Volume 9 Issue 1

sizes and reasonable prices. Their inventory is
always changing, and they are very active on their
Instagram, @collectiveclothing, frequently showing
off new items for sale. Sondra Aten, co-owner of
Collective Clothing, provided details about their
sources for vintage pieces.
“We look for older items, so the best places
to find these items are from the original owners,”
Aten says. “That usually means shopping via
house calls and lots of estate sales. We find a lot of
meaning in what we do, which is basically keeping
these vintage items out of the landfill and giving
them a second life.”
Many vintage lover’s first experiences
with vintage clothing were shopping at Collective
Clothing and similar stores. Collective Clothing
amazes customers with
its lovely selection of
fancy 50s dresses, floral
patterned pieces from the
70s, and 60s mod blouses.
Collective Clothing
inspires customers to grow
their vintage collections
through thrifting and
rock vintage clothing in
their daily wardrobes.
Combining vintage pieces
with modern clothes
creates unique looks,
which inspire wearers to
be more adventurous with
their personal styles.
Haley Mitchell is
a recent graduate of The
University of Alabama who is completing a master
of arts in teaching at the University of Pittsburgh.
Mitchell is big in the thrifting scene, and her
personal style is heavily influenced by the late 60s
and early 70s.
“The beginning of the 60s is so vastly
different from the end. This directly coincides with
women’s liberation in my opinion. It goes from
pastel shift dresses, pillbox hats and short hair that
evolved into denim, boots, ponchos and long hair.”
Mitchell is well-versed in identifying true vintage
by taking notice of small details in each article of
clothing. There are obvious signs of true vintage
like brand and style, in addition to the overall
construction. The type of fabric used, and even
down to the brand of zipper are all clues that she
uses to age an article of clothing.
“Things that zip up on the sides of shorts,
pants, and dresses are usually pre-60s,” says
Mitchell.
The final recommendation for second-hand
and vintage sourcing is Depop. This app connects
you to thousands of independent resellers and
small businesses. By selling vintage pieces, one can
grow their skills in clothing repair, photography and
more.
Vintage fashion is a great way for fashion
enthusiasts to expand their personal style, shop
sustainably and even save a little money if they
know where to look. Vintage fashion helps people
to better appreciate the past and grow their
wardrobes, allowing wearers to stand out and shine
bright against the backdrop of today’s modern
fashion.
BUYING USED
CLOTHING OFFERS
THE TREASURE HUNT
OF FINDING VINTAGE
PIECES IF YOU ARE
KNOWLEDGEABLE
ABOUT WHAT TO
LOOK FOR.
Design by Meagan Riordan
Phots by Caroline Simmons
Modeled by Emma Blair &
Sara Harder
Alice Fall 2023 27