Continuing on with another one of the items I picked up at the recent Ian Drummond Collection studio sale here is another piece I will be keeping for my personal vintage collection.
If you’ve been shopping vintage for a while you stumble across these types of sequinned beaded square cropped tops often. They were popular in the 1950/60s and then again in the 1980s, a bit more garish and not as refined as the older ones from the 50s/60s. The one I’m wearing is from the 1960s.
The base of the top is knit and there are no missing beads or sequins which is amazing when you consider the age of the piece…just slightly older than myself!
I, on the other hand, am missing more than a couple of sequins and beads. Ha!
Vintage Sequin Top Outfit #1
Why did I buy this top?
I often come across pieces like this when shopping thrift for my Etsy store and 98% of the time I pass them by because people find it challenging to style such pieces or incorporate them into their lives.
I’ll take on that challenge!
This is how I’m going to wear my new beaded top.
Style Vintage Sequin Top Contemporary
Of course styling this vintage piece contemporary is dead easy…. add some heels and skinny jeans (I don’t care if they are “off trend”) and Bob’s your Uncle.
Or Sue’s your Aunt, whichever.
It’s such a shame to let existing pieces like this go unloved.
You’ll never find anything this high quality or beautiful at any retail stores. They just don’t make ’em like this anymore!
It’s a bit dressy as you see it above but I’d style it down with jeans, boots and a jean jacket like this…
Vintage Sequin Top Outfit #2
And that’s not just any old jean jacket…nope. It’s an up cycled thrifted jean jacket that I DIY’d. Check out the back…
That petit point image was found at a thrift store in a frame. It makes a pretty unique jean jacket don’t you think? It could have made a great throw pillow too but I like the idea of wearable art better.
Vintage Sequin Top Outfit #3
This easy-to-wear thrifted maxi skirt gives it a bit of a Bollywood vibe. I’ll be wearing this out later this week to go thrifting and run some errands. I’ll pair it with some flat sandals to make it casual and relaxed, well casual for me anyhow ; P
Vintage Sequin Top Outfit #4
I really like this look paired with a vintage novelty print skirt and sensible heels.
Vintage Sequin Top Outfit #5
A pencil skirt is a classic option for this top. The shoes dress it down a bit.
Vintage Sequin Top Outfit #6
These are palazzo pants I thrifted last year. I’ve got a few posts of them coming up, they are all kinds of awesome!
So there are a few ideas for those of you that wonder how they can style vintage sequin top contemporary.
Which was your favourite? Would you ever consider wearing a similar beaded sequinned vintage top? Why or why not?
Linking up with the lovely Patti for Visible Monday.
I love ALL of these outfits, but that DIY’d denim jacket with the green beads from the top peeking out from the hem just takes it for me.
I have two tops like this one–a cream beaded one and a pink one with giant sequins. Super fun, both of them, with a sweater style knit as the base. They’re both a bit big on me so I’ve been waiting for winter to wear them as vests. They zip completely open in the back, so a vest style will be easy to pull off, I think. In the meantime, I may have to go thrifting for an awesome petit pointe image to sew to a jacket and wear over the tops! You and Mel–always giving me ideas!!! ❤️
That green is gorgeous on you, by the way!
– Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com
It’s funny because I saw that petit point print across the thrift store and fell in love with it. I had to have it. I had no idea whatsoever what I was going to do with it. I do like the route I went with the jean jacket . I keep my eyes peeled for more like it but haven’t come across anything so well done. Good luck on your search!
I don’t remember those tops. Have you worn them on your blog before? They sound pretty awesome!
I kept the top because of the amazing green colour. It’s not easy to find.
This new top is off-the-chain gorgeous. The beading is exquisite. And I LURVE (more than love) it with your print skirts. I’m inspired to seek out a beaded top – our shop often has them but they’re 80’s-90’s and usually shedding. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
I’ve gotta remember that LURVE thing ; P
I do find that good tops like this are hard to find.
Wow, what an amazing top. You find such great pieces.
Like you, it is only through lots of looking that I’m able to find such pieces. That and the great Ian Drummond vintage sale.
That is such a great top! And you can really wear that bright green well! I love it with a denim jacket, but then, I do love denim jackets so that’s not terribly surprising…
Denim jackets are such a classic I think many people love them.
I’ve always loved these tops. I don’t know how many have passed through my hands over the decades. Do you find that they’re all made in Hong Kong? The industry must have employed thousands of women back in the day! Did you see the pink maxi dress I scored the other day on my blog? It weighs a blooming tonne!
I tend to save the ones I buy for our festival pitch. You’re right. Normally customers pick them off our rails and say that they never go anywhere to wear them – women are far more up for sequins after a cider or three!
I love how you’ve styled the top especially with the maxi skirt. The green looks wonderful on you with your red hair. xxxx
This one has no tags so I’m not sure if it was made in Hong Kong.
I had to go back and check out that beaded maxi dress you were referring to. No doubt it weighs a ton! Must be a pain to cart back and forth to the shows. That’s another issue I have, people don’t want to pay the higher shipping on heavier pieces.
Now that is one special beaded top and the green is just your colour. Like others have said I too really like it paired with the maxi skirts. You certainly find some interesting pieces.
Since I’m a vintage reseller now my personal collection is always very well stocked : )
You absolutely rocked this challenge!! Because it’s like we always say—why save the good china??
Those amazing pieces you find need to see the light of day, and wearing them with even jeans is the perfect way to give them the love they deserve!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I agree. What are we saving everything for?
if i ever see one that is able to fit over my valkyrie torso…..
after the american troops left berlin in the early 90s i saw lots of this in the shops – in every color. stupid me did not buy one – was to young i think.
you showed some gorgeous outfits with this beauty of a top!! my favs are the novelty skirt & maxi skirt looks.
very cool jean jacked DIY!
xxxx
I have come across several of these style of tops over the years and have owned a couple myself. Even though I love how they looked, I didn’t wear them because they were knits, I used to perspire a LOT, and I had no clue how to clean them, especially if they were heavily beaded/sequinned. I have an exquisite silk beaded jacket that I don’t wear for that reason, but it is too beautiful to give up.
I like the colour with your hair, and how it looks styled with jeans. You look Va Va Voom sexy in the first full length photo!
I’ve been steaming mine but you are right, they would normally need to be dry cleaned and even then you risk damaging the beadwork.
I just picked up another silk beaded jacket yesterday…this time in bold red. I’ve been spending some time repairing some of the beadwork and sequins. They are so beautiful I just can seem to let them remain in the thrift store.
What a beauty! And what a perfect piece for your figure. I adore it with the skinnies (they are NOT out if style) and the heels. And I live the second option with the jeans jacket. What a splendid idea to sew that piece of needle work on tovthe back of the jacket!! True creation.
All your other stylings are good too, but I prefer the first two because they give more stage to, more focus on the top. Never been much of a pattern mixer anyway. As you know. Bit conservative.
Greetje
Everywhere this year they said skinnies were out. I never let that stop me from wearing what I like though.
You must find Mel and I particularly challenging to look at! Ha ha! Since pattern mixing is a bit of an obsession for us.
I find it inspiring andbit pushes me … a bit. I am already thrilled when I can work 4 (solid) colours in an outfit. Or two patterns in an outfit. Yes I am definitely more conservative. I can appreciate it on others and yes sometimes you two push my taste too far haha. Celebrating the differences though.
How lovely to get back and find out what you’ve been up to. And oh my goodness, what a treat this beaded top is! You’re so right when you say that they don’t make them like this any more – the sorry little cheap versions from today are all a bit tragic in comparison.
I can’t choose from all of these stylings as to which I love the best. You’re an absolute master at this Suzanne and a breath of freash air as far as new ideas go. Hurrah!
Anna x
Thanks Anna!
That top!!!! It’s just exquisite! Your modern take on styling it with jeans is the perfect solution to making a piece like this more wearable. Also, sparkling green is a particularly fetching compliment to your complexion and hair color Suzanne. Your lookin pretty gorgeous hanging out in front of your weathered wood fence my dear. Evocative of Melanie K. in one of her colorful creations loitering in the stairwell! 🙂
Your jean jacket is now elevated to art museum status!! There’s just something creatively thrilling about a needlepoint portrait used to enhance the good ol’ knockabout denim jacket! I’m kind of smitten by this piece!
You may find I’m taking more photos outside now that the weather is cooperating although it is still quite challenging to time it right with the lighting. I either need to be out early morning or late afternoon. I prefer outdoor photos because I can skip the eye makeup.
I love wearing the jacket. It’s always a bit of a surprise for people.
I absolute love outfit 4! Because of the skirt! What a tressure. Can you explaine to me what the difference is between thrift shopping and vintage. How do you name it when you buy second hand clothing?
Secondhand shopping and thrifting are the same thing. Vintage clothing however is only clothing older than twenty years. Personally I don’t consider 1990s clothing vintage. For me, vintage clothing is anything that was made prior to the 1990s.
Antique clothing is a minimum of 100 years old.
When you shop thrift you may be able to find some vintage pieces of clothing however most of what you buy will not be considered vintage. There is an age minimum attached to the term vintage.
If you want to see more visit here:
http://suzannecarillo.com/ultimate-guide-to-shopping-styling-vintage-clothing/
My fave is number 3! I would probably save a top like this for a performance, special ocassion or costume because I have two toddlers all of the beads and sequins would all be on the floor by the end of the day.
Vintage outfit #2 stole my words completely! Obsessed!
Mihaailo | mihaailo.blogspot.com
I could give you a burlap bag and you would be able to style it ten ways contemporary and make it look smashing! You’re so good. I love all your ideas but I’m most partial to #4 with the vintage novelty skirt, maybe because of the French vibe, and I can see a jaunty beret with it too. The sequin top is a great piece.