Category: Fashion

Mad for Midi Skirts

Posted on August 13, 2023August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

My style has been venturing into the 1970s lately, mainly due to recently inheriting my mom’s wardrobe. She kept much of her very stylish 1970s clothing, which included a lot of midi-length skirts. Since I’m at the point where I’ve outgrown mini skirts, the midi feels just right, and I’m trying out some new looks.

The midi skirt gained popularity during the 1940s and 1950s, revolutionizing women’s fashion. This elegant garment emerged as a response to wartime rationing and the need for more practical attire. With its hemline falling below the knee and sometimes reaching mid-calf, the midi skirt struck the perfect balance between modesty and style.

My vintage midi skirt collection comes from a decade filled with bold style, great music and quirky TV sitcoms (I’m looking at you, Brady Bunch and Partridge Family). It’s a decade I associate with my childhood and many memories. I never thought I would want to relive some of those crazy fashions. But recently, I’ve fallen in love with playing with some of these retro statement-making pieces, and they look as fresh today as the decade comes back in style.

One of the reasons the midi skirt has endured throughout the years is its universally flattering silhouette. Whether you opt for an A-line, pleated, or pencil style, the midi skirt cinches at the waist and gracefully flares out, creating a feminine and sophisticated shape. It accentuates the natural curves while providing comfort and freedom of movement.

Here are some of my latest outfits influenced by 1970s style and the midi skirt.

Flowy Sleeves and Button-Down Midi Skirt

Thanks to the recent Amazon Prime series “Daisy Jones and the Six”, the boho rock ‘n’ roll look has taken hold this year. I love that carefree, hippie-esque style, but I’ve never worn it. Now with the help of this vintage breezy, flowy top and bright midi skirt, I’m getting the boho vibes. Paired with some vintage leather accessories, it’s got that California in the summer of love feeling.

Get the look:

Crochet Top and Patchwork Midi Skirt

I can’t think of two more iconic styles that speak to the 1970s than crochet and patchwork. Crochet tops were everywhere in the 1970s, from bags to tops to shawls (we see you Stevie Nicks!) Patchwork was another one of those iconic looks of the era, from leather patchwork purses and jackets to clothing in an array of mixed and matched fabrics and prints. This vintage patchwork skirt is so much fun, made from silky scarf fabric scraps. I paired it with one of my mom’s vintage crochet tops creating a great look for summer. If you’re wondering, the white horse is a nod to when Bianca Jagger rode a real one into Studio 54 during her birthday party in the ’70s.

Get the look:

Ruffle Top and Pleated Midi Skirt

Ruffles were a massive trend in the 1970s that appeared on blouse collars and pant bell bottoms. This top has a soft ruffle around the neckline, which pairs nicely with this vintage pleated midi skirt featuring multicolor polka dots. You can’t beat the long pleat on this skirt to elongate the silhouette!

Get the look

The midi skirt holds a special place in the hearts of fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Its history and versatility make it a go-to choice for those seeking an elegant and feminine style. If you’re tired of your mini and knee-length skirts, give the midi a spin. You might discover a whole new look!

Category: Fashion

Vintage Style at Summer Markets

Posted on June 30, 2022August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

When summer comes around, I get excited for the summer markets to reopen. You can find fresh produce and baked goods at farmer’s markets. The maker’s markets have fun clothes, candles and other crafts. And of course, I can’t stay away from all vintage and thrift at flea markets. I love it all! I always find something interesting or delicious to bring home. And it’s the perfect excuse to put together a creative daytime outfit.

Here are some of my looks for summer markets.

Retro T-shirts Are a Summer Staple

My favorite thing to wear in the summer is a comfortable cotton t-shirt. I have them in a million solid colors, some prints such as stripes and polka-dots, but my biggest faves are graphic t-shirts that express things I love or care about, such as bands, causes or pop culture memories. I recently picked up this retro Smokey the Bear tee that not only reminds me of the Smokey commercials I used to see as a kid but is also appropriate since I live near the forests of Colorado. I paired it with a 1970s vintage wrap skirt, a vintage floral decoupage box purse and some bright yellow, high-top Chucks kicks. I topped it all with a corduroy jean jacket for a laid-back day at Horseshoe Market, where I can find everything from vintage to maker’s candles, ceramics or jewelry.

Cool Vintage Topper

The farmer’s markets in Denver are a scene in themselves with loads of people crowding for farm-fresh produce, snacks, spices, baked goodies and even some lunch options. On this day, I pulled out one of my favorite vintage 1960’s tops and paired it with some summer white capri pants. A vintage scarf gives it a little added flair, along with a vintage basket purse. Again, high-top sneakers are my go-to for the markets as they are comfy to walk in and protect my feet from being stepped on or sunburn. It was the perfect outfit for Pearl Street Farmer’s Market, one of Denver’s biggest and most popular farmer’s markets.

A Light Sweater

It’s best to hit the markets early before all the good stuff is gone, but sometimes that means it’s still chilly out. A light sweater can save the day. I recently brought back this purple argyle sweater from my parent’s house. I wore it as a teenager, so it’s vintage now! I love the print. I put it over a purple graphic tee, so when it gets warm enough to take it off, I have something groovy on underneath. I paired it with some pinstripe capri pants and again my high-top sneaks for casual comfort. I brought along with a canvas bag for toting all the treats I picked up at 13the Avenue Flea Market, where they have a great selection of vintage and thrift vendors, located next to Denver’s gem of a record store, Wax Trax Records. They also have live bands on the sidewalk on Sunday flea market day!

So those are a few of my market looks. If you want to know where you can find me on the weekends in the summertime, check for your local markets. I’ll be there!

Category: Fashion

Passion for Ponchos

Posted on May 10, 2022August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

When the weather is between seasons, it’s hard to know what to wear. I often just want to reach for my classic vintage jean jacket, but that gets so boring after a while. I recently became obsessed with ponchos. After seeing Denver fashion designer Mona Lucero style them up in a fashion show last year using gorgeous vintage fabrics, I started looking around the vintage shops to see what I could find.

Ponchos are the perfect layering piece. They provide the warmth of wrapping a blanket around you. But they are also free-flowing enough that when the weather warms up, say in the afternoon, you don’t get too hot. And springtime here in Colorado means you can get anything from wind to rain to snow to cloudless days of sunshine.

What I love about ponchos is you can put them on over just about anything, without worrying about it looking bulky. Ponchos also work well for a daytime around-town look, and you can dress them up to add interest to a casual evening outfit.

See how I styled a few vintage ponchos I picked up to add to my spring /fall between-seasons wardrobe.

Handmade Vintage Poncho

I fell in love with the rich colors and the thick crochet material of this poncho I found on Etsy. Lovingly hand-knitted, this poncho goes on overhead with a crew neckline and rests on your shoulders. While you could add a necklace or scarf, I think the pattern and colors of this one do all the talking. I really like how this looks with a short skirt, tights and tall boots.

Button-down Vintage Poncho

This poncho was actually my mom’s. I found it in her storage bins on a recent trip back to my parent’s house and she was kind enough to let me have it. She told me she used to wear it over her outfits when she took dance classes decades ago. Now I’m having fun styling it up with some of my vintage clothes, like this 1960’s dress. The light white color works perfect for springtime and it’s a very light, breathable knit material. You can leave it unbuttoned to see more of your outfit underneath. It’s perfect for putting on over a dress, just like mom used to do!

Flea Market Poncho

I found this poncho at a vintage flea market. Again I was drawn to the great colors. I also like the cut on this one. It’s has a high slit on each side, which makes for great movement. I can also cinch it in and belt just the front panel and leave the back loose and flowing like a cape for a different look. The v-neckline has two fun pom-pom tassels and sometimes I tuck in a big scarf if I need to keep my neck warmer on days when it’s a little on the colder side. I styled this one with a short skirt, leggings and ankle booties.

So that’s my current poncho collection and some styling ideas. Hope you find one for yourself!

Until next time,

Kastle

Tags: ponchos

Category: Fashion

Vintage Winter Coats

Posted on February 22, 2022August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

We’ve had a super cold and snowy winter season in Colorado this year. While it’s been hard to get outside and go anywhere, it’s still a great excuse to give some of my vintage winter coats a spin.

When winter hits, I always find it so hard to dress stylishly. All I want to do is stay warm, so it’s easy to fall into a rut of grabbing a big, warm sweater and pants or leggings and calling it a day. But what’s great about vintage winter coats is that they are so stylish; they ARE your outfit. With fabulous colors, textures and trims, they really knew how to make coats back then. Just put one on and make a statement.

Here are a few from my collection:

1970s Dream Coat

This coat belonged to my mother and has been literally sitting in my parent’s hall closet for decades. Recently, I’ve been helping my parents clean out some storage, and my mom has been willing to part with a bit of her beloved clothing collection, much of which was from her young, fashionable days in the 1970s. This coat came back on my last trip, and it’s such a stunner. Blue suede and a cream fur trim with a flattering hourglass silhouette. I usually avoid anything with real fur because I’m an animal lover and a little conflicted about the justifications for wearing vintage fur. I certainly would never buy fur new. But since this came from my mom, I’m making an exception. I feel so glamorous in this coat! It truly is an outfit in itself.

1960s Corduroy Coat

I picked this coat up recently for a steal at our local modernism show. I can’t resist corduroy and the color mustard yellow. I love the straight fit of this coat that works well with almost any dress or skirt length. Because of its 1960s styling, it looks fabulous with shorter skirts, which I wear a lot of in winter with warm leggings because they go well with chunky snow boats. The casualness of this coat makes it great for a daywear showstopper.

1950s Wool Coat

This was an early impulse purchase when I first moved to Colorado and needed some warm coats. I never needed them in my former home in sun-drenched Southern California. It’s been a great excuse to up my coat game, and this off-white mid-century wool coat is such a head-turner. I love creating winter white looks with it, which makes it feel a bit more formal when wearing it. With three-quarter sleeves, I definitely have to be aware of what I wear under it. I have to plan for pairing long sleeves with matching gloves or longer gloves with anything short-sleeved.

Vintage Cape

Don’t forget capes as part of your vintage outerwear! I picked this up from a friend cleaning out her closet. Since she’s a big collector of 1940s vintage, I’m guessing this coat originates anywhere from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. I love the taupe plaid pattern that goes with almost anything and is fun for doing some print mixing. Plus, the generous sizing means it can go over almost anything, even a light jacket, for lots of layering options. There is really nothing like the drama of a cape wafting along with your every move to really make an entrance in a room!

So that’s my current vintage coat collection. I’m sure it will grow and change over time as I learn to dress for Colorado winters. For now, I have some fun options to play with. Check your local vintage shops to find your dream vintage coat to put some extra style in your winter wear!

Until next time,

Kastle

Tags: Vintage clothes, vintage coat

Category: Fashion

Shopping Holiday Markets in Style

Posted on December 20, 2021August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

With the pandemic still raging this year, I’ve been going to mostly outdoor events to try to stay safe in crowds. That means I’ve discovered a wealth of markets for shopping and farmer’s markets for produce and baked goods. Now I don’t know if these outdoor markets have always existed, and I wasn’t paying attention or if this is now a popular way to shop because of Covid, but I’m happy to have them.

The holidays have seen an explosion of outdoor shopping markets for gifts, with many of the booths from indie small businesses, artists and makers who need our business way more than the big box stores or the almighty Amazon. Many of the finds here are also sustainably made and environmentally more friendly than what you find in bigger retail stores.

Plus, the holiday markets are a great way to get out and safely socialize and, most importantly, wear cute festive outfits! Here are some of the markets I’ve attended and outfits I’ve worn this holiday season.

Firefly Handmade Holiday Market

This makers market was a fun way to discover some of the crafty people in town, making everything from home décor to food to jewelry. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving, so I was still in fall wardrobe mode with this 1970s crochet mini dress, floppy hat and tooled-leather purse.

Fun finds: Vander Jackets, Wax Crescent Candles, Avery Lee Designs Jewelry

Learn more about the Firefly Handmade Markets on their website.

Horseshoe Market

This enormous market which features makers and vintage goods, is one of my favorites, taking place several times throughout the year. I wore a 1950s vintage dress I found deadstock (unworn), a matching cardigan and a wool boucle pillbox hat.

Fun finds Bohemian Scrapcity, Round Trip Goods, (read my article in Westword about them!)

Learn more about Horseshoe Market on their website.

Cherry Creek Holiday Market

Conducting a marathon of being open 37 days straight before Christmas, the Cherry Creek Market featured a mix of local makers and some higher-end vendors, plus live music. The best part was walking through the Cherry Creek shopping district decked out in millions of lights for their Winter Wanderland. The temperatures were starting to drop by the time I got there, so I was happy to have my thick vintage faux fur and corduroy coat over a retro T-shirt over a base layer top and some punk rock, I mean Christmas-plaid pants!

Fun finds: Dirty Hippie Candles, Hummingbird Spa Naturals, Happy Yak, Baby Firepits

Learn more about the Cherry Creek Holiday Market on their website.

Georgetown Christmas Market

I’ve wanted to go to this market up in the mountains for years, but since it always takes place on the first two weekends of December, it’s always freezing and snowing. This year’s mild-weather season finally allowed me to go. I wore a thrifted Fair Isle sweater with a vintage plaid skirt.

Fun finds: MP Pinecone Designs, Design By J9

Learn more about Georgetown Christmas Market on their website

Holi-Gay Market at Milk Market

I loved the concept of this market! Featuring LGBTQ-owned small businesses, designers and allies, this market took place inside the Milk Market in downtown Denver’s historic Dairy Block. There was a fun mix of high- and low-end selections. I wore a vintage ’70s velour jacket and plaid scarf over a retro t-shirt and skinny print pants.

Fun finds: Coco Coquette, Christopher La Fleur Arts, Mona Lucero (read my article in Westword about her!)

Learn more about the Diary Block on their website.

Whew, that was a lot of outings this year! I got to do some Christmas shopping and get some treats for myself. I’ll be sad to see the outdoor markets go while we deal with winter weather, but it’s sure been a holiday delight – and a great opportunity to style up some of my vintage and thrifted clothing for the season!

Happy holidays!

Kastle

Category: Fashion

Dress Smart with Academia Style

Posted on November 17, 2021August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

If you do any trend watching on Instagram, you might notice that Academia style is showing up in your feed. This style combines bookish boarding school looks with vintage enthusiasm to create preppy outfits with a hard goth edge or soft romantic flair.

There has been some criticism of the trend lacking diversity in its inspiration, which is primarily Eurocentric and upper-class elitist. But when it comes to fashion, I think the look is accessible to anyone who loves it. Can’t afford to go to a private boarding school? You can still shop the style in vintage and thrift stores.

And the great part about is it’s all about layering different pieces and a lot of neutral and dark colors, so it’s perfect for autumn.

There are a few Academia styles to choose from:

Dark Academia – currently the most popular, consists of dark, earthy tones, tweed, plaid, velvet, lots of black. A cross between collegiate preppy and goth. Attitude is brooding and pessimistic.

Light Academia – a lighter version of dark Academia with more cream and tan colors and softer fabrics such as cashmere, linen and corduroy. Attitude is more joyful and optimistic.

Romantic Academia – similar to light Academia but more shirts and dresses with frilly collars and trims, billowy sleeves and flowing fabrics, maybe some floral print for good measure. Attitude is more flirty and feminine.

As I started seeing the Academia trend evolve online, I realized how much I love the look, and I already have so much of it in my closet. I just hadn’t put it all together!

Here are some outfit ideas I pulled from pieces I already own and styled in this fun new way.

Mad for Plaid

Plaid is a huge must-have to create the Academia look – skirts, pants, pinafores. Think those Catholic schoolgirl skirts or anything somewhat nerdy or studious.

Berets

If there is one hat that works for Academia style, it’s the beret. Looking both chic and collegiate, the beret is the perfect piece to cap off a look. They can usually be found easily in thrift and vintage stores as they never seem to go out of style.

Satchel Bags

You’ll need a good bag to carry all of your books and journals for Academia style. After all, this look is about being a lover of literature and writing poetry or the next great novel. Look for worn-in vintage leather or canvas bags with antiqued brass buckles.

Blazers

You can’t create a boarding school look without a blazer. But Academia calls for a bit more dramatic and styled pieces in textured fabrics such a velvet or tweed. I thrifted this sleek black velvet blazer and it’s is perfect for a Dark Academia look.

Sweater Vests

Remember when nerds only wore sweater vests? Now they’re considered a hot trend for Academia and other styles where it’s all about layering. I also find them great between-seasons pieces to keep you warm when there’s a chill in the air.

I hope this inspires you to give Academia style a try. There are so many variations to choose from, and you may find you already have some pieces to get started. Here’s to this smart, stylish look!

Until next time,

Kastle

Tags: Academia, Dark Academia, Light Academia Fashion, Romantic Academia Fashion, Thrifted Academia Fashion Fashion, Vintage Academia Fashion

Category: Fashion

Vintage Boho Style For Fall

Posted on October 10, 2021August 13, 2023 by stilettocity

Since I brought over a bunch of 1970s vintage clothes from my mom’s closet, I’ve fallen down the ‘70s rabbit hole of fashion inspiration. And you just can’t think about that decade without including the Boho look.

The term “boho” or “bohemian” dates back to the French Revolution when the social and economic landscape forced artists and creatives into poverty. They began wearing and expressing themselves with old clothing. You can read more about the history here.

In recent decades, boho is synonymous with those who are free-spirited and artistic. It’s mainly associated with the 1960s hippie counterculture movement and has drifted in and out of mainstream fashion. It also became an interchangeable term for festival wear for its free-flowing, casual style, perfect for long hot summer days listening to bands.

But don’t pack your boho looks away for fall as it lends itself perfectly to earthy tones and layers. I put together some boho looks that can transition your carefree warm days of summer into the cool, leaf-crunching days of autumn.

Peasant Top and Floppy Hat

You can’t go wrong with a peasant top for a boho look. The delicate string-tie neckline and floral embroidery are pretty and feminine. I paired it with a big, floppy felt hat, layered necklaces, a tooled leather vintage purse and ‘70s wooden heel shoes.

Floral-print dress and shawl

Boho can work really well with western accessories, so I took a vintage ‘70s shawl and played off the fringe, tucking it into a vintage western belt and cowboy boots I picked up from an estate sale. Another floppy felt hat completes the look.

Graphic Tee and Embroidered Velvet Jacket

I snatched this soft velvet embroidered jacket from an estate sale, and I never want to take it off! It makes me feel like Jimi Hendrix when I have it on, so cool and comfy. I had to top it over a graphic tee, which really came into prominence in the 1970s. This vintage logo Martin guitar tee works perfectly with some layered vintage necklaces and leather accessories. I just might have to learn to play guitar!

I hope this gives you some boho inspiration. Check out my article on Upstyle Daily for how to get some boho essentials into your look. And see more of my looks on my Instagram page.

Until next time,

Kastle

Category: Fashion

How to Wear Vintage Bed Jackets as Outerwear

Posted on July 29, 2021August 14, 2021 by stilettocity

I’ve fallen in love with vintage bed jackets. Those delicate, frilly little tie-on jackets ladies wore over their fancy nighties back from roughly the 1930s-70s. It just doesn’t seem like ladies float around the house in flowing nightgowns anymore. Though I have to admit, cotton t-shirts and lounge pants are a tad more comfy than scratchy nylon lace, but still…

So what to do with all the slinky bed jackets that sit on the racks in vintage stores? Wear them! They make great little jackets over daywear to give a feminine touch, and yes, all that nylon fabric can be very warm when there’s a chill in the air.

How to Shop for a Vintage Bed Jacket

I like to look for vintage bed jackets cropped at waist length and not too frilly, so they don’t look so much like lingerie. Just a little lace around the neckline or trim on the sleeves will do. Ruffled and quilted bed jackets work great for this purpose. And top marks if you find a cotton or fleece one, which were sometimes known as “housecoats” for even more warmth and durability and less of the nightie look.

Here are three ways to wear vintage bed jackets as outerwear.

Wear Vintage Bed Jackets with Jeans

You can’t beat juxtaposing a feminine sheer lace-trimmed bed jacket over some casual jeans and a tank for an easy-breezy casual look that says: oh, I just threw on a little something.

The ruggedness of the jeans plays off nicely with the lace of the bed jacket, so it doesn’t look so much like intimate apparel.

Wear a Vintage Bed Jacket Over a Dress

Add a little cover-up to your dress when the temperatures turn cooler. A vintage bed jacket really fancies up a casual dress or can be a real show-stopper over a simple cocktail dress.

The frilliness of the bed jacket can make you feel even more dressed up for special occasions.

Wear Vintage Bed Jacket with a Graphic Tee Shirt

Let your personality show through with a graphic t-shirt supporting your favorite organization, band or pop culture heroes (mine is Wonder Woman here). Pair it with some shorts in the summer, pants or a skirt. The bed jacket dresses up the casualness of the t-shirt and the sweet little string ties work like an extra accessory.

So now that you know how to style them, will you be checking out vintage bed jackets as an option for a feminine little cover-up?

Check out more of my looks on my Instagram page.

Until next time,

Kastle

Tags: How to Style Vintage Clothes, How to Wear Vintage Clothes, Vintage Bed Jacket

Category: Fashion

That ’70s Look

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by stilettocity

This past year, I’ve been helping my mom clear out decades’ worth of stored boxes. Since my mom was a fashionista (Now you know where I get it!), she had some fabulous clothes that are now vintage, much of it from the 1970s. She let me take a huge haul home with me and now I have pretty much an entire wardrobe of ’70s clothes. And the timing seems to be perfect, because I’m starting to see this vintage trend everywhere – even in vintage stores that used to be pre-’60s-only and vintage reproduction brands such as Unique Vintage are making it.

It’s taken me a few months to learn how to style 1970s clothes, but I love the bold colors, wacky pointed dagger colors, and the A-line skirts and dresses that are so flattering and comfortable.

All the clothes you see here are from my mom except the floral midi skirt and yellow striped jacket that I picked up from Ten Penny Vintage after catching the ’70s bug! Thanks mom!

Midi Wrap Skirts and Stripe Shirts

Nothing is more “Brady Bunch” than a striped shirt with a v-neck and dagger collar, paired with a white stitch midi wrap skirt. Can you say, “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!”

For the Love of Velour

Velour was so ’70s and so soft. I remember my mom wearing it A LOT – to the mall, to the pool. It was cool yet warm at the same time. I paired this green velour skirt with a floral shirt with dagger collar made of good ol’ polyester – of course! The skirt also came with a matching jacket. Wow!

Button-Down Shirts with Dagger Collars

I just love how this floral wrap skirt is so summery and cheerful. I paired it with one of my mom’s pointy-collar button-downs and the stiff square fit of this shirt is so telling that this is before “slim fit” cuts.

Peasant Tops Can Now Be Cottegecore

In the ’70s, many “ethnic” looks came into play that might be considered cultural appropriation today, depending on how it’s worn. “Boho” is a questionable term these days, but I do love the idea of light, free-flowing clothes and counter-culture artistic style. The summery feel of this peasant-style blouse gives a hint of that and could work for a more cottegecore look. I juxtaposed it with a bright teal button-down A-line midi skirt and rustic vintage belt.

So Much Polyester!

I just can’t get enough polyester in my ’70s wardrobe and had to have this cheery yellow jacket. It probably came with matching pants at some point, but I made do with one of my mom’s scooter skirts in a navy star-print pattern for a little print mixing. And bonus, the skirt has shorts underneath!

Filet Lace Dress

I couldn’t believe this long, filet lace dress was in my mom’s collection and in perfect condition. I wasn’t sure to make of it at first – is it a dress, a swimsuit coverup, a duster jacket? I guess it can be whatever you want – but no question, it’s a stunner!

So that’s a peek at my new ’70s wardrobe. There are few more gems I have yet to style. I’m having lots of fun with it and am loving the new silhouettes it brings into play. See more of my looks on my Instagram page and in my everyday styling articles on Upstyle Daily.

Cheers,

Kastle

Tags: 1970s looks, 1970s vintage clothes, how to style 1970s clothes, Vintage clothes

Category: Fashion

How to Wear A Monochromatic Outfit With Vintage Style

Posted on May 6, 2021May 6, 2021 by stilettocity

I recently participated in a fashion challenge on Instagram to create outfits using a different color each day for a week. Boy, did that get me thinking about another way to look at my wardrobe! I came up with some of the most fun and exciting combinations I’ve put together in a long time. So I wanted to share how to wear a monochromatic outfit with vintage style.

What Is A Monochromatic Color Scheme?

A monochromatic color scheme simply means picking one color, say yellow, and wearing all yellow clothing. It can be the pure color or different:

Shades (darker as if mixed with black)
Tones (darker as if mixed with grey)
Tints (lighter as if mixed with white)

While I’ve seen many monochromatic looks with solid color pieces, you can also throw in a print or even print mixing, as long as it sticks to your one color choice as the main color.

How to Pick A Color

Let’s face it, color just makes you smile. And with summer on the way, it’s time to break out some bright hues. You can probably put together a monochromatic outfit using what you already have, in my case, a lot of vintage clothing. Most of us gravitate to one or two favorite colors when we shop for clothes. For me, it used to be a lot of black and white, and now it’s rich jewel tones.

How to Put Together A Monochromatic Outfit With Vintage Style

The way I came up with these outfits is I had a color for the day. So I went to my closet and laid out everything I have in that color. Then I started pulling together an outfit based on what worked together. It’s fun to do this with separates because you have more options, but don’t forget accessories – purses, scarves, tights, bangle bracelets, earrings and shoes. If you’re not a big accessory collector, you may want to reach for a neutral or metallic shoes and handbag to complete the look if you don’t have any in that particular color.

Try Different Textures

Part of the fun of creating a monochrome look is mixing and matching. Since you’re working with one color, you can do this in the texture of the clothing. Try mixing different types of materials to create interest – think silks, linens, velvet, cotton. This will give your outfit more dimension and make it look downright touchable.

Now that you know how to wear a monochromatic outfit with vintage style, what color will you choose to challenge yourself to put together a new look?

Check out more of my fashion challenge outfits on my Instagram page.

Until next time,

Kastle

Tags: Kastle Waserman, Kastle Wasserman, Monochrome Outfit, vintage style