Vintage, Alterations, Celebrities, Dresses, Fashion Designer, Haute Couture, Marylin Monroe

How Does Something Become Vintage?

Travilla sketch- jenny dixon- jennydixoncouture.com
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What Is Vintage?

Vintage is a colloquialism commonly used to refer to all old styles of clothing or objects. This indicates that the item is at least 20 years old. While an antique is an item that has been around for at least 100 years. In fashion vintage had started in world war one as a way of reusing clothing because of the textile shortage. During this time wool was needed for the solders uniform’s and linen was needed for the airplane’s. This was the start of the make do and mend lifestyle.

When Vintage Becomes Iconic.

The Burberry trench coat was famously worn by British officers during the great war. Originally known as Tielocken and was designed to protect the solders from harsh weather.

The D-ring belt loop was used for attaching small items like maps. Later the trench coat was modified for the masses and the Burberry coat is still an iconic piece today.

William Travilla And The Dress.

Another iconic garment: created by William Travilla is the white/ivory cocktail dress that screen siren Marilyn Monroe wore for the 1955 movie The Seven Year Itch. Not to forget the shocking pink gown Monroe wore in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blonds. On average a Travilla gown and fetch anything from $467,34 – £360.25 to $1, 755.81 – £1,354.20 per gown.

Another famous vintage piece was the little black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 flick Breakfast At Tiffany’s. A style which  has been replicated over and over for more than 50 years. A very popular but current little black dresses the Versace safety pin piece worn by Elizabeth Hurley to the premier of the 1994 movie Four Weddings and a funeral, yes this is now classed as vintage.

Originally costing costume designer and dressmaker Jean Louis $1,44o.33 – £1,110.16 Marylin’s “happy birthday, Mr President” gown sold for $4.8 million – £3,698.880 at Julien’s Auction. On average a Travilla gown and fetch anything from $467,34 – £360.25 to $1, 755.81 – £1,354.20 per gown.

Vintage And The Celebrity.

With celebrities constantly being in the spotlight of the public eye is difficult. While to us it looks glamorous, to be followed by photographers but it can be a lot of pressure. Not to mention being scrutinised by the media and society mostly for the way you look and how you are dressed.

Now one of the many upsides to this kind of lifestyle is the access to endless amounts of clothing from different designers old and new. To keep their looks fresh many celebs would opt for vintage pieces. normally resulting in having the piece altered as these garments were likely to be one of a kind.

Kate Moss famous for her style and lifestyle hit the spotlight in the 1990’s on the catwalk’s of London Fashion Week. Grunge was the “new look” and due to many of the popular bands of the time experimenting with drugs, the waif look was in. Moss’ career went from strength to strength and soon she became a style icon. Her iconic look was Boho chic which she would mix trendy thrift shop finds and modern designer pieces to complete her look.

Vintage will always be of interest not just to the celebrities but to all of us. Born in the early 80s I look back at images today, watch videos and wonder what we were all thinking! but also how much fun it would be to have those pieces again to wear for fun.

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