Cara Mia Vintage

A few weeks ago I re-organised the entire wardrobe, pulling together an Autumn look and passing on old items to a friend’s teenage daughter. Out came anything needing spot cleaning or repairs, as well as those pieces earmarked for full or partial overhauls with snipping and embellishing, which I’ve been working my way through. And I kept a notepad nearby to jot down items to find so I could wear others more often, as and when they sprung to mind.

First on the wishlist was a vintage fur gilet, and I found the best version on shopCOLLECT‘s Etsy site. It struck me how totally gorgeous and professional the online styling for vintage has become – with pieces modelled just as beautifully as any designer shopping site such as Net-a-Porter or Shopbop. To me this is the acme of vintage appreciation, proving the old has become just as desirable as the new (if not more so for its rarity) in fashion. I don’t buy a helluva lot online because I like staying local and trying things on, but accessories and outerwear can be brilliant if you’re stuck finding them elsewhere.

I mentioned Cara Mia Vintage recently, having cooed over some of the most divine and archival designer pieces I’ve seen in the flesh at Love Vintage. Her collection rivals the designer vintage stores I’ve visited in London and Paris, and sits right up there with the Dress Box Vintage concession at Liberty, despite being quite a bit smaller. I wanted to share with you some of my favourites, just to show you how fab these classic vintage looks can work when worn with modern style. This is the way to wear vintage today, and it’s truly inspiring. More please.