Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Why Do We Love Vintage?



Changing Trends
We love everything old and classic, of course, and we're going to guess you do, too. At one point, people wearing "outdated" clothing were a small, weird group, but in recent years, this has begun to change, and vintage style has become more acceptable in a wide, diverse set of social circles. It's becoming clear that every day a few more people join us in being excited about styles from older time periods. Why is this, though? Why do they -- and we -- love all things vintage as much as we do?

Timeless Style
Earlier this year, my grandfather wore a bow tie to my sister's high school graduation. He mentioned that he used to wear bow ties often, and has begun to do so again, because they've become more popular again. Fashion trends come and go, but that's not because anything ever actually stops being cool. People today are under a constant barrage of being told what is and isn't hot to wear by celebrities and advertising, and many of us have become disillusioned with these ideas. We know what we like, and as more of us decide to wear what we want, it's becoming easier to be ourselves, because now being an individual doesn't have to mean being alone!

An Impossible-to-Hate Alternative
Despite its growing popularity and acceptance, vintage is still an alternative lifestyle that doesn't exactly fit into the mainstream. Unlike many other subcultures, though, it doesn't give a lot of reasons not to be liked -- some people aren't interested in it, sure, but nobody has a real excuse to be openly offended by it. Even those belonging to the generation from which these clothes originally came don't generally seem to be bothered that younger people are borrowing their styles. Some, like my grandpa, are happy they get to wear what they want now without feeling like they're out of touch or behind the times. Plus, while it's easy to be upset with any style that demands you spend a lot of money so you can look cool, vintage is a total opposite to this kind of thinking.



Save & Recycle
No other fashion trend involves saving money as an inherent element as much as vintage does. Anything that isn't new and has been worn previously is automatically going to cost less. And if an accessory or an article of clothing still has life left in it, why choose something new instead? Our modern, first-world cultures are full of waste and excess; it feels great to keep reusing things that are still wearable instead of buying everything new and getting rid of it as soon as you're bored of it or it isn't perfect anymore. In fact, the imperfection of vintage items is one of their best qualities!

Be an Individual
Everyone agrees that the biggest goal for putting effort into personal style and fashion is self-expression. But the media and big corporations all seem to be convinced that the way to do this is to spend more money than your peers so you can be like "the cool people". We're sure that's not the answer! Instead, we just want to be ourselves, and we want you to be you! All that takes is making outfits from items that are old and uncommon, which doesn't have anything to do with the right connections or a big bank account. And, in the end, that's the big reason we all love vintage: it makes expressing individuality simple. Let us help you be you -- check out what we have for sale on mydarlingvintage.com, or browse through our Etsy store.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

A Guide to Etsy's Styles as They Apply to Clothes

A totally comprehensive list of every possible style an item on Etsy could belong to is probably impossible, but their own list is certainly very extensive. One problem, though, is that it's such a big list – reaching to unusual or even esoteric topics – that most people won't really know what all of them mean without doing a lot of research to figure it out. Another trouble for anyone buying or selling clothing items is that while some of these styles have very clear meanings in some particular field, like architecture or interior design, it's a little trickier to say how they might be used in the fashion world. To help save all the time and confusion of sorting all this out, here's a short explanation of all of Etsy's listed styles as the terms apply to clothes and accessories:


Abstract


Sometimes this just refers to anything printed with abstract art; otherwise, whatever is unusual and eccentric in style or material. (Ask, “Is it something Lady GaGa would wear to an award event?”)


African


Usually people use this to mean pretty straightforward shapes and cuts in bright and colorful patterns, but it is, of course, somewhat more complicated because Africa is an entire continent. Generally, though, African style is pretty traditional and hasn't changed a great deal over time.


Art Deco

A visual style from the 30s and 40s that is industrial and geometric. The Chrysler building is used often as an example of Deco. Clothing doesn't necessarily belong to this style directly and more often takes inspiration from the broad idea.


Art Nouveau


A visual style from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A flowing and graceful style characterized by natural influence and dominance of curved lines. For clothes it usually refers to things that are lacy and elegant, but not over-extravagant.


Asian


Again, an entire continent. In the western world, we often just borrow curvy dragon motifs and words we can't read, but sometimes Asian style is talked about on a more serious and practical level. Modern Asian fashion in places like Tokyo tends to be pretty loud and individualistic – “anything goes!”


Athletic



Pretty obvious and straightforward: anything that looks practical and suited to some sport or other physical activity.


Avant-Garde


A broad term referring to bold, original and experimental style. Often its invocation brings to mind associations with the dada movement, which was characterized by a rejection of reason, but avant-garde is a wider idea, and it certainly doesn't always refer to things that are completely irreverent.


Beach


It's the beach! Bright, sunny, simple, and practical.


Boho


A shortening of “Bohemian”, a fashion associated with a loose, free lifestyle and often exemplified by the dress of nomadic people like the Romani. Common elements of the style include fur, felt, beads, embroidery, and simple-but-prominent colors.


Burlesque


Fashion influenced by racy and/or campy performance art that makes use of everything bold and glamorous. Think early-to-middle twentieth century showgirls.


Cottage Chic




Usually used in reference to home décor that is modest, but refined, in keeping with the fashion language tradition of tacking “chic” onto other words in order to indicate “...but on purpose” (as with “shabby chic”). It can refer to clothes that are light and conservative, but modern, with subtle pastel colors.


Country Western



Outdoor work or work-inspired clothes with farm and ranch associations – something a cowgirl would wear, or anything that would look at home with jeans and boots.


Edwardian



Edward VII reigned from 1901-1910, so this refers to what was popular during that period or even to the years following up until 1920. (Apparently, poor George V wasn't cool enough in the early years of his reign to get the period named after him – but the whole world wars thing was pretty distracting, too.) Dress in the time period was transitional, as clothes moved more from the frills and extravagance of the past to things that were more convenient for actually moving around. Clothes were still formal and elegant, but more restrained compared to previous eras. Edwardian-era style is something a lot of people have become interested in lately, as Downton Abbey takes place close to this time period.


Fantasy



An intentional, anachronistic hodgepodge of the dark ages, the Renaissance, and anything that evokes thoughts of dragons and castles. Because of modern entertainment (video games, anime, etc.) the usage of “fantasy” in dress or art has departed somewhat from Disney fairy tale images and into darker and more serious territory... or as serious as a person can be in a witch hat, anyway.


Folk



A broad concept referring to the passing on of ideas between the common people within a culture; what it means in clothing depends on what culture is being thought of. Generally it's anything that looks old, but like something the working class would wear rather than anything with the frills of rich people's garb.


Goth



Rather than referring directly to the older architectural movement (or the people responsible for the fall of the Roman empire), “gothic” in terms of clothes describes dress tied to a subculture that came out of a specific branch of the post-punk music scene. Because it fits with the music style that spawned it, goth dress is reminiscent of ideas originating in horror movies, romantic science fiction, BDSM, and “actual” Gothic literature and artwork. The style relies heavily on uniform blackness, often offset by shiny, gray-tone metals in the form of spikes, studs, and chains.


High Fashion

Everything modern and up-to-the-minute; all that evokes richness and demonstrates originality in design. High Fashion is wealthy, contemporary, and focused on change; it's a varied and controversial field within which there will be disagreement on what looks good – which is a large part of its draw.


Hip Hop



This style of dress is a natural result of the subculture surrounding its music, so it is characterized by a modern, urban look. Hip hop looks are fresh and easygoing; casual, but cool. Clothes are often loose with large and bold detail or accessories.


Hippie



The hippie subculture is based in a system of values emphasizing personal freedom, and as such is often associated with psychedelic music, sexual revolution, and consciousness-altering drugs. Although modern culture was influenced strongly by many of these ideas, the overall visual styles, which were similarly counter-cultural, remain in contrast to the typical even today. They revolve around bright, varied colors and loose, free clothing representative of the ideas behind the movement as a whole.


Hipster



In its modern usage, this is a much-maligned subculture that loves all that is cool and places high value on genuineness and authenticity in the appropriation of styles from past subcultures such as early punk or grunge, instead of a more casual adaptation of same. But, unlike these other subcultures, it doesn't represent any philosophical ideas. It is also an eclectic movement, as it does borrow from many other ideas, so its styles are difficult to pin down, but, examined broadly, it's fairly recognizable and uniform. Anything implementing an assemblage of various dated styles, especially logos and iconography, could be described as hipster. Hipster clothes often also involve “cool-because-they're-not-cool-anymore” articles of clothing (e.g. light scarves and sweaters, bow ties, and suspenders).


Historical



These are clothes that, rather than borrowing ideas from an older time, actually look like they belong on someone from that period. The practice of dramatically reenacting events from history has spawned a sizable movement; the era of the American Civil War and the days of the early pioneers are particularly popular.


Hollywood Regency



This is typically used in reference to interior decorating, but it describes a style that takes influence from the glamor of the golden age of film. It relies on elegant-but-cool shapes and restrained, calculated color pallets that often make heavy use of white.


Industrial



An art style of convenient modernity, relying on sharp, defined shapes with dynamic lines typified by the designs of modern machines such as cars and computers, drawing influence from them and applying the ideas to other fields. In clothes, however, “industrial” can also describe things inspired by working-class dress, and generally has a practical, “blue collar” feel overall. The industrial music subculture also has a distinct style of dress, which blends the elements described above with more typical punk rock concepts.


Kawaii



This is a visual idea from Japan, where cute animal mascots and other characters are ubiquitous visual elements; the concept has also carried over to the United States and elsewhere. Beyond cute, iconic characters, the style also relies on bright colors and pleasant shapes. Generally in clothing it involves printed designs or hats/hoods in the shapes of animal heads and faces.


Kitsch



Lowbrow, mass-appeal art; kitsch style is fun and casual, and could refer to anything that doesn't look like it's taking itself very seriously. Often this involves printed pictures and designs in plentiful colors.


Mediterranean



Style from this area is often restrained and conservative, but simultaneously bold in its denial of conventions. Mediterranean fashion could be described as a bridge between typical dress and US high fashion. As this area of the world is also an important place for classical art, clothes or accessories described as “mediterranean” may incorporate elements from that tradition or from the culture of the old empires in that segment of the globe (Greece, Rome, etc.).


Mid Century



The styles people like to borrow from the 1950s and 1960s were bright and fun – practical, while still looking nice. General shapes and cuts tend toward plainness, with focus on details and accessories for accent, often in solid, happy colors or large, bright patterns. 60s styles have been a notable subject of interest recently because of the popularity of Mad Men.


Military



This is a very well-defined style, as militaries around the world have much in common, tending to be traditional and emphasizing uniformity. Military-influenced styles revolve around details like straps, buttons, and buckles. Colors are usually navy, olive, charcoal, or other muted tones.


Minimalist



The art movement of minimalism celebrates beauty in simplicity. Minimal clothes tend to have few details and little or no color variation to draw attention to the overall shapes and lines of the article itself or the person it is on.


Mod




A shortening of “modern”, the term refers to a British subculture originally from a genre of jazz music. Dress of this style is casual and androgynous; it frequently incorporates the colors blue, white, and red, as well as the direct use of the symbols these colors are taken from – usually the Royal Air Force roundel (pictured), but also the Union Jack (hopefully you know what that one looks like).


Modern



A style that needs little explanation; the word can be used to describe anything in the last couple of decades or whatever was more timeless through the end of the last century.


Nautical



Many images can bring to mind ideas of boats and the sea, but horizontal navy and white stripes are so common that they are a defining characteristic of this style. Handkerchief scarves, pea coats, and rubber boots are also prominent elements, as are symbols such as stars and anchors.


Neoclassical



Any art made at a time after the prominence of classical works of ancient Greece and Rome, but in their tradition can be described as “neoclassical”. In fashion, common elements include lace, layers, uniform colors, and floral patterns.


Preppy




This style of dress takes its influence from the historical culture of Ivy League schools, as well as from high-class leisure activities like sailing and horse racing. Clothing is typically layered and relies heavily on patterns like argyle and madras in soft, pastel colors, frequently with contrasting navy, but almost never with any black. Seersucker fabrics are a very common attribute.


Primitive



Fashion that is influenced by styles of aged times from before antiquity or from cultures in modern times with very historic and traditional culture. Important aspects of these clothes are furs, rough fabrics, flowers, bones, and teeth; the emphasis is on raw materials, the animal and plant origins of which are readily apparent.


Regency




Any fashion taking influence from royalty and high-class societies, particularly of the past. Garments are typically very formal, with intricate details, but colors are generally more restrained.


Renaissance



This period was a celebration of all things abundant and elegant, so style involved flowery, frilly accents on garments with layered details and dark, rich colors. Even the working-class clothes seem lush and artistic by today's standards.


Resort



Casual, but expensive – pale and light hues on clothes that are simple with some frills, pleats, and other details for accent. Overall a classy, outdoor look.


Retro



Appropriation of all that is cute and fun from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Bold patterns, especially polka dots, are foundational pieces of a retro style, as modern fashion tends to rely more on uniform colors or more subtle designs.


Rocker



Rough, loud, and, gritty style featuring an abundance of leather and denim. Rips, patches, and studs are common, and, as this fashion has its roots in music, imagery and text associated with bands is an important element, but it is sometimes replaced with more general musical iconography.


Rustic



A term usually applied to interior design, but applicable additionally to clothes with similar characteristics. All things evocative of home and a modest life fall under this label; typically simple forms in light and warm earth tones, with prominent buttons and/or distressed materials.


Sci Fi



Fashion from a future time could be anything, since it hasn't happened yet, so clothes described as “sci-fi” are unusual and experimental. Shiny or reflective materials are common, as are blacks and whites, geometric designs, and rigidly protruding elements.


Southwestern



This relies heavily on large patterns inspired by traditional folk art and native American designs. Because of this, knit materials are frequently used. Garments are often large and loose, with a casual overall appearance.


Spooky



The clothes of ghosts and monsters; anything that brings horror movies or halloween to mind! Usually dark tones, especially black, are central, with white accents and highlights. Flowers, fringe, and lace are often used to achieve this kind of look.


Steampunk



Originally a genre of literature typified by the old science fiction works of Jules Verne, steampunk has evolved into an entire subculture. It's a retrofuturistic style, taking elements from the late nineteenth century and blending them with bizarre technology that never existed or wasn't implemented until a much later time. Gears and other clockworks are common visual elements combined with corsets, top hats, and other dated stylistic elements.


Techie



A meeting between an appreciation for modern conveniences and a sense of aesthetics; not a particular visual style, but instead anything that is designed with contemporary technology in mind (phone cases and the like) or contains visual reference to it (such as jewelry made from computer chips).


Traditional



A general description of any fashion that relies on the typical styles of a particular culture; it describes anything that is less modern in its approach and tends to stick to the historical way of dress.


Tribal



Fashion influenced by much older dress style, relying on geometric or floral patterns and animal prints, and featuring exotic details made with beads and feathers.


Victorian



Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, so this refers to all styles that were popular throughout that era. Much of our conception of Victorian culture comes to us through the popular novels of Charles Dickens, who wrote during that period. The dress during this time was elaborate and spectacular (to a point of being quite restrictive at times); garments were puffed, long, and flowing, incorporating lots of lace and floral designs.


Waldorf



This is a term that applies specifically to a type of simply-made dolls; it's probably the only style in Etsy's list that would be too much of a stretch to apply to fashion.

Woodland



This is just what its name suggests: anything incorporating visual elements related to forests, flowers, and other plants; it could refer to leaf prints or shapes, camouflage, or other green patterns and designs.


Zen



This style bears much in common with the philosophical and religious teachings for which it is named. In the worlds of architectural and interior design, it involves calming, quiet, and reflective arrangements. “Zen” isn't often used to describe clothing, but when it is, it refers typically to plain and practical Asian-styled garments



Hopefully, those descriptions helped you describe and categorize things you have or intend to sell, or it gave you some names for styles you already like so you're better-equipped to search for what you want!