8/16 Drop: European Vintage, Vintage European
European Vintage Aesthetic, Sourcing Stories, This Week's Drop
European vintage. Vintage European. I find myself using the phrases interchangably, and I’m not sure which is which anymore, if I’m being honest. Whichever it is, it can either mean vintage clothing for Europe, or a search term for a specific style aesthetic on pinterest. We’re here to talk about both!
The aesthetic:
With the rise in “European summer” on tiktok, the evergreen allure of Paris fashion, and the rising interest in designer pieces such as Chanel, Dior and Prada by those of us in the not-so-luxury tax bracket, I’ve observed a societal fixation on an aesthetic that permeates client pinboards and consultation emails. “European vintage” is most commonly used by my clients in reference to the effortless, cool girl chic, minimalist, perfectly undone and done, laid back and excellently put together style that we asociate with the parisians.
Crisp, oversized button downs, timeless knits, just-structured-enough suiting and menswear, chorejackets reminiscent of the countryside, slouchy denim, maxi skirts, sleek lines, liquid silks and satins, buttery soft suede and leathers, and always the unexpected westernwear, glitzy accent piece, pop of color or bold( but tasteful) print somehow all get thrown together that yields a most elegant but effortless look.
Of course though, it’s the unexpected elements that make it so hard to nail down what exactly the aesthetic is.
For example, a fringe jacket doesn’t feel parisian in the mind’s eye, but when you see it at the cafe, its suddenly the most european garment you’ve ever seen.
I was at a cafe in Paris in April, people watching (as one does), when a man dressed head to toe in vintage western wear took up the vacant seat at a young couple’s table nearby. Hat, fringe jacket, denim vest, giant belt buckle, cowboy boots, guitar slung over shoulder. The whole nine yards. And I thought that it all looked much better in Europe than it did back home.
And that’s what it all really is: it’s the “je ne sais quoi” element that leaves us expecting the unexpected. It’s the ability to take something and make it more at home with you than it ever was elsewhere.
With vintage european, we’re getting refined and chic, yet rustic. It’s lived-in luxury. It’s chanel flats that are daily drivers. It’s head-to-toe western at home at the cafe. We’re getting something playful and grounded that reminds us that clothing and style is meant to be lived in as well as curated.
Style is meant to be personal as well as polished, afterall.
Vintage European is, at it’s core, the wardrobe staples that we all want: vintage Levi’s, oversized menswear, the perfect tank top, lush knits in essential colors, lightly tailored yet boxy silhouettes, and undeniably feminine pieces that are effortless; with the addition of the pieces we gravitate towards as individuals.
It’s 80% timeless staples, and 20% all the weird stuff that we pick up at the vintage shop or bought because it was just the right size polka dot, the most alluring shade of green, the shiny tank top that we just couldn’t leave behind.
And we’re obsessed!
The Vintage:
While in Paris in April I collected some incredible vintage gems. There’s a few of them in this week’s drop:
Sequin Rosette Top
I stumbled into a flea market booth that was stocked to the brim with designer samples, feathered tops, and loud pieces. The shop owner was nowhere to be found, and I soon had my arms straining under the burden of pieces I felt I couldn’t part with. The sequin top was my first selection.
I liked this particular top because of the option to make it a tube top, the handmade elements (the straps are handstitched), the square neckline, and the rosette. It’s loud, but it’s timeless. I could picture it in any decade. The shop owner was eventually located, tucked away in a corner behind a giant pile of clothing in the corner. She was incredibly kind, and went out of her way to understand my incredibly broken french.
French Chore Jacket:
I found this piece at a flea market in the northwestern region of Paris. The booth was run by two men, one with the most striking green eyes, the other a man too young to have salt and pepper hair. There were uniforms and workwear of all descriptions hung on the walls, dangling from the ceilings, laid out on the floor. I left the shop without purchasing anything, tried on a 100 year old cornflower blue velvet overcoat a bit up the street, then made my way back for this jacket.
Hand-knit Olive Green Cardigan:
After wandering around Paris all day sourcing for clients, I was particularly worn out in a way another espresso couldn’t fix. I passed a shop with a narrow doorway, no windows, and stacked floor to ceiling with clothing- so naturally, I had to stop. Nothing was particularly good in the shop, but for whatever reason, I kept digging.
I found this cardigan buried, and couldn’t help but feel I had been stopped to save someone’s painstakingly made masterpiece from an otherwise grim future, and that was a good feeling. Good luck too, it’s really the perfect oversized cardigan!
This Week’s Drop:
With September and cooler temperatures on the horizon, I’m getting excited about outerwear, layering pieces and textures such as suede and leather. With the approach of fall comes the reminder that holiday season is also mere months away. I’m getting excited about that too. This drop is all about European Vintage essentials, with touches of early holiday flare that can be worn year-round.
I blame Leo season for the excitement about the still somewhat distant holidays: we all want to sparkle and shine right now.
With that being said, Virgo season is around the corner, and I’ve found myself wanting the crisp pieces that scream “I’m detail oriented!” and “I can be trusted with pasta sauce in a white button down!” I want to read a book in a cafe and nauseate everyone with my analysis of the plot and hidden themes, and I want to do it all looking chic!
This drop is similar to the last in the sense that we’re all having our last bit of fun in the sun, and we’re all getting excited about cooling down and tidying up (both in life and style).
The focus while curating this drop was considering what would be effortless for each of you to integrate into your wardrobe, could serve you for years to come, or was the unexpected element you’ve been looking for (whether you knew it or not). The phrase “refined party animals” comes to mind, and to me, that is vintage european, european vintage.
Styling Inspo:
Browse the pinboard for styling inspo for pieces in this week’s drop here.
Shop the Drop:
The drop will be live at 1pm est today. The shop link is here.
Preview:
Here’s every piece in today’s drop:
Bonus Round (Roll the credits!)
Songs that I listened to while curating this drop:
Sailor Song by Gigi Perez
Satisfaction by Paco Versailles
Annecy by Kazy Lambist
Habitual Love by Okay Kaya
Open this wall by berlioz
Where or When by Laufey
Our Way - Edit by Paco Versailles
Listen to the playlist here:
(Special thanks to Ain’t No love in Oklahoma by Luke Combs - I did in fact listen to it on a continuous loop for two days straight, but I am not putting it on the playlist).
MORE MORE MORE!
Coming next week: I’ll be sharing the only 5 handbags you’ll ever need, a downloadable shopping guide for building a versatile “European Vintage” wardrobe, and of course more vintage!
Thank you for reading!
-Mylea