My affection for vintage clothing goes back to the days when my love of fashion was circumstantially more budget friendly. I would spend hours scouring thrift stores for unique pieces and over the years I managed to amass a healthy collection of weird tees, sweaters, dresses, and purses. I also picked up some passable sewing skills along the way as I learned to revitalize and tailor these well-loved garments.
These days I don’t have the time to thrift hunt as much as I used to, but I still enjoy incorporating vintage items into my wardrobe. That is why I wandered into The Bearded Beagle (“just to look”) a couple weeks ago and walked out with four new tops.
Look 1: Linen Blouse
Blouse – Vintage (Bearded Beagle) ♦ Jeans (American Eagle) ♦ Hat (Brixton) ♦ Sandals (Bed Stu)
I know that linen is typically a summer fabric, but summer and autumn fashion “rules” hold less importance here in LA where the high today, November 10th, was 73 degrees.
I love the cut of this blouse. I would typically pair something flowy like this with a more form-fitting skirt or pants, but I am trying to get out of my comfort zone with this new mom jean trend. Is it working? That remains to be seen.
Look 2: Red Tee
Tee – Vintage (Bearded Beagle) ♦ Jeans (Levis) ♦ Moto Jacket (Blank NYC) ♦ Booties (Matisse)
This shirt was my most favorite of all the tops I took home from Bearded Beagle. It has the perfect fit for my frame and the fabric is incredibly soft. I’m sure it had quite a journey before ending up in my hands.
Look 3: Blue Graphic Tee
Tee – Vintage (Bearded Beagle) ♦ Jeans (Levis) ♦ Bandana – old (Similar)♦ Sneakers (Brooks)
When it comes to shopping for vintage pieces, tee shirts are MY JAM. They are easy to style and add a playful vibe to any outfit. When shopping for a vintage tee, it can be easy to fall in love with a fun graphic (I once found a shirt that had a print of Mr. Miyagi hugging a dog and it just about made me cry with happiness) and overlook a fit or fabric problem. After years of buying many “fun” shirts that sat unworn in my dresser because they didn’t fit right or the fabric was itchy, I have learned my lesson.
These days I search for vintage tees that, first and foremost, must have a soft, breathable fabric. The fit is very important too. I find that the widest selection of vintage tees is usually in the men’s section, but because I am short and have small shoulders, most men’s shirts look comically oversized on me. I have to shop with a careful eye for a narrow shoulder width. A too-long sleeve can be solved by cuffing, and the shirt can always be tucked into a waistband to bring up the hem, but the shoulder fit is essential.
Look 4: Red Polo
Polo – Vintage (Bearded Beagle) ♦Jeans (American Eagle) ♦ Hoodie – old (Similar)♦ Sneakers (Brooks)
Polo shirts give me major mid-nineties nostalgia. In junior high, my daily outfit consisted of a boy’s polo shirt, cargo shorts, pukka shells, knee-high baseball socks, and skater shoes (probably Etnies). I guess I thought that by dressing like the boys I had crushes on they would think I was one of them fall in love with me? The cringe is real.
This outfit is just a fun throwback to my Wannabe SoCal Cool Guy days, though with notably less pukka shells* and a real, grown-up bra.
*With the wave of 90’s trends coming back these days, I am worried that pukka shells are poised for a comeback.
