“I think vintage fashion gives people the opportunity to participate in the luxury market where they wouldn’t have been able to before”.
Teanne Vickers, marie claire’s Junior Fashion Editor, is a bonafide vintage fashion aficionado.
Teanne tells us that not a single day goes by without her wearing something that’s vintage or second hand, so for marie claire’s recent May 2022 issue, which was dedicated to Earth Month, it was an obvious choice to dedicate a shoot to the secret wonder and hidden treasure of the vintage and luxury resale market.
“We were doing an earth issue and if we didn’t comment on the vintage or resale market it would be doing a disservice to our audience”, Teanne explains. “It’s a huge market and people are looking to buy their clothes that way”.
According to ThredUp, the global second hand market is set to be valued at $77 billion by 2025. “These resale platforms are high value companies these days, it’s not just a fun hobby anymore, they’re legitimately profitable so we had to be involved in the conversation”.
If you flick to page 116 of the May issue, you’ll be greeted by a plethora (101 in fact) of sustainable shopping and styling ideas with items you’ll be able to find in your local opshop or via a quick scroll on online vintage sites.
Of course, the shoot includes resale staples like soft tailored styles, leather jackets and denims. Elsewhere, vintage Versace mini’s are paired with Michael Kors knee high boots or a Helmut Lang top styled with Loewe jeans.
The total cost of these ensembles equals half the price of what you’d pay for one new season ready-to-wear item fresh off the runway.
“That’s the thing about vintage, if you look at the runway and I can guarantee you can find pieces that give off that same vibe or aesthetic or have a similar cut and fabrication already around.”
So, as a natural shopper with the ability to uncover vintage gems, compiling this shoot was second nature for Teanne.
“I started sourcing this shoot with places that I like to shop…Vestiaire Collective, Depop, The Real Real, The Turn and more local stores like in Route 66 in Newtown and Kiko Vintage.” Teanne adds that one of the best things about working with these vintage stores means that you can source items that aren’t typically available in Australia.
“I was sifting through racks, I went out to vintage warehouses and hand selected things but that’s the joy of vintage shopping. A lot of what we buy these days are online, vintage allows you the in person experience of picking things out and trying things on.”
But vintage fashion isn’t just a new trick for old players. “You can’t go into it thinking that you’re going to find something spectacular, you have to be willing to put in the work.”
Teanne also recommends that this form of cardio, like any exercise, is best done in a group setting. “Try and go with someone who knows a couple of places, I often end up going with friends and those stores end up becoming one of their favourites too.”
Unfortunately for us, Teanne has snapped up most of the pieces seen in the shoot for herself. But don’t let that stop you from indulging yourself in the world of resale.
“When you’re buying something second hand it’s coming at a reduced cost, it gives people an entry level to brands they want to access and like but wouldn’t have been able to before.”
This is the future of fashion. The new vanguard uniform? Head to marie claire’s May issue and see for yourself.
Photographer: Mia Rankin
Fashion Editor: Teanne Vickers
Hair: Madison Voloshin
Makeup: Joel Babicci
Models: Sarah Deni & Molly Rowe
Production: Emily Gittany
