Do you prefer shopping for vintage clothing or fast fashion items, and why?
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I used to love vintage/second hand shopping. Charity stores and all. I no longer have enough time though, one really needs to be prepared to visit often and look with enthusiasm. Prices are also much higher now, some second hand items are more expensive than new - and I don’t just mean Hermes.
Nowadays my focus is good quality fabrics which means I don’t do much fast fashion either, (unless it’s cotton, pure linen or silk) I have a ´relationship‘ with a good Taylor who adjusts things for me or makes them from a pattern.
I look out for my old wool/cashmere coats and adding new silk lining makes them a joy to wear.
Nowadays my focus is good quality fabrics which means I don’t do much fast fashion either, (unless it’s cotton, pure linen or silk) I have a ´relationship‘ with a good Taylor who adjusts things for me or makes them from a pattern.
I look out for my old wool/cashmere coats and adding new silk lining makes them a joy to wear.
I like both. Just because something is vintage and it is a good fabric doesn't mean it is quality. I once bought a vintage matching top and short set and as soon as I sat down the threads came undone. I am glad I was at home when this happened. Someone literally gave it to thrift on its last thread. I am a very careful and a little weary on thrift but if I bring it in it has to be something super unique. I am also plus size. The majority of plus size is fast fashion.
Neither. The only vintage shopping I do is from my mom’s closet. I stopped doing fast fashion a long time ago because I can’t be bothered. It is a better use of my time and finances to just buy something once ( even if it costs more upfront) and be satisfied and happy with it for the life of the piece. My local Chanel boutique offers complimentary dry cleaning and alterations as my weight fluctuates up and down. My local leather worker has worked miracles on boots or shoes that I thought were goners. No landfill contributions from me.
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Great youtube video that discusses the differences btwn vintage clothes vs modern day fast fashion for anyone interested.
I am team vintage all the way and cut all fast fashion consumption out years ago.
Thank you 🙏 so much for posting this - it’s easily one of the most well researched videos I‘ ve seen. Shocking really!
I was glued to my screen while watching! It explains so much, and sadly, appears the state of fast fashion is even worse than I thought.
I read most of the popular books on the problems of fast fashion depleting the planet, destroying our chic with poor quality and unsafe as well as exploitative working practices. ‘Overdressed ‘ ´how luxury lost its lustré are a couple that spring to mind.
This video is actually more informative and up to date- but I would be interested in any recommendations of books on the subject.
Vintage hands down. I am very exacting when it comes to clothes. If you're younger, it's harder to grasp how much things have declined so I'd recommend even if you're not into vintage, just touching and holding vintage clothes and learning the feel of good silk, cotton, linen and so on.
I generally don't like to be down on synthetics in clothing because they're so useful in certain cases like technical clothing and really strong and durable thread. But I did recently learn that washing plastic clothes in washing machines is a leading source of microplastics in water. Almost all plastic is made from fossil fuels. These days, I'm trying to avoid plastic where I can.
Like someone mentioned earlier, great vintage doesn't have to be a known designer. While I love a good designer score, some of my favourite pieces are by unknowns. One favourite is an old silk dress from the 50s made for Simpsons, a Canadian department store that no longer exists. It has a tiny, cinched-in waist to emulate Dior's New Look. Feels like owning a piece of history. One treasure is a dress with a label that says it's union made in the US. The tag shows the union logo for the ILGWU and everything. While researching the piece I bought, I found this commercial.
I get that fast fashion is more affordable and convenient. And that wages have been very depressed and have not at all kept up with cost of living. That's why watching the union commercial above was really sad at first for me. But I also think it proves that things can be totally different. How we work and live and make and buy things can be totally different.
I generally don't like to be down on synthetics in clothing because they're so useful in certain cases like technical clothing and really strong and durable thread. But I did recently learn that washing plastic clothes in washing machines is a leading source of microplastics in water. Almost all plastic is made from fossil fuels. These days, I'm trying to avoid plastic where I can.
Like someone mentioned earlier, great vintage doesn't have to be a known designer. While I love a good designer score, some of my favourite pieces are by unknowns. One favourite is an old silk dress from the 50s made for Simpsons, a Canadian department store that no longer exists. It has a tiny, cinched-in waist to emulate Dior's New Look. Feels like owning a piece of history. One treasure is a dress with a label that says it's union made in the US. The tag shows the union logo for the ILGWU and everything. While researching the piece I bought, I found this commercial.
I get that fast fashion is more affordable and convenient. And that wages have been very depressed and have not at all kept up with cost of living. That's why watching the union commercial above was really sad at first for me. But I also think it proves that things can be totally different. How we work and live and make and buy things can be totally different.
Great thread! I do shop both, but by far most enjoy the hunt at vintage/second-hand/thrift. Fast fashion can be good for basics, like t-shirts, and I stick to better quality makes and natural materials to keep buying from them to a minimum.
But all my favorite pieces are from Salvation Army/Goodwill/Value Village as well as high-end consignment boutiques. Often too if it's preloved, I feel more at liberty to get creative and crafty with modifying them. For example, dying a silk blouse I found for 25 cents (!) or cropping a H&M/Erdem t-shirt that was large. By far my best score has been a pair of Brunello Cucinelli black jeans at Value Village for $17.99 (about $12 US)!! All of my jackets are vintage - a Burberry trench, a Mackage leather moto jacket, a Levis denim trench, and my Lululemon hoodie that I wear to/from the gym that was only $2.
It does take time so I get it's not possible for everyone. But I feel good about getting more use out of something that someone has passed on and the saving$$$$!
But all my favorite pieces are from Salvation Army/Goodwill/Value Village as well as high-end consignment boutiques. Often too if it's preloved, I feel more at liberty to get creative and crafty with modifying them. For example, dying a silk blouse I found for 25 cents (!) or cropping a H&M/Erdem t-shirt that was large. By far my best score has been a pair of Brunello Cucinelli black jeans at Value Village for $17.99 (about $12 US)!! All of my jackets are vintage - a Burberry trench, a Mackage leather moto jacket, a Levis denim trench, and my Lululemon hoodie that I wear to/from the gym that was only $2.
It does take time so I get it's not possible for everyone. But I feel good about getting more use out of something that someone has passed on and the saving$$$$!
OMG
I knew a lot of this, but to have it all spelled out....ouch! The average consumer today adding 68 new articles of clothing per year vs 12 back in the 1980s?!?! That's nuts! Gives me ever more incentive to keep shopping vintage and as mindfully as I can.Another thing that was interesting in this video...her fashion "pyramid" where fast fashion and mall brands have collapsed into one. But she still kept department stores and luxury above. Imho, almost all designers and retailers have collapsed into one mess. Most of those department stores listed are struggling, and many of the so-called luxury brands have been shown to use sketchy production and materials to maximize profits.
One more suggestion I wanted to add about shopping second-hand....if you have a husband/partner, see if you can "shop" his/their closet. I've altered a lot of my husband's discards - cut off the legs of his jeans that had worn through in the knees to make jorts for myself, altered his old suiting shirts that he no longer wears since retired to fit me, wear his sweaters. Don't buy "boyfriend" style cuts when you can get them from the source!
I prefer shopping for vintage clothing because it offers unique, high-quality pieces with character and history. Vintage items often have better craftsmanship and help promote sustainability by reducing waste. Fast fashion, while convenient and trendy, tends to prioritize quantity over quality and can contribute to environmental and ethical concerns.I wear a lot of vintage and antique in addition to things like my J.Crew, my modern denim, my raw denim, my Target collabs. I look mostly at construction of garments when I shop no matter the price point. With vintage I feel like I have something super special to me--the silhouettes are incredible and especially in my much older pieces a wonder to look at the construction. Years ago I started thrift shopping for cost reasons (back when thrifting was real cheap!) and I loved building a wardrobe that was very me at a fraction of the cost. My most special acquisition was a vintage Versace ready to wear dress--an above knee dress, two false flap pockets on one side, and a square neckline. My favorite thrift store (RIP Thrift Town) had color tag sales and money was tight for me, but I took that beauty home half price at $20! I still remember looking at their color tag sale of the day sign and matching it with my tag and all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears! I never could have found something so beautiful and perfect anywhere else. I wore it to my high school graduation, a New Year's Eve fête, and yes I still have it.
I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to laundry and I end up air drying a lot of things, like special tees and all my denim. I used to mix my own oxiclean until I broke down and bought a giant tub of it. Even my tees and whites get the deluxe spa treatment.
I try to buy things that will last. That said, I still have a Forever 21 studded cotton moto jacket from 2013 that I can still wear. It's lost a couple studs and the cuffs have gotten worn, but whenever I clean it I throw it into a full load of towels inside out in a mesh bag and air dry it. It tickles me that I still get a lot of compliments on this jacket and I'm so happy that it has lasted! I’ve also found brands like Shapermint helpful for finding staple pieces that hold up well over time.
I have been very happy to pass along or resell some of the things I've fallen out of love with because I love caring for clothes
I feel the same way about vintage, particularly mid century designers, that used to be relative bargains. I do have a few pieces of fast fashion that I’ve owned for many years. I love them and mix them with my more expensive pieces. In my closet, fast does not mean disposable. Like some members who posted upthread, I do have a tailor replace silk linings, and I’ve kept items that I’ve bought new in the 1990s, early to mid aughts, and beyond. If you take care of them, they last.I wear a lot of vintage and antique in addition to things like my J.Crew, my modern denim, my raw denim, my Target collabs. I look mostly at construction of garments when I shop no matter the price point. With vintage I feel like I have something super special to me--the silhouettes are incredible and especially in my much older pieces a wonder to look at the construction. Years ago I started thrift shopping for cost reasons (back when thrifting was real cheap!) and I loved building a wardrobe that was very me at a fraction of the cost. My most special acquisition was a vintage Versace ready to wear dress--an above knee dress, two false flap pockets on one side, and a square neckline. My favorite thrift store (RIP Thrift Town) had color tag sales and money was tight for me, but I took that beauty home half price at $20! I still remember looking at their color tag sale of the day sign and matching it with my tag and all I could hear was the blood rushing in my ears! I never could have found something so beautiful and perfect anywhere else. I wore it to my high school graduation, a New Year's Eve fête, and yes I still have it.
I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to laundry and I end up air drying a lot of things, like special tees and all my denim. I used to mix my own oxiclean until I broke down and bought a giant tub of it. Even my tees and whites get the deluxe spa treatment.
I try to buy things that will last. That said, I still have a Forever 21 studded cotton moto jacket from 2013 that I can still wear. It's lost a couple studs and the cuffs have gotten worn, but whenever I clean it I throw it into a full load of towels inside out in a mesh bag and air dry it. It tickles me that I still get a lot of compliments on this jacket and I'm so happy that it has lasted!
I have been very happy to pass along or resell some of the things I've fallen out of love with because I love caring for clothes