BLOG: My Vintage Secret

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Let’s get one thing straight:
Style has nothing to do with budget.
Some of the most fashion-conscious, visionary people I know can’t afford couture — and let me tell you, they’re the ones setting the trends. They’re not copying the runways. They’re creating the next wave of them. And how? By mixing vintage with modern and making it their own.

There’s something undeniably powerful about the way vintage elevates a look. It’s not just the rarity or craftsmanship (though that helps), it’s the energy. These pieces come with a story. And when you wear them, they become part of yours.

Let me sing the praises of one of my forever go-to treasure troves: the Jewish Women’s Council thrift stores. Specifically, the men’s section.
Yes, you read that right.

I’ve scored pristine Yves Saint Laurent and Dior men’s dress shirts for five dollars each. FIVE. Beautiful tailoring, buttery fabrics, and silhouettes that slouch just right when styled with denim or a pencil skirt.

And let’s talk about the Tom Ford suit jacket I found — slightly oversized, slightly androgynous, and completely killer over a graphic tee and jeans. That jacket made me feel like a rockstar on a Tuesday. Which brings me to a rule I live by:

Always have one piece in your outfit that says, “You have no idea where I found this — and that’s the point.”

I once found a navy wool Christian Dior coat with bold, gold buttons straight out of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band era. It’s drama. It’s elegance. It’s the kind of piece you build a whole outfit — maybe even a whole persona — around.

And don’t get me started on my Bergdorf tuxedo tails jacket. One of the coolest things I own. Period. I’ve worn it with slacks and a turtleneck, sure — but I’ve also thrown it over a vintage slip dress and boots for a look that says, “Is it a gala or is it a dive bar? Who cares, I’m showing up.”

And then there are the 1970s YSL wedges I scored that somehow make every modern dress I own look retro-fresh, with just enough edge to keep things interesting..

Here’s my advice to anyone looking to build a truly original wardrobe:
Get out of town.
Drive a couple hours outside your urban bubble — to the places where time moves slower and fashion has been gently waiting on a hanger for someone like you to discover it.

Find the thrift stores, the five-and-dimes, the “pay-by-the-pound” warehouses. Take your time. Dig deep. Bring gloves. Bring water. Bring good music. Bring a friend who’ll tell you the truth about shoulder pads.

You will not only walk away with incredible finds — you’ll walk away with stories. Stories that live in your closet and come alive every time you wear them.

• It’s sustainable. You’re keeping fashion out of landfills and breathing new life into pieces with history.
   
• It’s personal. You’re not buying a trend. You’re discovering your signature.
   
• It’s empowering. You get to define what style means for you — on your budget, on your terms.
   

Whether it’s a designer label or a no-name stunner that just fits perfectly, vintage gives your wardrobe something fast fashion can’t: soul.
 

So mix that H&M tee with your grandmother’s pearls.
Throw a thrifted blazer over your Zara dress.
Rock a pair of beat-up cowboy boots with your silk slip.

Create the high-low magic that only you can pull off.
And if anyone asks where you got it, just smile and say,
“Oh this? It’s vintage.”

— Suzie