by Rowena Ritchie


Easy-to-find vintage trends are everywhere, you just have to know where to look.
Thrifting for new wardrobe looks often comes down to going with a gut reaction. Perhaps more so than in mainstream stores and boutiques where marketing and merchandising is working its magic on your decision making abilities. In a vintage or thrift store, all that’s separating you from some new clothes is in a blink of the eye. You see something that instinctively appeals to you; maybe it’s a color you like or the fit of the shoulder or a memory of something your Grandmother used to wear.
I’d be the last person to say shopping decisions made cautiously and deliberately are better than those made quickly and instinctively, but in these days of fashion designers getting plundered freely, it helps to have a sense of what past fashions are being reconstituted in this moment. Here are five items that can be found in abundance in vintage and thrift stores and – luckily for you and the planet – are making a comeback in this season’s and spring’s 2012 styles.
Cameo’s – First seen on Dolce & Gabana’s and Bottega Veneta’s fall runways, the delicately carved cameos and intaliagos have been seen accessorizing fashion’s chicest protagonists (above) as earrings, pendants or rings – adding a dose of yesteryear romance to spring looks.


Southwestern Prints – Pendleton’s Portland collection has been the hit of the season, but they’ve been producing their legendary Native American inspired prints for more than a century, making vintage versions super easy to come by on eBay and etsy.
Sheer Maxi dresses & Skirts – The see-through trend really caught on this year, just bite me if you don’t spot one or two at this year’s office Christmas party swaying seductively off that young hip account exec. Double up on fall’s feeling for lace by thrifting a lace skirt – habitual holdover’s from the 70′s & 80′s – you can easily chop the lining at mid thigh revealing the lace outer lay for a similar effect.


Tartan Flannel Shirts – For any of us who were around for 90’s grunge the first time around, we’re all in for a familiar fashion blast from the past with flannel shirts. They’re back and worn exactly the same (minus the great music) with faded denim and combat boots. Fashion is always a predictable indicator of culture and this moment in time, revisiting the era of Reality Bites suddenly starts to make a lot of sense.


Leather Skirts – Here’s an outfit idea. Balance this season’s ladylike and preppy style with some tough girl edge by opting for a thrifted, tailored leather skirt. Key pieces in many designer’s fall collections, they were last on trend in the 80’s and early 90’s making many victim to closet clear outs, thus ending up in second hand clothing stores – and out into your stylish hands –  by the dozen.


(Source: www.ecosalon.com )