Guest Author - Vicky Talbot

The term ‘vintage’ is slowly losing its meaning in the fashion world. A word often used to describe contemporary clothing inspired by decades gone by (ruffle necks, creamy peach shades, lace detail and crocodile skin box bags), vintage style can actually cover anything from a genuine Trifari brooch to a well-worn, drop-waist twenties dress. The beauty of vintage is that you don’t actually have to look too far to come across a vintage treasure or two. Clothes from yesteryear are both easy on the pocket and do wonders for your own personal style, adding individuality (no one else will be clutching a 50’s silk purse this season) and allowing you to experiment and mix up your vintage finds with your contemporary wardrobe.

The question is, however, where to start? Fashion journalist and author Funmi Odulate has stepped in to help both fashion enthusiasts and vintage virgins with her debut, inspiring guide to all things vintage. Shopping for Vintage not acts as a guide to fashion history (comprehensively moving through the designers that shaped the fashionable forties and swinging sixties, profiling everyone from Jeanne Paquin to Mary Quant), there’s also a section dedicated to the art of buying vintage. With some excellent advice on where to start your hunt for a unique, ageing fashion find, Odulate shares a wealth of tips on where to look, what to look for and how to haggle.

A whole new set of rules apply to vintage clothing and accessories. Often the best finds will be lurking in thrift stores or hidden beneath bric-a-brac at a car boot sale, so persistence and an eagerness to ‘shop’ is essential to your quest. If your idea of shopping is a quick trip to the high street, you may want to set aside more time for rummaging in disorganised vintage stores, navigating your way down side streets you never knew existed and time to consult this ultimate fashion bible to make sure you know how to define fabulous from fake.

As well as providing tips on what the vintage treasures of the future may be (why invest in property and shares when you can invest in couture bags and shoes?), Odulate is the fashionista’s best friend, sharing her favourite vintage stores, secret boutiques and fayres across Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and the UK in the Vintage Store Directory.

Equipping you with absolutely everything you need to know, Shopping for Vintage is a complete guide which will satisfy both vintage fashion enthusiasts and those dabbling with investing in a piece or two to individualise their wardrobe. A beautifully presented book wrapped in Japanese, kimono-style fabric and small enough to keep in your handbag, this definitive guide is like a style maven’s diary, packed with secret tips and addresses, pretty sketches and colourful illustrations in the style of vintage swatches – a true treasure of a book and a must-have for anyone with a passion for vintage.