These days it’s hard to find actual vintage in a thrift store. Every now and then you’ll come across something vintage in a sea of last year’s H&M, and for that reason, I don’t frequent thrift stores as much as I used to back in the day… well, the ‘new clothes’ back then are now being sold as vintage. Yep, that long ago.
A few weeks ago, looking for furniture for our new apartment, I visited a thrift store that actually had a high percentage of vintage clothing and antiques. They were having a sale on coats, and never having enough coats, I took a look through, and found several vintage coats I wanted. One I had to leave behind, though it looked like it might be from the 1950′s, but it had stains, and was quite frail. Then this beautiful camel hair coat for $20. Holy moly, it has beautiful buttons and lining. The camel hair is soft and it fit perfectly. The only problem was that it was too long. Long coats are great for cold weather, but in California, it never really gets cold enough to where you need a long coat, and they often come across as too formal.
So here is the question… do you alter vintage?
Sometimes it feels like destroying the design by altering, taking away the elements that made it true to it’s time. Other times, it seems that a long skirt or a high neckline come across as frumpy by today’s standards, and a beautiful garment ends up sitting in a closet hoping the next generation finds it fashionable.
In this case I decided I would alter the coat. It was $20 and alterations on the length and the sleeves cost $35, for a total of $55 for a natural fiber, union-made, vintage coat. Even the $250 made-in-China coat I was wearing this winter started to pill because the fabric wasn’t sturdy enough (much to my annoyance). So these days you really can’t get good quality pieces for cheap. I’ve worn this coat a few times already since altering it on Monday, and I really find it goes with a lot of my wardrobe.
Before:
The coat passed my knees. This is a good length for colder climates, but in a place that never goes below 50°F it’s a little too much.
After:
The shorter length is more casual and versatile…works with jeans, and short dresses.
Now I’m thinking, heck what else can I alter in my wardrobe? I really want cropped jackets…we’ll see what comes up next.
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I love how this looks altered! It has a fresh, swingy, spring feel to it.
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I hardly ever alter vintage, but your coat looks great.
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Utterly brilliant. I alter too. Everything. The only thing I regret is altering a 60s mini dress of my mom’s when I was 17 from an A line to a a body con 80s look. But hell, it WAS the 80s, so how cld I know any better?!
I also alter chain store & High Street. If you find a gd cheap tailor ( not in NYC unfort), it’s always worth the investment. Always. LLGxx
oh my… i’m sure that if you had a 80′s reinterpretation of a 60′s dress, you have something utterly post-modern, and quite possibly classic!
whenever one can make a minor alterations to a vintage piece to make it more modern and wearable (like you’ve done above), go for it! the only real crime is the hack job – those otherwise gorgeous 50s and 60s dresses that have crudely cut off and poorly top-stitched hems done with the intention to make the dress “mini” and therefore more appealing to the masses. it makes me tear up when I see it! I also don’t understand why people cut out tags, but that’s another story…
oh, i couldn’t do that to a vintage piece, though i’ve had some tailors butcher 50′s shirtdresses making them too short. it’s a tough call with dress lenghts as hemlines go all over the place. though, it’s pretty safe to say knee length is a good one to go with…
Super cute! Love what you did with the coat! You’re so talented. My sister gave me a sewing machine but I’m too afraid to use it.
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it looks great after the alteration, personally I usually alter most vintage pieces to suit my taste
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Brave call but it works! Have you heard of One Vintage? They are a designer based in London. They take old vintage pieces and rework them into a more modern look. They aren’t cheap though! http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Designers/One_Vintage/Clothing
You look beautiful in that new coat! It is surely rewarding to find such a fine piece! I agree that the definition of Vintage has changed a lot during the last year. The top of this so far: This seasons’ H&M Magazine includes an editorial with some pieces labelled as “H&M Vintage”….guess how old they are. How far did this already come when a company adverts with its own products as vintage – and I mean H&M!
*Lilly*
I think the thing about vintage or second hand, is to make the clothes work for you. I liked the long length, but that’s because I like long coats. If the shorter works for you, and makes it more wearable, it was worth it to do!
It’s a beautiful coat, even the inside tag is beautiful too.
I think if it will make you wear a piece, then by all means, alter it. In this case it makes perfect sense to shorten it and make it more wearable. Very cute!
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Fabulous alteration! I picked up a vintage fur coat last summer. It’s far too overpowering to attempt to wear – it goes down past my knees! I have plans to have it shortened, crop the sleeves into bracelet length and remove the collar. It’ll be an expensive overhaul, but definitely worth it!
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Personally I wouldn’t have altered the coat, but then again I live in England and not California. I can completely see why you did though, and the after looks great.
I nearly always alter my vintage, mostly it’s just shortening the length or altering the waist a little, but I have done some bigger jobs. To me it’s just not worth leaving something that’s nearly-perfect when it’s so easy to make it perfect. And often you just don’t find the range of fabrics and prints in more modern clothes (though I alter a lot of those too).
Lovely post!! Also, FANTASTIC find! I love vintage (if you visit my blog, you will figure that out on your own..) and sometimes a vintage piece in good condition can be hard to find. I’ve been lucky enough to get a few pieces that still have the original tags!
I think it is fine to alter vintage; as long as you don’t RUIN the piece. The changes that you made to that amazing coat are lovely and work very well for what you need the coat for. I think the alterations stayed true to the piece. I am a fan of anything “just for me” so altering is a secret obsession… It makes it all mine.
You are a beautiful woman!!!
I never alter vintage that I am selling in my shop, because I want people to be able to purchase the true garment and change it if they see fit.
But often I alter it when I keep a piece for myself. I fall in love with a pattern or a fabric but the cut sometimes doesnt always work with my frame so I like to make it a little more flattering. I think any new life that can be given to these quality pieces is good. I’m all for tailoring and altering.
Although I do have trouble altering pieces from the 50′s and earlier, solely because they have made it so far already. But if it means the garment will be worn and loved, it’s worth it!
It’s a great question and I say absolutely yes! It looks great and you are re-using; that’s the main thing.
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Yes, I do.
If the vintage dress or jacket is damaged and cant be repaired.
I do exactly what you did and take the vintage dress up to knee level.
They look fab and exciting.
If the garment is from the 1950s then that is another matter.
Beaut xxx
Vintage 50s Dresses
I so identify with the “sea of H&M” I am am Londoner and back here thrift shops or charity shops as we call them have also been invaded with H&M, Zara, Topshop et al, at prices barely below the original retail price. There is simply no comparison in quality with 70′s, 60′s, 50′s stuff, which for a start was made in the UK. Today I found a nice Acquascutum coat (I believe 1960s) in a colour that actually suits me, for £28 in a Cancer Research shop. Only problem is it was 2 sizes too big and a quick chat with the local dry cleaner and alterations shop manager convinced me that it would not be practicable to alter it to my size. So my quest continues.
How do other site visitors feel about making substantial size alterations to vintage garments?
Thanks
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