Why do we love vintage?

Fashion is everyday art. As cheesy as that sounds, clothing is one of the easiest ways to explore and express your creative energy. However, buying statement pieces at department stores often leads to awkward ‘bitch stole my look’ scenarios. I recently made the mistake of going  to campus in a gorgeous turquoise leopard print tea dress from Mr Price and encountered 4 girls wearing the identical item…

So, what is a fashionista to do when she doesn’t have the budget to purchase one-of-a-kind designer items? The solution is simple: turn to vintage clothing instead. I’m not talking about overpriced vintage boutiques, but good old charity shops where exquisite bargain pieces are hidden in piles of sweat-stained t-shirts. Red Cross, Salvation Army and Hospice shops are where I’ve made my most decadent finds, too many for my wardrobe to contain.

              Some of my favourite vintage finds up for sale on the My Friend Decadence Facebook page

I’m fortunate to live in Cape Town, undoubtedly the vintage capital of South Africa. A visit to a weekend vintage market is an integral part of the Capetonian culture. (If you’re visiting the city, make sure to check out some of my favourites: the Vintage Experience market in Woodstock, the Portobello Road market in Kenilworth and the City Bowl fashion market in Gardens.)

But what is it about vintage that drives us wild? Certainly, it’s the thrill of the chase. Sifting through piles of junk to reveal hidden treasures is like a more grown-up version of a scavenger hunt. The student population, always keen for a bargain, definitely contribute to the Cape Town vintage culture. Or, maybe vintage lovers are just an exceptionally vain community who only feel special when nobody can accuse them of being fashion copycats?

Still, none of these factors get down to the essence of our love affair with vintage. It all boils down to this: When you wear vintage, you’re wearing a piece of history. Whether a vintage item belonged to a family member or whether its origins are obscure, the item has been places and seen things that you will never experience. Designs of the past, like the sequins and feathers of the roaring twenties or the flirty full skirts of the 1950s, seem more meaningful, more elegant than our world of Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus.  We’re nostalgic creatures at heart and vintage allows us to tap in to the past to make our experience of contemporary life richer.