How to Wear Women’s Vintage Fashion: Inspiration from Follower-Submitted Pictures!

I live a blessed blogger’s life.

I live a blessed life because when I ask followers on Facebook to submit pictures of them wearing vintage fashion, they answer my request … and then some!

Last week I gave a little shout out on the Sammy Davis Vintage fanpage asking for pictures showing followers wearing vintage. I wanted to solicit contributions because I’ve decided that taking pretty pictures of what I wear that’s vintage fashion or thrift store style isn’t enough! In other words, I’d rather not blog to fill my own ego … but to boost the empowerment of my readers, and for everyone within the Sammy Davis Vintage community to inspire one another to fashion and feel-good greatness.

I’m so grateful to the following ladies for submitting their pictures to the fanpage, showcasing how you CAN channel vintage into your wardrobe, no matter your personal contemporary tastes or the day’s event or occasion.Incorporating vintage and thrift store style into your wardrobe is as easy as making a choice. Instead of buying a really cool sweater from Urban Outfitters, you can follow Kate’s lead below and rock a thrifted one from the 80s. Instead of spending $500 on a Betsey Johnson dress for your next red carpet event, you can be like Yippies Vintage founder Miss Bennett below and buy a gorgeous vintage dress for a whole lot less and invest in the proper alterations so that it fits like a gem — and shines like one, too.

Wearing vintage need not be a chore … but rather, a convenience. A convenience because it adds effortless style and most importantly, conversational class. How many times has someone asked you, “Where did you get that?” Only for you to reply, “Oh, you know, [insert mainstream store here].” But with vintage and second hand thrift, you have a story, and your clothes have a soul with style.

The submissions below are just a sampling of this post’s inspirational potential. I want to do a weekly round-up of your vintage style photos so that I can let your style soul’s FLY right here on Sammy Davis Vintage! If you haven’t connected with me already, find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and that little ‘ole thing called e-mail.

I’d love to hear … and see! … what makes your vintage and thrift store style clock tick. You guys inspire me — and without you, there’d be no reason for Sammy Davis Vintage.

xx,  SD

VINTAGE FOR THE EVENING

THE LOOK: Va-voom eveningwear! This dress was bought with love and altered to modern, form-fitting perfection.

THE STYLIST: Miss Bennett, founder of Yippies Vintage

VINTAGE FOR THE DAY

THE LOOK: Vintage for a practical, casual day. A bright, stimulating pattern toned to comfort with solid tights and a matching cardigan sweater.

THE STYLIST: Miss Claire, who hails from across the pond and is currently blogging her way to 365 days of vintage. My idol? You bet.

I’ll be profiling Claire in a future blogpost … but in the meantime, check out her 100+ days and counting of vintage-wearing success here!

VINTAGE FOR THE RED CARPET

THE LOOK: Red carpet casual, like you stepped out of a taxi and immediately into the flashing lights of paparazzi.

THE STYLIST: Miss Bennett of Yippies Vintage strikes again, this time rocking a vintage Oscar De La Renta jacket she raved about on the fan page. What a find!

VINTAGE FOR WORK

THE LOOK: Open collar and closed belt DELIGHT! This dress almost has a nautical feel. All you need is the sailor cap! Without the added boating accessories, it’s just enough vintage appeal to stimulate fun fashion conversations around the water cooler at work.

THE STYLIST: Miss Sandra, the owner of The Witchery Vintage on Etsy! Sandra has been a longtime Sammy Davis Vintage fan all the way from Oh Canada!! and I’m so in awe of her style and her sweet sassy self!

VINTAGE FOR FUN

THE LOOK: Ironic sweater time! It’s not quite an ugly holiday sweater, not quite an ugly winter sweater … it just has enough of that let’s-take-a-second-look design to give it subtle style irony!

THE STYLIST: Miss Kate, who lives in Brooklyn and knows a thing or two about ironic sweaters thanks to her daily passerby on hipster avenue also known as Bedford. Kate keeps it real with her penguin sweater here — good enough for her BK abode, but not too left field to rock into Manhattan, too.

VINTAGE FOR THE COLD

THE LOOK: Feminine & functional winter wear! The one thing I dislike most about contemporary winter gear is that it loses the art of dressing like a lady. My puffy jacket from LL Bean is great for winter at its worst, but nothing beats a classic belted swing coat with a fur collar and matching hat, as seen above!

THE STYLIST: Miss Sandra returns! If you didn’t check out her Etsy shop above, now’s the time to do it … she’s got an online store stocked with more of these vintage goodies available for YOU to give a happy home!

VINTAGE FOR SOME R&R

THE LOOK: Sequins and coffee for breakfast. That’s all you need in life! [or well, at least the morning]

THE STYLIST: Miss Dooling! One of my favorite bloggers and social media mavens, this lady is a full time go-getter and she’s got the style to prove it. I know for a fact that Miss Dooling isn’t an everyday-die-hard-vintage-wearer, but she incorporates it into her wardrobe for the fun and flair that makes her feel her best. Inspiration for all of us!

EVEN MORE VINTAGE FASHION INSPIRATION!

SALVATION ARMY FINDS: Favorite Thrifted Finds at the Thrift Store

VINTAGE PLAID: How to Wear a Vintage Plaid Skirt

2011 FASHION TRENDS: What’s Hot This Year as Inspired from the ’60s & ’70s