The thrill of the chase

For as long as I can remember I have always been found rummaging through vintage stores searching for that one off magical piece to add to my collection, it is the thrill of the chase, like finding a diamond in the rough..I am and always will be a lover of vintage.

As time goes on, fashion tends to look to the past, meaning old styles and vintage pieces can fit easily into a modern wardrobe.

At Mills and York we always get asked, how do you define vintage?

First used in the early fifteenth century, the origin of vintage traces back to the French word ‘Vendange’, meaning wine harvest, and denotes the vintage date given to every bottle to showcase its value. Since then vintage has been given a whole host of different connotations making it difficult to understand just exactly what a vintage piece of clothing means today.  The general rule is that for an item to be labelled with the term it must date back to a different era. The further back you go the more vintage it becomes. For better quality, invest in pre-1970s as this was before the grand arrival of polyester and when quality took priority of quantity! 

It has never been easier to look more up to date wearing a dress that was made 60 years ago! Investment pieces, one off designs, luxury labels from past decades there is plenty to discover in the world of vintage. Fashion has shifted. Aside from an increased awareness of sustainability, vintage fashion fits neatly into the wider mood of the Instagram age, where authenticity and originality – not being seen in the same outfit as anyone else – are highly prized.

What better way to stand out than to wear clothes few others are likely to own?

 

Co-Founder  M&Y Sophie Gunnersen