Double Act

Co-ordinate sets have taken the fashion world by storm this year, and appear to be continuing their reign of superiority right through AW15. Whether you choose colour-blocking or all-over pattern; sharply tailored or loose fitting - this season is all about matching separates whilst enabling you to pick your own silhouette and relish in individuality.

Vintage M&S check skirt suit - Sold Out  |  Vintage Mondi prep co-ord set - £45 (15% discount code below!)

You can shop our entire collection of vintage co-ordinates and suits here

With the temperatures set to cool as we move into Autumn, we'll shift away from the Summer staple look of a sleek pencil skirt and matching crop top; yet co-ordinates will still reign supreme. Instead we will see a flattering combination of structured tailoring infused with the youthfulness of coordinating prints or colours - think pencil skirts and matching blazers. Admittedly, on the surface, co-co-ordinates seem as if they may be restricting in the sense that 90% of your outfit is now defined by one single print or colour, yet with a few simple tweaks, co-ordinates could be just the double act that your wardrobe needs. If nothing else, co-ordinates are perfect for office-to-dancefloor outfits. A tailored two-piece can look chic in the boardroom whilst also remaining effortless for post-work drinks; the combination of a matching skirt and blazer layered over a sleeveless blouse oozes sophistication, yet layered over a simple camisole the same two-piece instantly becomes more youthful and fresh. A few adjustments to your jewellery, a quick ruffle of your hair and a swift double vodka and you're straight out of office-mode and good to go!

We currently have a 15% discount code running on all orders over £15 until 24/08/14, visit our shop here and use the code VINTAGE15 at checkout!

Prep School

The prep-school look is a trend that is recycled year after year on the catwalks; championed by designers such as Ralph Lauren and Henry Holland - yet instead of growing tiresome, the look remains timeless season after season. The quirky prints, cute coordinates and minimalistic accessories have been big news this year already, and it looks as if the preppy look will prevail through AW14.  However, this year the preppy look has got a new edge, moving away from the prim and proper Kate Middleton look that was popular in 2011, and instead taking inspiration from the ultimate 90s icon: Cher Horowitz from Clueless.

This season's preppy look distances itself from the more modest vibes of the past and instead pays tribute to the vintage inspired campus looks of Clueless: think chunky platforms, tartan blazers and understated make-up. This season is all about quality labels and quirky styles; it's about having fun with fashion and encapsulating the vibrancy of youth whilst embracing grown-up tailoring for that crucial silhouette to bring the whole look together. With tailoring playing such a crucial role, it's important to invest in quality pieces that will maintain that key structure and shape, which is why vintage clothing is your best friend when it comes to mastering this look; vintage clothes have proved they're worth their salt when it comes to standing the test of time and longevity. So, here at the Vintage Clothing Collection, we transported ourselves back to the 90s and created some looks that could have just as easily stepped out of Cher Horowitz's enviable walk-in wardrobe.

Yellow tartan Mondi check jacket - Coming Soon to our Etsy shop

Vintage Mondi black and red blazer - £34

The 90's preppy look is something to really have fun with and can add some much needed colour and print into AW14 fashion; so enjoy yourself and try out some new looks whilst emulating one of the most fashion forward films of the generation. Just like vintage shopping, the 90s revival is all about having fun and experimenting with fashion.

We currently have a 15% discount code running on all our items, visit our shop here and use the code VINTAGE15 at checkout!

In With The Old

First things first - welcome to the first official blogpost from The Vintage Clothing Collection - where we'll be posting regular style tips, lookbooks and plenty of general vintage fashion musings and/or ramblings. We're passionate about all things vintage and hope to inspire the same enthusiasm within you.

Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of interest in vintage fashion; with the likes of Kate Moss stepping out in some of the most coveted of vintage finds, the curiousness and sense of intrigue soon turned to a frenzy in which vintage fashion finally cemented its place in the fashion world. Today's shoppers are shunning the drudgery of mass produced trends and are instead searching for individualistic pieces that the high street could never hope to deliver. The fact is that most high street pieces now imitate the styles of decades gone by; why wear a replica when there are originals just waiting to be stumbled across? I would personally rather wear a genuine 1920's flapper dress with the romance of wonderment as to the story behind it than a mass-produced number from off the rails of my local Topshop.

Vintage clothing allows us to transcend beyond the overblown hype of regurgitated looks from the high street and find out our own personal style rather than remaining blinkered as to what is currently deemed as "fashionable"; the truth remains that fashion is temporary whereas style is eternal. So why not lose yourself in the pursuit for a one-of-a-kind piece of history? My first vintage buy was a 1960s shift dress that I would have never even considered taking to the fitting rooms had I seen it on the high street, but something about the silhouette captured my eye, and the rest - as they say - is history. At the time, everybody else was wearing Celeb Boutique bodycon dresses, so my 1960s find allowed me to stand out and not have to be overcome with the unifying horror of "what if I walk in this bar and somebody else has this dress on?" It was liberating.

So, my advice to you vintage virgins? Drop all of your inhibitions and expectations, and just browse. No pressure, no drama. Just embrace the feeling that comes with accidentally stumbling across something that you never would have considered before; vintage shopping should remain primarily fun if nothing else. Whether you hone in on just one small detail of a piece - be that a pattern, or something as miniscule as a detail on one button - leave your comfort zone behind and let your true sense of style run wild. You'll never look back.