Vintage Glory

After our Sunday Sushi lunch tradition, Hannah and I decided to pay our old friend, the Exchange District a visit. She wanted to show me a new Vintage store which had opened up shop a few months ago that apparently housed many good "finds." Of course, I was excited about the lower price point being on a monitored budget as of late - and who could resist a good shopping day with the big sis?

It got me to thinking; Why is going Vintage so alluring and why has it been an integral part of retail history? As we entered, we were quickly greeted by the sales associate and that familiar smell of vintage musk. I immediately went to work to try and uncover these good "finds." Not long into my rummaging did I soon figure out why going vintage was so fun and so necessary...

It's the thrill of the unknown - you never know what you're going to discover. And once you've located that certain "find", you know that it is one-of-a-kind. On top of that, you will probably be the only one among your group of friends to have it. And if those weren't good enough reasons, then the money you saved in buying vintage probably is.

For the apparel industry, vintage is that cool older sister that hands you down her gently used dress, necklace, purse, shoes, sunglasses, wallet, or what have you. Her history is written all over that treasured item. It's this constant recycling that allows forgotten labels to be rediscovered through generations of hand-me-downs. And for established labels, finding that vintage gem only solidifies its importance and value in apparel history.

In my many years of going vintage, I have learned to be a bit more discerning in what ends up going home with me. I have come up with a simple list of making this sometimes tedious shopping task - a little easier.

• Always ask the question: where else can I find this? Is this one-of-a-kind?
• Ask yourself if you can wear it with at least 3 different outfits
• Ask the owner/associate about the history of the item (who wore it before you?)
• Look at the condition of the garment/accessory/etc. to see if it's worth buying and/or restoring
• Look at the price! Remember to try and negotiate. After all, the purpose of going vintage is to find affordable treasures!
• Bring a companion! The more, the merrier! And plus, having many eyes heightens the chances of unearthing more great "finds"

From my Blackberry

Here are some shots of some things I found interesting to share. I always look for three things: Detail, colour, and proportion.

Left: a brown leather embossed pouch. Right: purple weaved and beaded renaissance heel shoes.

Left: a green and yellow knitted pouch with front beaded details. Right: brown leather embossed handbags.

Keep it Fun!

I found a very cute pair of sunglasses. I've never quite seen anything like it before. A pair of shaded specs dangle from a chain on either side, that you hang on your ears. The result - it appears as though you are wearing shades and pendant earrings. It's a very fun piece that I can picture being worn with a dainty summer dress. It's definitely for those who don't take themselves too seriously!

My $10 Purchase

I ended up buying a simple brown embossed wallet. Now this is a good "find"!

Overall, it was another successful vintage shopping date with big sis. If anything, it's more of a social experience, knowing that each item in the boutique had a previous life and owner. The vintage experience is quite like no other shopping experience - you're interacting with the past.

If you're a vintage newbie, make sure to visit Vintage Glory on 88 Albert Street in Winnipeg's Exchange District. The owner, Doug makes going vintage easy, fun, and relaxing - by hand picking the selection from other vintage stores, the Salvation Army, and from his travels. The Glory was all ours.