Zarah

Vintage,Boho, inspired or just second hand?
Lately I'm increasingly aware of people who taken the Oppurtunity out of an Op-Shop.
Turning old items into new fashion is a hot idea in theory and if pulled of can be fabulous though mostly it's just been done, done, done!
Kids these days roam the streets wearing worn out, had-thier-day,old items looking a little less than fresh.
I'm all for reviving unique prints and styles,antique lace and well worn leather but leave the used and ugly on the rack.
If purchasing a second hand item go for good quality fabric.Fit is a must so if it just don't fit get it altered.
Keep in mind todays modern form-fitting shapes instead of slumping around in a sack.
It's all about attitude, if you but secondhand it shouldn't make you feel secondhand.I seem to encounter many a vintage shopper with elitist secondhand attitude towards those who only buy designer or new items.
Leave it in the clothing bin where it belongs!
Just because you decide to go vintage it doesn't mean converting head to toe.Otherwise you will appear to be trapped in a timewarp or mistaken for someone unable to afford normal clothes living off Mum's hand-me-down's.
Instead mix those standout items with today's fashion ala Mischa Barton.
Mum threw out most of her old clothes for a good reason , they had had their time to shine.
Revive what will survive for you, as in good quality,beautiful pieces with a timeless appeal.
I've always treated clothes as though they have feelings.When you think about it you don't want to be out on parade when your looking your worst and neither to they (clothes I mean).
An line that at the moment in street fashion has to be drawn between vintage survival and over-used revival.

The low-rider boy,he skates, he steals or he owns spraycans....these have been common associations since the
80's.
The low-rider is a statement all of its own though I 've never been exactly sure what it mean't.
Is it proof of a package too large for straight-fit jeans,a place for storage of stolen items,spray cans and alcohol (as seen in the cult film 'kids')
or is it a fashion statement evolved from breakdancing or skating requiring loosefitting clothing to pull off the moves.

It's admired by teenage girls,scowled at by anyone over thirty and seems to be a competition for the lowest among its contenders.

mmmmm....the low-rider.I revel in my teenage youth, sitting at Vic Park notorious for the best skaters in my very small town.
My girlfriends and I would spend Saturday afternoon sunning ourselves,sharing cigarettes and eyeing off our favourite boy that week.
They'd be practising jumps,doing ollies,giving us an eye every hour if we were lucky and all wearing their jeans lowride of course.

I got a slap back to reality that times have changed the other day when I went the bottle shop for a bottle of red.
I had my first siting of a new breed of low-rider.Somehow I have missed the way boys jeans have evolved into this new form of 'the low-ride'.
This guy had taken the skinny stovepipe jeans (we still love might i add) and done what I thought was impossible to wear, a Lowlow ride!

While standing behind this guy I immediately thought one word, Ouch.
The jeans looked painfully tight and painful to watch.I hurt to watch him trying to walkout the door with his beer and board tucked under his arm.
I wouldn't call it a walk,it was more of a waddle.
Is this a fashion victim gone too far? Does he really skate or is that a guy's version of a Balenciaga motorcycle bag tucked under his arm?

I retained my sanity enough not to ask him outright but instead followed him two bondi streets to find out how he could pull off riding his skateboard in those damn tight pants.
But of course I never saw him ride ..........