RETRO CHIC Guidebook updates shopping tips for vintage-clothes buying trips

Well-made garments deserve to continue to live as retro chic fashions.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Vintage clothes, it seems, are here to stay.
These garments and the look built around them are a backlash against the homogenization of fashion, according to Diana Eden and Gloria Lintermans, authors of a new national guidebook on vintage shopping.
"One of the reasons for the popularity of vintage is to counter the malls," says Eden. "You can get the same clothes anywhere in America. Some people want to have their own flair."
Lintermans adds: "Wearing vintage says something about your confidence."
But for those who are not as comfortable as Eden and Lintermans in choosing and wearing vintage -- aka "old" -- clothes, their book promises tips from fashion experts, Hollywood costume designers, and film and TV stars.
Most garments found in reputable shops are described as "gently worn," while there are a handful to be found with the tags still hanging.
Book work
"Retro Chic: A Guide To Fabulous Vintage and Designer Resale Shopping in North America and Online" (Really Great Books) also features recommendations for coveted labels from different eras.
The authors are generous in their definition of "retro." The book starts in the 1920s and goes through the '80s. Clothes from the 1990s are beginning to be labeled vintage now that one has the hindsight to see how power suits of the '80s morphed into softer, bias-cut and flowery skirts in the early '90s, Eden and Lintermans explain.
"To define an era, you ask, 'What was the most important element (from that time)?'" says Eden, a costume designer.
Some examples of signature items are:
UCoco Chanel's wide-legged yachting pants, Lilly Dache hats, and Ferragamo's handmade shoes from the '20s.
UChanel's trademark suits, Hermes' Kelly bag, and Cristobal Balenciaga's jeweled garments from the '30s.
UGilbert Adrian's broad-shouldered suits with long jackets and narrow waists, and Pauline Trigere's wool and taffeta's evening dresses from the '40s.
UChristian Dior's skirts that sat 16 inches from the floor, Hubert de Givenchy's peasant-style "Bettina" blouse, and Claire McCardell's practical, "working girl" styles from the '50s.
UBill Blass' women's sportswear in men's fabrics, Pierre Cardin coats, and Oleg Cassini's sleeveless, high-waisted evening dress with a fabric rose from the '60s.
UStephen Burrows' at-home leisure clothes, Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, and Laura Ashley's Edwardian styles with high collars and leg-of-mutton sleeves from the '70s.
UNolan Miller's "Dynasty-style" dresses, Benneton's casual knitwear, and Norma Kamali's "sweats" collection from the '80s.
"We want to honor well-made garments that deserve to continue to live," says Lintermans, a former fashion and beauty columnist.
But while they offer many suggestions of what to buy, Eden and Lintermans advise would-be vintage wearers not to put on all their finds at once.
"What we mean by 'retro chic' is pulling together a contemporary outfit with a piece from the past," Eden says.
Have fun
The most important thing to take when you visit vintage stores is your sense of fun. Then, they say, choose clothes that fit your body, lifestyle and age.
"If you're in love with an era but it doesn't work with your body type, then just go for a piece to get the flavor," Lintermans adds.
Shopkeepers and salesmen at vintage stores seem to be a little more helpful than those at other retailers, observes Eden, because they see consumers as part of their special community.
The authors also encourage people to check out their own closets, attics and garages for clothes that are ready for a comeback. "It's not 'used' clothing; think of it as something I'm enjoying again," Eden says.