How to Wear Vintage Clothes Without Ruining Them
Let’s say you bought the perfect vintage shirt at a flea market, or found a box of your parents’ or grandparents’ clothes in the attic and found one that really suits you. Then, after an initial appraisal of the garment, you determine that there is still life in it and decide to wear it. Of course, you are (probably) not going to wear this vintage silk blouse before meeting your friends for a night out, but there are a few less obvious ways to keep it in good shape on the occasions when you do decide to wear it.
How to wear vintage clothes without ruining them
Considering how sizes, materials, and fit have changed dramatically over the years, finding vintage clothing that really suits you is a small miracle. (Especially if your proportions are not the same as those of previous generations.) So if you find a thing that suits you, you will want it to last you as long as possible. Here’s how to do it.
Inspect and repair before wearing
Before you leave the house in vintage clothing, inspect it carefully (if you haven’t already). While some fixes are best left to the professionals, such as stain removal and hole repairs, others are simple enough that you can do them at home.
First, check all the buttons on your clothing to make sure they are securely fastened. If not, attach them with polyester thread, which is stronger than the cotton thread likely used to make clothing and tends to break with age.
And don’t forget about the seams, which over the years could come apart or come apart. But if you don’t have the sewing skills needed to re-sew them, it’s best to take the garment to a professional for repairs.
If the garment has a zipper, run a pencil across the teeth and it should open and close easily and not get stuck.
dress carefully
Wash your hands before wearing vintage clothing. Also, remove rings and other jewelry that might get caught on them when you get dressed.
Protect them from the inside
Much vintage clothing for women was designed to be worn over regular undergarments such as camisoles, rompers and dungarees. Then, those items that created a barrier between the clothes and the wearer’s body began to be washed more regularly.
Use the same approach when you wear your vintage clothes today. There is no need to invest in underwear appropriate for the time, but wearing some type of tank top or other washable thin layer under a vintage piece serves the same purpose today.
Another option is to put washable, removable sweat protection pads in your armpits. But in this case, do not use anything with an adhesive side, such as panty liners or menstrual pads, as they may damage the inside of the garment when removed.
Use accessories wisely
When you’re wearing vintage clothing, your choice of accessories should be more about maintaining its integrity than fashion. Avoid any jewelry that can snag on clothing , including zip-top bags or shoulder bags.
Wash sparingly
Every time you wash vintage clothes, the fibers break down a bit, shortening their lifespan. That is why it is not recommended to wash vintage clothes after every wear. Of course, if it was stained or you sweat a lot while wearing it, that’s a different story. But if you’ve only been using it for a few hours and nothing has happened to it, you’re probably better off airing it.
Air your clothes after wearing
If you’ve determined that your piece of clothing doesn’t need to be washed (or it’s something like a coat that isn’t usually washed after every wear anyway), you should still air it out.
Ideally, this would mean hanging them outside in the sun on a windy day. But if/when that’s not possible, hang it indoors, outdoors (as opposed to a closet or wardrobe) in a room with natural light and a fan on.