Style Guide: How to Find Your Own Vintage Style

Why Authentic Style Matters

In a world overflowing with fast fashion and cookie-cutter trends, nothing feels more powerful than curating a look that is uniquely yours. Vintage and pre-loved fashion give you that opportunity: each piece carries history, character, and individuality. Choosing vintage is more than a fashion decision, it’s a declaration of identity. 

1. Start with Inspiration

Inspiration can come from runway archives and everyday details, street style, flea markets, old magazines, even music videos or film stills. What pulls you in? A certain silhouette, a fabric texture, a color palette? Collect these sparks of inspiration and notice the patterns: they will guide you to the essence of your authentic style.

2. Discover What Fits You

Authenticity is about alignment between who you are and what you wear. Maybe you love clean minimalism, bold color statements, or soft romantic shapes. Try on different aesthetics and pay attention to how they make you feel. The goal isn’t to follow an era or trend it’s to recognize the pieces that amplify your individuality.

3. Balance Old & New

Vintage shines brightest when combined with modern staples. Pair a retro-inspired blouse with contemporary denim, or style a vintage shoulder bag with a sleek tailored coat. The contrast makes your outfit current while allowing your vintage piece to stand out as the statement.

4. Invest in Signature Pieces

Style isn’t about quantity; it’s about identity. Select one or two signature items that will anchor your wardrobe: a versatile crossbody for everyday ease, or a rare bag that always sparks conversation. These are the foundations of your personal style, a reflection of you, not just the season’s mood.

5. Choose Authenticity & Quality

True vintage and pre-loved pieces are treasures because of their craftsmanship and durability. Look for natural materials, detailed stitching, and honest signs of wear. These details not only prove authenticity but also ensure that your piece holds its value for years to come.

Vintage Style Icons

Why icons matter

In fashion, true style is rarely about chasing trends. It’s about the individuals whose looks transcended their time, whose wardrobes still inspire today. Vintage style icons show us that authenticity and individuality never go out of fashion. Their choices remind us that what’s worn with confidence becomes timeless.

Audrey Hepburn – The Essence of Elegance

Audrey’s style was understated yet powerful: clean silhouettes, little black dresses, slim trousers, ballet flats. She showed the world that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Today, her look continues to inspire capsule wardrobes built on timeless essentials.

Jane Birkin – Effortless French Cool

Jane Birkin defined effortless style in the late 1960s and 70s: natural hair, basket bags, men’s shirts worn with denim, and a carefree spirit. Her name lives on through the Hermès Birkin, but her true legacy is a reminder that authenticity and ease are the chicest accessories of all.

Bianca Jagger – The Power of Statement Dressing

Bianca Jagger brought glamour and boldness to the 70s. From white suits to Studio 54 gowns, her style was dramatic yet refined. She embodied the idea that fashion can be both a form of personal empowerment and a visual celebration.

Diana Ross – The Glamour of Individuality

Few icons shine brighter than Diana Ross. Sequins, feathers, bold prints, her fearless approach to fashion was an extension of her artistry. She proved that style is about self-expression, about daring to be seen, and about embracing the joy of fashion.

Grace Jones – Avant-Garde Power

Grace Jones turned fashion into art. Strong shoulders, sharp tailoring, futuristic silhouettes, her look was fierce, architectural, and androgynous. She continues to influence designers who see style as a space for reinvention and boundary-breaking.

Kate Moss – The 90s Redefined

The 1990s belonged to Kate Moss: slip dresses, leather jackets, minimalism with edge. Her grunge-meets-glamour aesthetic made “effortless” a global obsession. Even today, her looks are reinterpreted on runways and streets alike.

What We Can Learn from Style Icons

• Confidence is everything: what makes their style timeless is how they owned it.
• Signature pieces last: a black dress, a white suit, a shoulder bag, essentials remain powerful decades later.
• Mixing eras works: every icon reinterpreted the past in their own way.
• Authenticity shines: true style isn’t about copying, it’s about translating inspiration into something that feels like you.
  
  

Why Vintage Style Feels Different

Vintage and retro-inspired pieces have a depth modern fast fashion can’t replicate. They carry stories of design, of culture, of personal history. When you embrace vintage, you’re not just wearing clothes; you’re layering your wardrobe with meaning. It’s this authenticity that sets you apart in a world where sameness dominates.

Tips for Styling Your Vintage Wardrobe

• Mix eras wisely: combine a vintage bag with today’s tailoring to keep your look fresh.
  
• Accessorize intentionally: add statement jewelry or sunglasses to highlight your vintage piece.
  
• Play with contrast: balance bold prints with modern neutrals.
  
• Stay authentic: don’t force an aesthetic, let your style evolve naturally.
  

You don’t need to be on a red carpet to channel vintage glamour. A tailored blazer, a slip dress, a timeless shoulder bag, or a statement accessory can all nod to the icons of the past while fitting perfectly into your modern lifestyle.

Shop our curated collection of authentic pre-loved designer bags.