Vintage terminology.

Found via Tumblr, original source.

What technically is Vintage?

Vintage is clothing from another era and classified by decade. There's no main definition of vintage but there's two main definitions.

Eras.
Victorian period is pre-1901.
Edwardian period is 1901–1919.
After the Edwardian period there's no official term, however sometimes it's called the Windsor era as all the Kings/Queens had that surname. But generally it's referred to as the  1st World War era.
Post 1st World War era or Inter War era.
The Depression.
2nd World War era.

Vintage Clothing Condition.
Each seller has their own standard so always check the description and photos but here are the general definitions:

• Mint: An item is as perfect and pristine as when it was originally made and shows no sign of wear..
• Near mint: An item shows only the slightest signs of wear.
• Excellent: An item shows typical signs of wear due to occasional use.
• Very good: An item is considered wearable but has some surface flaws (staining or soiling, for example).
• Good: An item is wearable but cannot be returned to excellent condition even if repairs are made.

I have seen many different versions of these and it's best to ignore these phrases, check the description for specific details and inspect the photos. One person's "good" is another person's "brilliant".

Sizes.

Vintage clothing is from past eras, sizes will vary from decade to decade and from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you're interested you could research to find out your 1950s size.

The zipper.
Metal zippers are a good indicator it's pre 1960s that's why sellers make a point of it, plastic zippers were mainly used after the 1960s.

Alternative hobbies.

If you're looking for new hobbies to suit you or just need something to do this list should help you, feel free to add to it.

Weekend trips and events.

• Take a trip to Whitby or somewhere significant to you.
• Take the old fashioned form of travel just for the fun, eg  old steam train and horse carriages.
• Have a picnic at an old graveyard.
• Go to the opera, ballet or theatre.
• 
  
• Visit historic homes for décor inspiration.
• Go to events, festivals, gigs and concerts.
• Look around in antique and vintage shops for furniture decorate your house with.
• Go camping, complete with music from The Cure.
• Slip into a used bookshop to admire and possibly buy, they have more character than a new book.
• Markets and church sales are good for hunting down interesting jewellery, I got a brooch for only 50p in York.

Studying.

• Studying photography it can make a real difference to your photos.
• Teach yourself some arts and crafts to customize clothing or make presents.
• Learn a musical instrument.
• Learn another language such as latin.
• Write and learn poetry.
• Read classic books (eg Dracula), victorian romanics, comics.
• Go read a book you never thought you would, even those cheesy romantic ones.
• Buy some cheap (and possibly dying) roses to paint and print.
• Learn the basics of flowers, like arranging and discovering it's meaning.

Parties.

• Host a dinner party or fancy dress, gives everyone an excuse to get creative.
• Instead of the cliche halloween fancy dress party, hold a masquerade ball.
• Organise a Goth meet up for everyone in your area.
• Have a Friday the 13th party.

Beauty.

• Have at least one day a month to pamper yourself, make clothing, browse stores, etc.
• Buy scented sachets to put in your delicates drawer.
• Try making your own beauty products at home.
• Host a girly weekend with your best friend and do each other's nail varnish.
• Pick out your own scent, conduct a proper search to find one that suits you!
• If you have a full fringe then spray on a stencil shape with temporary dye.
• On a break? Try out new make up ideas when noone will catch you in experimental mode.
• Buy a wig and actually wear it, you may find yourself changing to suit your new look! It's fun way to experiment with different hair colours.

Creative.

• Redesign your room. You could hang photos in vintage frames or have victorian clocks with roman numerals.
• Decorate your own diary/sketchbook/etc. Eg pressing flowers and adding bows.
• Create scrapbooks of anything. Eg if you enjoy films create colleges in your scrapbook!
• Make and decorate albums for your loose photos.
• Mix your own scent with oils.
• Victorians did silhouette drawings and hung them in dramatic frames, simple and easy to do yourself.
• Find a pen pal and meet them!
• If you require business cards it'll make it personal if you design it yourself.
• Make your own jewelry and add charms from old necklaces to bracelets.
• Picking, pressing and dyeing flowers you've picked yourself are a cheap way to create a picture to hang!
• Build yourself something like a jewelry box or a doll's house.
• Planning a wedding or any big event can be hard, but creating your own special scrapbook of inspiration keeps your planning easy.
• Grave stones can have amazing designs, why not grave rubbing a go?
• Make use of old boxes by decorating them to use for storing.
• Cut up out of date calenders and magazines for posters or to put in photo frames.
• Remix your favorite songs.
• Make your collages from magazines or set up your own Tumblr for inspiration.

Goth points.

• Search for more goth themed sites.
• Write letters instead of emails if you can, sealing them with wax.
• Try spiking up a deathhawk, even better in the shower.
• Watch films with Goths and historical films in just for the inspiration.
• Do some research into Goth, discover the subculture for yourself.
• Start an online group or community on social sites.

Fashion.

• Using iron transfers to transform outfits.
• Try mixing and matching items in your wardrobe you never thought could go.
• Decorate your lace gloves with beads or your leather ones with tiny patches.
• Design your own clothes even if you know you never could make them.
• Use a handkerchief and decorate it.
• Inspect your wardrobe every few months and make a list of what you need to replace or add. 

Guide to false lashes.

Source.

You should experiment to see what works best and is easiest for you. Experiment with some cheap ones until you perfect your look and technique, it took me several times before I perfected the art of false lashes but in the end it was worth it.


Most false lashes are too big for your eyes so measure them against your natural lash line and cut off the excess, too big lashes can actually give the appearance of smaller eyes or cross eyed. False lashes are supposed to frame your eyes and cutting them to suit your own eyes eye makes for easier application.


Apply your make up as normal but add the eyeshadow after the lashes have been applied.  Applying your eyeshadow first will reduce the amount of excess shadow falling on to the lashes and getting stuck on the glue. But you can apply eyeshadow before applying the lashes if you prefer, it depends on how skilled and steady you are. But remember you still have to apply eyeliner to hide the seam of the fake lash. If you have dark coloured lashes you can get away with skipping mascara, but light coloured lashes could be visible so apply mascara beforehand.

Once you've finished your make up you're ready to try applying your lashes. Apply the lash glue to the rim of the lashes and allow the lash glue to dry for half a minute before attempting to apply. This helps it stick the first time and you won't have to hold in place for long. Gently press your fake lashes as close to the lash line as possible and hold for five seconds then release, blink slowly a few times to make sure it won't fall off.

When you want to remove your eyelashes don't rip them off, gently ease them off and take your time. They should come off quite easily but you don't want to take any of your actual lashes with them. You need to clean them before putting them away, use make up remover and gently peel off the excess. Store them safely in a sealed container with your glue.

Your basic wardrobe.

Found via Tumblr, original source.

Shopping for quality basics is a must investment, it needs to last for several seasons and able to suit most outfits. Hopefully this guide will help you create your own basic wardrobe to last seasons, even when your most extravagant pieces fall apart you'll always have your old faithful.

A basic wardrobe is an investment and therefore requires some spending, items with good quality far outlast the cheap. I know shopping for alternative fashion can be difficult at times, basic buys are still so expensive because of the unique designs. Always consider your environment before buying a wardrobe basic, if your country has significant season changes you'll have to add extras in per season.

2 x trousers.
Even if you prefer skirts you should own at least one pair of trousers, the design should depend on your style. For example if you're vintage inclined you might love capri pants but if you want that historical touch I recommend bloomers.

One pair of jeans.
If your style leans more towards casual you should probably buy more than one, straight legged suit everyone and co-ord well. Jeans are easy to wear, they're comfortable and they won't look scruffy if you make the effort.

2 x blouses/shirts.
Ideal for formal occasions and the designs are endless, consider the fit and style before buying. Look out for patterns you prefer and little details such as mutton sleeves and skull buttons.

Several band t-shirts.
Very versatile and comfortable, you can wear them as a yoga top or pjs if you prefer the smart look. But everyone needs band t-shirts!

Two plain vests and t-shirts.
Great for layering during the Winter and keeping cool in the Summer, you can cut or print designs and if you go wrong it doesn't matter.

One dress/waistcoat and blazer.
Also known as the Little Black Dress for women, it should be in the colour that mainly occurs through your wardrobe (probably black). Men should have a waistcoat and blazer, a smart but simply blazer can be worn with anything and a waistcoat can add a cute historical touch. It should be simple in design and well fitting.

A series of skirts, dresses or trousers.
Which ever your preference is you should have enough of them to create several outfits.

Winter coat.
Everyone needs a winter coat, except maybe Superman but I'm sure even he wants to look warm sometimes. A winter coat is often an investment worth up £100 in mainstream shops, you'll need to consider your budget and how long this item will last. Good quality all the way, I've released a post purely about coats.
 
Jewellery.
You can pick up many necklaces and spare jewellery to DIY or just buy at charity shops, mainstream shops, pretty much anywhere!

Hosiery.
To spruce up any outfit, I'm personally fond of vertical striped stockings. You can easily find fishnets at Primark far cheaper than at Alternative shops, so save that money for the bigger items and go mainstream shopping for something as basic as this.

Accessories.
These are decorative items designed to add a feature to your outfit, it can change the whole look with minimal effort. This includes anything from handbags to gloves. A handbag is essential for everyday use and a smaller bag for evening, these need to be in good quality for frequent use. Other accessories to consider are:

• A scarf. Good for hiding bad hair days and wrapping up on unexpected cold days, very versatile and available in a wide range of designs.
• Gloves, a pair for Winter goes without saying but you can buy gloves for Summer as well. A cute hand knitted pair or a vintage lace pair? Handy when you're skipping a manicure.
• A hat, not as commonly seen these days which is a shame. I have a soft spot for berets which are perfect to add your own adornments to. Top hats and bowler hats need to pulled off with precision but they're the perfect choice for men.
• Waist belts to add definition and a good leather belt for men.