How To Avoid Dressing Like Everyone Else
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be perceived as “one of the crowd”.
I was exhibiting at a jewellery show, ages ago, when someone came into my booth wearing the same H&M dress as myself. The horror! Ha!
I made light of it at the time but in all honesty I wasn’t super pleased with myself. My efforts to ensure that my outfits were creative, unique and made a lasting impression were a disgrace. How can you be considered an original artist when you look like everyone else? How does one avoid dressing like everyone else? Simple…wear vintage. No more H&M for me.
Let me show you how to avoid dressing like everyone else and save the earth one vintage piece at a time.
When you wear vintage you don’t have to look like this…
I did a whole post about styling a vintage dress in a more contemporary manner.
This outfit below is a perfect example of combining vintage pieces with contemporary ones creating a mix of textures, eras and colours.
Wool, flannel, suede and leather with a mix of jewel tones add visual depth and interest.
The purple leather skirt, plaid top and wool sweater vest are all classic 80’s vintage.
The velvet jacket was bought years ago and the boots are a more recent purchase. As much as I’d like to avoid purchasing footwear retail sometimes it just isn’t possible. With my fibromyalgia when my feet are unhappy my whole body suffers, sometimes for days afterwards. I’m on a personal quest to rid myself of impractical, uncomfortable footwear taking up valuable space in my shoe closet. It’s a long process but I’m determined.
This hat has been with me for over thirty years. I don’t remember its exact history but I believe it has been in my family for a long time.
Here I am wearing it when I lived in Scotland…and was a mere twenty-one years old.
Eek!
Look at that trim jaw line. Ah youth truly is wasted on the young.
My husband mentioned that I don’t even look like the same person. Thanks for that honey. #whattoexpectwhenyouvebeenmarried27years
Back to reality.
Vintage clothing will help you stand out from the crowd.
It doesn’t need to be from the mid-century either to qualify as vintage. Did I ever think I’d be wearing so many pieces from the 80s again?
Nope.
If it’s a fine piece of quality clothing it doesn’t matter what year it is from.
Here are some other vintage pieces I’ve worn or styled in the past that ensure I don’t blend into the crowd.
Do you wear vintage clothing? Why or why not?
Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday
I, too, do not want to be dressed like anyone else! But no one does contemporary vintage better than you! #queen
http://style4lessvegas.com
Thanks Darlene, aka Thrifting Queen : )
What Darlene said! 😀
One of the many reasons I fell in love with your blog and then fell in love with you as my friend is because you do You so well. The colors and patterns you combine to create a drop-jaw look that is all your own is genius. Because of you, I incorporate loads of vintage and not-so-vintage thrift in my life. It’s become second nature to me now. And I like my closet so much more than I did before knowing you! I don’t feel like I look like everyone else much anymore either.
Coincidence?? I think not.
So…go forth, #queen, and make those combinations we all aspire to! I can’t wait to see what you put together next. 🙂
Hugs,
Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com
I have seen your transformation and it is wonderful. I think these past few years you’ve really developed your own unique personal style sense that really communicates just what a fun, intelligent, kind and creative person you are. Just knowing that I may have had a tiny bit to do with that makes my heart happy.
That old photo of you is really charming Suzanne. I love a good newsboy cap and I’ve owned a few for several years now. I’ve also worn berets for quite awhile. Hats always add character and personality.
Then there are the pieces that I’ve continued to love over a few decades. They’ve aged to perfection in my closet where they earned vintage status. When you love an eclectic Bohemian vibe there are a wide range of “keepers” and it’s fun to find these classics in charity and consignment shops.
I LOVE that little red print with the denim blazer, spotty anklets, and scrappy red Mary Jane pumps. So CUTE!!!!
Strappy not scrappy!! Same auto-correct!!
Damn not same! :-):-):-)
its the flashlight. YOU look cool for your tender age – the cap, the trench and an african straw bag – fab!!
all your *vintage meets contemporary* outfits are tres chic! and very individualistic. i´m swooning over the colors and textures.
i love vintage clothes (and furniture/things/houses) since my childhood – no idea why because in my environment only “brand new” and “modern” was good………. rebellion perhaps ;-D
xxxx
It’s funny because I was just saying to a friend, that when we are younger we always seem to want to blend in and dress like others. But as I’ve gotten older, I’d rather stand out and be noticed….
That’s also why I love mixing and matching different brands, different seasons of clothes, etc…..it’s very doubtful that anyone else would put the items together!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
It was only during my years of corporate hell that I ever dressed like anyone else – I had no choice, I had a uniform. I’m pretty sure it contributed towards my nervous breakdown.
Even as a child I never wore the same as anyone else – my Mum saw to that! I was the girl at the kids’ birthday party dressed in an Edwardian kimono, no off the rack Marks and Spencer party dress for Jenni’s daughter! We’re all born as individuals, she used to say, why try and conform?
Although I was chronically shy as a teenager everyone I went to school with remembers me – or so they tell me on Facebook – as the girl in the 1940s suits and 1950s dresses – no 1980s fashion for that little weirdo.
Wearing the same dress as someone else would be my worst nightmare. i think I’d have to strip off and parade round in my knickers.
Love all your outfits, they’re individual and fabulous, just like you. You don’t look like your younger self, you’re even more gorgeous! xxx
I’ve always been interested in what I wore, even as a child, but stood out for the wrong reasons due to my grandmother’s handiwork: she insisted on making all my dresses, but since her skills were limited, they were all of the same straightforward model. Later, I was a punk, and got used to people staring at me. With my pretty limited budget, I had to improvise. My proudest moment was making a skirt out of my parents’ old 1950s bathroom curtains. I still have a piece of that fabric! It all went a bit downhill somewhere in my 30s, but had a wake-up call when I was about to turn 50. It seems the older I get, the less I want to conform, and now that I finally have the confidence to wear what I like and stand out, there’s no looking back! You’ve got such a unique style, Suzanne. Contemporary vintage is what you do best. You are, in fact, one of the bloggers who inspire me with your fabulous pattern, texture and colour mixing. This time, I am swooning over the 1970s/1980s dress combined with that yummy leather jacket and suede boots!
Indeed, this is how it’s done. I love the beautiful styling here and the rich saturated colors. The Gucci belt adds a touch of glamour and the purple leather skirt is fabulous. I often wear something vintage along with some thing that has been in my closet for 2 to 10 years, but not quite vintage.
I also love to buy from consignment that has many brands that are not well known, and relatively inexpensive because there is no label recognition.
Variety is the spice of life and not buying new is a great thing.
So many fantastic outfits here!
❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
What fabulous outfits! You really know how to wear vintage with flair. I loved your non vintage boots btw.
I agree with your husband you don’t look like the same person in the photo. I think some people improve with age and your are clearly one of them. I bet you really wouldn’t want to be 21 again – would you? I know I wouldn’t but I wouldn’t say no to my 21 year old body…
I do have some vintage pieces and try to incorporate them into my outfits as and when I can.
Hope your week goes well.
xx
I would love to be 21 again! And have my 21 year old body back : )
Thanks for popping by!
You know why I don’t. But I have no objection to second-hand at all. As proven. I love that green beaded top on you. So sexy. And the purple leather skirt with the checked shirt and rolled up sleeves: top!. That belt you got from your husband is really a gem isn’t it?
Greetje
what a magnificent post! I do love that you give some great advice about wearing vintage. A 50’s total look is not everybody’s cup of tea, but many people love a 50’s vibe, so it’s all about mixing and adding accessories and making the old pieces look modern and You!
And you’re a Master styling vintage pieces contemporary!. Love this purple skirt, the velvet blazer and how you styled the plaid shirt! brilliant! You look adorable!
Sorry that you’re having problems with uncomfortable shoes too, it looks like a plague nowadays!
besos
A great post Suzanne. In an ideal world I’d be dressed in vintage every day, but honestly I still love all kinds of shopping – there, I’ve said it now – shoot me. I love that you continue to inform us, educate us and inspire us. I can’t bear to read your next post about the horrors of Zara, I’m afraid. Truth is, I try to mix my outfits up to wear second hand with a sprinkling of new and honey that seems to be the best I can do (for the moment).
Must try harder you’ll write on my report card.
We all need someone to look up to and your strong moral fibre is ever present my dear.
Cheers,
Anna x
Well, I think you know my answer about whether I wear vintage! Beside enabling you to put together a unique look, buying vintage is a good way to own well made, high quality pieces at great prices. New clothes of the same quality are usually much more expensive.
Theresa
I hardly ever do. For various reasons:
1. there’s not a lot going around in the Netherlands
2. what is there is not that affordable
3. it is often too small for me
4. or ill-fitting
5. I don’t have an easy or standard body shape, e.g. I have no real waist
I’m dying laughing…
you want to dress differently and put on a Gucci belt that, literally, 80% of bloggers and youtubers wear.
Great!
I’m amazed with all of the vintage examples I posted you managed to pick out the single detail that other people wear. Unbelievable.
Thanks for stopping by Hana.