Vintage Wows

For fashion lovers championing the cause of sustainability, vintage ensembles are pure delight. As most of us love to dig out our parent’s wardrobe to celebrate a special occasion with heirloom sarees or play it cool in classic bell-bottom trousers from the swinging 70s, it’s the timeless charm of the old world that never goes unnoticed. The vintage clothing trends highlight the style of different bygone eras; and, present-day designers are fusing them with modern cuts and designs to make it more relevant for millennials.

While investing is a vintage item that is highly recommended, don’t just look for flattering style but also keep in mind the durability factor. The sturdy, long-lasting fashion items cannot be cheap, so what it is made of, is of utmost importance. According to designer Ishita Mangal, vintage fashion is anything that has lasted for at least 20 years. She says, “The super high waist pants with leather belts and antique buckles; the over-sized blazers thrown on a calf-length pleated dress; the boyfriend t-shirts on denim; the old brogues; the scarves; the mismatched jewellery – these are all trends reminiscent of old times are still relevant for the ongoing season. Vintage fashion is usually something that can be styled in multiple ways on various body types. Take a pair of flared denim and wear them a satin bustier and chunky heels, it becomes a solid statement partywear and when paired with an oversized white shirt and a brown office bag, it becomes the perfect magazine meeting look. These are timeless pieces giving you room to experiment in all seasons.”

For designer Jyoti Sachdev Iyer, buying vintage gives fashionista access to pieces that are never going to be made again. She says, “Buying vintage is also a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint and be a conscious consumer. It depends on what vintage pieces you find, whether it’s accessories or clothes, you can pair vintage aesthetic pieces with modern styles to add diversity to your style and wardrobe. Old rose, Marsala, deep reds, emerald green are some of the colors that come to mind when if you think of vintage.”

Earthy colors, denim cobalt, dark chocolate palette, and ivory whites would be the top colour picks for this trend. Styles include romantic prints, thick denim, sharp collared shirts, oversized blazers, high waist trousers extending till the shoes, big buckled belts, gold chunky jewels, chunky shoes, and minimal makeup with a profound lip. While fashion expert Malini Chawla Saigal highlights some important vintage trends and says, “High-waist, loose-fitted, and mom jeans were quite big and they are now one of the biggest fall trends. Pair them with digital print kurta, silk embroidery jacket, a comfy sari, or a tucked-in blouse. Another big trend is the oversized, plaid blazers along with scrunchies showing up as a key hair accessory for the season. Plazzo sets with puff sleeves, chunky white tennis shoes and vintage scarves are also going strong for fall-winter.”

The present-day vintage dressing encompasses choosing accessories, mixing vintage garments with new, as well as creating an ensemble of various styles and periods. In terms of Indian wear, designer Anjul Bhandari points out that the traditional gharara which was earlier the ensemble of a Muslim bride on her wedding day is back in vogue this season. She says, “The gharara style is being worn by Indian brides and bridesmaids all across the world with some designers also giving it a makeover with a contemporary twist like a sari drape. The traditional ghaghra is perfect for the bride’s friends and can work with crop tops to keep it easy and manageable. The Peshwa Saluki, which is a play on the straight suit with a gheredar jacket that is fully embroidered with chikankari is ideal for no dupatta, no fuss trend. For Indian wear, traditional weaves, embroideries, silhouettes, and techniques such as Chikankari and Mukaish, zardozi, Parsi Gara and marori are classic vintage staples.”