How to Shop for Vintage Menswear, According to Brian M. Davis of Wooden Sleepers - New York Magazine |
- How to Shop for Vintage Menswear, According to Brian M. Davis of Wooden Sleepers - New York Magazine
- From vintage snapbacks to t-shirts, two local men find their calling in ‘Twisted Thrift’ - WeAreGreenBay.com
- The Vintage Shop opens in Beekman Street Arts District - The Saratogian
How to Shop for Vintage Menswear, According to Brian M. Davis of Wooden Sleepers - New York Magazine Posted: 15 Apr 2021 03:50 PM PDT Buying vintage means you save money and help keep clothing out of landfills, all while hunting for one-of-a-kind treasures, which can be thrilling and a little bit addictive. Plus, since fashion trends are generally cyclical and inspired by the past, you can usually find near-identical versions of what is being sold by high-end fashion brands for a fraction of the price on eBay, Etsy, or Poshmark. What I really like about vintage menswear is sharing it with my fiancé. I have a large collection of vintage men's crewneck sweatshirts, denim jackets, and boxy novelty tees that I wear on a regular basis. I prefer to do most of my vintage menswear shopping in person, since it's hard for me to know how men's clothing might fit my body without trying it on, but even if you're a men's sample size, it can still be overwhelming to sift through thousands of vintage chinos or perfectly worn-in button-downs on eBay. So to help you (and me) find the best vintage menswear online without drowning in options, I asked Brian M. Davis, owner and founder of vintage menswear store Wooden Sleepers, the tips and tricks you need to find the best vintage menswear online — including fun patterned shirts for spring and summer, stylishly baggy chinos, and not-too-expensive denim chore jackets. If you're hoping to score something you can wear right away, before tailoring (and after washing it of course), you'll need to put a little work in up front. Vintage sizing is notoriously unreliable, so most collectors only pay attention to each garment's actual measurements. "I just can't emphasize enough how helpful it is to compare the measurements of something you own that fits you well with the measurements that are being provided by a seller," Davis says. Take your best-fitting shirt, jacket, or sweatshirt, lay it down flat on a table, and measure the chest, length, and sleeve. Keep these measurements handy to compare with how people are measuring things online. If a seller doesn't list measurements, don't be afraid to ask for them. "A great thing to ask would be 'What's the pit-to-pit measurement on this shirt?' If it's 20 inches and the one from your closet is 24, then you know that shirt is going to be too small," says Davis. Pants are also measured flat across the top of the waistband as opposed to all the way around. So you could measure your own pants that way, or if you know you have a 32-inch waist, you'll want to look for a number that's around half of that. Davis says because feedback and reviews on resale sites are so dominant, people are generally upfront about any damages or stains and don't want to misrepresent anything. Finally he recommends not buying things that will just become a project to fix. "I have to look at something and be like, Is this more trouble than it's worth? Some spots or whatever can add to the character of an item, but a busted zipper is just going to be a headache and end up costing you a bunch of money." With that in mind, here's his advice for finding great vintage clothing in different categories. Colorful Summer ShirtsAfter wearing a version of the same outfit everyday for a year, many people are excited to experiment with fashion and bright colorful patterned shirts are an easy place to start. One of the coolest things about vintage clothing is you don't have to spend a lot of money to experiment. You can find everything online from classic Hawaiian shirts (Davis recommends vintage Reyn Spooner) to brightly colored seersucker, and tons of quirky novelty prints to match any warm-weather hobby you can think of. "It's endless. That's one thing that can be maddening about looking for this stuff online, but also sort of fun," he says. Try plugging in some specific summer-weight fabrics into your search — like vintage seersucker, madras, or batik — and look for patterns like vintage paisley or vintage patchwork. As a general rule, Davis recommends searching for classic American menswear brands because there is usually a lot available and the stuff even from the '80s is made of high-quality materials. This vintage color-blocked Brooks Brothers seersucker shirt may not be super-rare, but it is a very good deal. These two vintage Polo Ralph Lauren Hawaiian shirts are also great options for anyone looking to show off a little this summer. Davis says you can find nearly any pattern imaginable. "I really like fabrics that have certain specific seasonal motifs, like vintage men's sailing print shirts." Some are more absurd than others, and he says the key to making them look cool is all about how you mix it up. Because they are historically preppy in nature you'll want to avoid wearing them with other traditionally preppy things like a pair of khakis with lobsters embroidered on them for example. Instead go for something more subdued like jeans."You kind of want to mash these things up so that it's not so one dimensional," he says. Lightweight jackets are important layering tools that can turn a simple white T-shirt and jeans into a fully formed outfit. But as we have seen with the shacket trend of the past few years, an unbuttoned shirt made of slightly thick or rigid cotton can do the same job. "A kind of hack that I've always done is to wear military shirts as lightweight jackets because actual military jackets are kind of too heavy for spring, but military shirts, just by the nature of the fabric, are pretty hefty and substantial," Davis says, stressing that you want to look for all cotton rather than the synthetic blends that were introduced in the '80s because the all-cotton shirts are a lot softer. "If you search for OG-107 military shirts (or pants) you're going to find the good stuff in my opinion," he says. This one has two chest pockets big enough for keys and a wallet. If you want an actual jacket instead, there isn't much that's cooler, or more widely available, than a vintage denim one. Because there are so many, Davis recommends using filters to refine your search. He suggests searching in the actual vintage sub category on eBay as opposed to the clothing, shoes, and accessories category, and he says you'll have better luck finding the best stuff if you get rid of things that look professionally photographed. Searching for a specific brand can really help narrow things down, too. Levi's is an obvious one, as well as Wrangler and Lee, but according to Davis "virtually every clothing brand ever has done a take on the denim jacket." So you might find something unexpected by searching for things like Osh Kosh B'gosh (trust us) or Tommy Hilfiger. This Wrangler trucker jacket has a western feel giving it a more unique look than a classic Levi's trucker. Denim chore jackets with their boxier fit, big patch pockets, and corduroy collars look good on literally everyone. They fall into one of two categories: lined or unlined. For warmer weather, you'll obviously want to find one without the blanket lining. Other than that, just find one that you think looks cool. "A lot of these things can get really expensive and really intimidating, depending on how old and rare they are," says Davis. If you're not a serious collector, there is no reason to spend $500 dollars on a vintage 1940s workwear piece. According to him. you can get great '80s and '90s versions from brands like Carhartt that have all the wear patterns and the same basic silhouette without the hefty price tag. "Having my store has made it clear to me that guys want fuller-cut pants with a higher rise, and they are willing to pay for it," Davis says. Men's pants have slowly but surely been getting wider and roomier — but not at a mass level, so buying them new is still pretty expensive. "If you search for vintage Polo, Lands End, or Eddie Bauer khakis, you could probably get a pair for around $15 with a high rise, a single pleat leg, and a nice nine-inch leg opening at the bottom. That's going to give you that full breezy kind of look that you want right now at a super-low price point," he says. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. |
Posted: 15 Apr 2021 03:09 PM PDT GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Vintage clothes are coming back in style in big ways and two local men are taking their passion for throwback clothing and making it a business. Lucas Baron and Austin Falk, of the Green Bay area, are cousins and they have always had a big interest in thrifting. The old school shirts, hats, jackets, and more are what triggered both to start looking into the future. "We were really just sitting there bored. Like, trying to think of something for the future. Something cool to do business wise. What can we do?", says Baron. That's when they decided to create 'Twisted Thrift'. It's a second hand clothing business with apparel from different eras. Baron and Falk travel all around the country to different thrift stores to find vintage clothing. They also tell Local 5 that it's so much more than just going from store to store. It's the connections they make with others that pay off in the end. "A lot of times you have to dig, you have to know people, you have to go through sheds, you have to post something that you're looking for this. It's not just five minutes or six minutes. Sometimes you're driving six hours", Baron explains. Anything from old-school sporting jerseys, jackets, t-shirts, and more is what you'll find in their collection. One of the most unique items are the snapback hats and it's a popular item. "There's a significant amount of collectors out there that know the names of the styles and they're willing to pay, just incredible amounts, because it's the scarcity of them and the quality. You just don't find that", says Falk. Going into collections and thrift stores is what keeps both of them going and the thrill of the hunt is an unmatchable feeling. "This band shirt that I'm wearing, it's so hard to come by. I could go to 100 thrift stores for two years and I'd never find one, you know? Then to find one, it's like a little kid in the candy store", Falk tells Local 5. The inventory Falk and Baron have acquired in the last two years of 'Twisted Thrift' is incredible but both say they're not going to be satisfied anytime soon. They're always looking for their collection and for the future. As they operate still out of their parent's homes, the future is bright for 'Twisted Thrift' and they want to take it to the next level. "We'd love to open up a big, nice store. Whether that's in the middle of Green Bay or whether that's in New York or whether we have 20 locations. The sky is the limit really", says Baron. The support 'Twisted Thrift' has seen from friends and family has been overwhelming for the duo and they tell Local 5 it's greatly appreciated. To learn more about 'Twisted Thrift' and to browse their selection, visit their website or Instagram. |
The Vintage Shop opens in Beekman Street Arts District - The Saratogian Posted: 13 Apr 2021 12:00 PM PDT SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Spa City shoppers can now browse a wide variety of vintage clothing at new local business The Vintage Shop. Located in the Beekman Street Arts District, at 65 Beekman St. in Saratoga Springs, The Vintage Shop is filled with fashions from the 1920s to 1980s. The shop is owned and operated by local resident Denise Shabtie, who has been in the vintage retail business for 25 years. In that time, she's had several different vintage clothing stores in multiple states - Montana, Idaho, Florida, Nevada, Massachusetts and California - as well as online. Most recently she decided to move her business to Saratoga Springs, following a relocation upstate from Brooklyn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her travels, Shabtie has always brought along her extensive collection of vintage clothing. With a mix of casual to high-end styles, The Vintage Shop features a large selection of authentic vintage men's and women's clothing, shoes, hats, accessories and jewelry. "Everything from head to toe," Shabtie said. The Vintage Shop places great emphasis on cleanliness. All clothing in the store is organically dry cleaned. This process, along with Shabtie's meticulous care for the merchandise, helps the shop's decades-old pieces look just like new. Every item in The Vintage Shop is at least 40 to 50 years old. "It's history," said Shabtie, who has the store organized into sections focused on different time periods. Since opening the business in November, shoppers have enjoyed exploring the store's unique and diverse offerings. Likewise, Shabtie takes pleasure in sharing her vintage fashions in a new place. "I feel very welcomed," she said on starting her business in Saratoga Springs, a city she had never visited before 2020. When Shabtie arrived in the Spa City, she was immediately impressed, and very quickly decided to make it not only her new home, but also the site of her next entrepreneurial venture. Now in her seventh store, Shabtie explained that running The Vintage Shop is a labor of love. "This is not a money-making business, because it's so hard to get the stuff. And it gets harder and harder," she said. Nevertheless, it is her passion. "Vintage, to me, is supposed to be fun. The clothes are fun. They're not boring," Shabtie said. "People come in here for some pop. Some pizzazz." Looking ahead, "My whole goal is to stay doing what I want. It's not to make a fortune. It's not going to happen. But at least I'm here every day with things I love," she said. "So my goal is just to continue doing what I'm doing." The Vintage Shop is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and by appointment on Monday for what Shabtie calls "vintage emergencies." For customers who purchase clothing at The Vintage Shop, Shabtie offers complimentary hemming services on skirts, dresses and pants. Shabtie also purchases vintage clothing, in good condition, from private collections. Anyone interested in selling to The Vintage Shop can contact the store and schedule an appointment. More information about The Vintage Shop is available online at @thevintageshopsaratoga on Instagram and www.facebook.com/Thevintageshopsaratoga. The shop can be contacted by calling (718) 306-8210. |
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