BY KUHOO UPADHYAY
Vintage clothing has been back in style for a while now. What once started as a way to be more sustainable while also standing out from the crowd, has now become mainstream and the new normal with more unusual pieces surfacing every day. Thrifting clothes have become the new aesthetic and I can’t say I’m against it. From horrendously colourful patterns to dad vests, 90s fashion trends have been brought back through ironically wearing these pieces and making them the hottest looks of our generation.
Let’s start right at the crux of it, one of the most influential young women of these past few years has undoubtedly been the seemingly uninhibited Youtuber Emma Chamberlain and she has taken the fashion world by storm. Her quirky style has been an influence to an entire generation of people and I’m pretty sure VSCO girls were her unintentional creation. Emma is the kind of person who isn’t afraid of colour and makes a statement with her outfit, which is why people usually have very polarised opinions when it comes to her.
The edgy turtleneck under a band tee, or a ‘The Twilight Zone’ one to reiterate the irony, horribly long dad shorts, tracksuits, woollen vests and more, you name it, she’s worn it. And to be quite honest, she’s pulled off every single one of those pieces. One of the most important things about fashion is not just putting a cute, trendy outfit together; it’s more about it being a reflection of how you feel on the inside. Some people make music, some paint and like many others, Emma puts together outfits as a means of expression.
Let’s get into some tips to switch up your wardrobe a bit and tailor it to the vintage worn outlook that’s all been the hype until, well, it’s not anymore.
1) Turtlenecks
Layering a tight turtleneck under any outfit, a strappy dress, an oversized t-shirt, a shirt, really anything will give your outfit a much more refined yet 90s angsty teen look that we’re all obviously striving to achieve (or at least I am). It allows for a more put-together, rugged look, however paradoxical that sounds.
2) Mom Jeans
I’m sure pretty much everyone has hopped on the bandwagon for these pants so much so that it has become a wardrobe essential for many (me included).
Again, these jeans are wonderfully versatile, but I personally love tighter tops or crop tops that expose some midriff for a less lumpy look. One could also either butterfly knot a shirt or tuck in a top. The best thing about this vintage trend is how blurry the line between typically men’s and women’s clothing is–you could easily achieve an androgynous look with all of these pieces together. But make sure never to leave your top untucked because then you’ll lose the illusion of the hourglass figure we’ve all been conditioned to believe we need.
3) Patterned T-shirts
Grab any hideously patterned oversized t-shirt and throw it over a tighter top or a halter neck with literally any pair of pants to keep the theme going and voilà! You’ve got yourself a crazy chic outfit with minimal effort required.
4) Lace
Since wearing legitimate lingerie out and about might not be the norm or the most comfortable thing to do, one way you can do that is by layering it over a more plain outfit like a basic t-shirt and jeans to add some personality and a wonderful pop of colour.
5) Coloured Pants
Investing in some long-lasting durable pants will make you seem chicer than you actually are and like you actually think about your outfits. This is a good fix if most of the clothes you own are more on the neutral side so that your bright bottoms go with most of the stuff in your wardrobe. You can get good use out of them and make a statement every day.
I’m sure you’ve heard some version of what you just read before but alas, it’s better to have some of these ideas under your belt than struggle to catch up because I don’t think this aesthetic is going out of style anytime soon.
