
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