Antique Capelets and the Magic of Vintage Fashion

Antique Capelets, and the Magic of Vintage Fashion

I found this antique capelet at an Orange Country thrift store for about $10. This piece is a work of art! It hosts a rainbow webbed tassel trim, silver medallion embellishments, and elements of traditional Asian art sewn into the backing, making this piece incredibly unique.

I fell in love with this capelet when I first saw it. It’s antique ‘patina’ really makes it extra special to me. The fact that this piece is so old yet in great condition and vibrancy really takes vintage fashion to another level. I paired the capelet with a simple brown dress to make the piece the sole statement.

Anyone can buy an expensive name brand purse for new. But can you argue that it is any more beautiful than this shall? It blows my mind sometimes how you can find amazing treasures by shopping secondhand. I have been able to save so much money by switching to a sustainable wardrobe, yet I feel that the complexity of my personal style has grown to be more interesting and beautiful.

The definition of an antique is an object with a high value because of its considerable age. I like that definition because it’s so different from what current culture and advertisers shove in our face each day. The mentality that buying the hottest, newest things is always the right solution. When it comes to fashion, I have to disagree. There is a particular richness toward a beautifully made piece of clothing that was made fifty or a hundred years ago that I can wear today. What someone thought was beautiful and worthy then is given new life with the same appreciation as I wear this capelet in 2016. How amazing is that thought?

I encourage you to take pride in what you wear, and to choose something with a little history and zest behind it. It’s an oddly satisfying, grounding experience to rewear the clothing of those before you. When you understand that secondhand shopping helps heal the environment, it’s silly to sneer towards the idea of thrifted clothing. Accept the truth behind the façade of what advertisers have coaxed you your whole life. Rocking secondhand clothing is cool. Secondhand clothing is logical and affordable. Secondhand clothing makes a lot of sense.