How do I wear vintage 'now'?

Shopping for vintage can sometimes seem a bit daunting. Finding a piece that works with your wardrobe, wondering whether you'll really wear the pre-worn garment, and searching for styles that fit into the current trends in fashion are all issues that can arise... even when you're in love with what you've found. At the Ruff Life, we offer vintage pieces ranging from dresses with 50s silhouettes to 80s inspired business attire.

 But how do you put an outfit together that's 'in' now? If we look at the 2013-2014 autumn and winter lines of top designers like Bottega Veneta, Carven, Marc Jacobs, and Balenciaga (to name a few), we find that these couturiers are not only looking to the future for inspiration, but also returning their gaze to years gone by to reinvigorate their collections. This movement toward paying homage to the past in the fashion world is ever-increasing; some designers, like DKNY, Givenchy, and Prada, are even dusting off old patterns and silhouettes from past collections and sending them back onto the runway. 

Keeping this in mind, we can take a side-by-side look at the vintage pieces offered at the Ruff Life with the biggest trends for the current and upcoming season. From over-sized coats to pleated skirts, our vintage garments and accessories can give you the sophisticated, fashion-conscious look of major designer brands without the burden of spending hundreds or even thousands on a single item. 

1. Oversized Coats

Size matters this fall and winter! The bigger the coat, the more you'll start to resemble the runway looks seen in Paris, Milan, New York City. Pastels and bright colors are also on the rise even during the autumn and winter months. Just because it looks less than ideal outside, why should we have to look just as dreary?

Lanvin coat 

60s Swing Coat, $42; Necklace, $24

Mixing textures with fur or leather is a technique used by most designers for this season, especially with jackets and coats. You can get this Mulberry look by pairing our Pendleton jacket with a simple leather purse and heels.

                 

Mulberry textured coat with fur lining

Pendleton Fur-lined Coat, $86

2. Metallics

Remember the bright metallics from the early 2000s? Well, they're back! From silver to light blue, from dresses to winter coats, this brilliant little addition to a garment can add that wow factor you've been looking for without being too "flashy." It's a great alternative if you prefer a little shine to be-jeweled items. 

Marc Jacobs silver metallic suit 

Silver jumpsuit $15

Prada blue metallic winter coat

Ruff Life Vintage Lilli Ann metallic blue coat

3. Pleats  

Pleats are very popular, especially when it comes to skirts. Those clean lines, like the ones featured in this Jason Wu gown, add class to an already beautiful color. Our Mr. Chaus vintage dress echoes this trend while maintaining that 60s vintage feel with its elongated, knife-pleated neckline. Pair it with gold accents and a textured purse to finish off the look.

Jason Wu gown for Fall 2013

Mr. Chaus Vintage pleated dress, $26

4. Capes and Wraps 

To add a little something extra to your wardrobe, try a cape or a wrap. Either of these choices will add a little extra panache to the outfit you've got on. Here we can compare shape, not necessarily texture or design. However, our cape offers protection from the rain... something you don't see very often in this style. 

Chloe, gray cape 

Vintage rain cape at the Ruff Life 

Similar to the cape style, the wrap provides some extra coverage in the cooler months while giving you that Old Hollywood glamour. This white Celine dress below is an example of the wrap and its renewed presence in high fashion. Our blue vintage dress, with its subtle floral print and 50s silhouette, also features a matching wrap. 

Celine dress with matching wrap

Blue vintage dress with matching silk wrap
          

5. Texture 

In the fashion world, designers have been playing with the theme of texture and patterns. Fur (as we saw previously), leather, embroidery, checkered weaving... the possibilities are endless! So, what will you choose? Here are some examples of our looks that fit this description: 

Retro Bottega Veneta red wrap dress

Ruff Life woven red dress with front tie $34

To match this Tory Burch look, you can add patent leather pumps and black tights.

Tony Burch dress suit with
checkered fabric

Vintage pastel pink dress suit with
checkered weaving

                 

6. Bags and Purses: Texture and Geometry 
Following the accessories trends on the runway is interesting. For the most part, the accessories are following the same patterns as garments themselves. Texture, like the checkered weaving pictured above, is common. These bamboo purses, shown below, exemplify that mixture of texture we discussed before. The red has the checkered embroidery and the bamboo handle; it's oh-so-similar to this Bottega Veneta bag... and who is really going to know the difference, right?

Bottega Veneta woven purse 

Red Bamboo Purse $24 Red heels $18

Geometric shapes in purses is another theme you can see in the newly arrived and upcoming lines. We can compare our Ruff Life bags to one of the new Prada purses below.

Prada Black Lines Bag

Ruff Life vintage black leather purse

             

7. Neck scarves

A really fun way to spice up your wardrobe this fall and winter is the added touch of the neck scarf. With the possibility of wearing it so many different ways, it's a wonderful staple to have!

Miu Miu Neck Scarf

Leopard print silk neck scarf $6

                           

 -Ashley Davenport; Retail Assistant at the Ruff Life Lingerie & Vintage