Yes, I will continue to sleuth, and post new finds and photos of my existing collection of true vintage clothing and accessories. However, a little voice has told me for a long time that the whole mindset behind it is the main thing. It’s not just about how the sleuthing craft leads to great discoveries, but how we mysterious crafters can really change the world we all live in and how we live in it.

HOW? WHY? Let’s look at what optimizing and wearing a true vintage wardrobe accomplishes . . . . .

• Are you bored by and disgusted with the style and quality of most wardrobe items available in retail stores and online? Tired of looking like everyone else? We, a few design and tailoring-conscious consumers, can flip the market by avoiding these trashy and cheaply-made products in favor of well-made and beautifully-tailored garments and accessories from years past. Occasionally you may find something that meets these standards among modern items and, of course, they can be included in your wardrobe. Be careful, though. It won’t happen often and may cost you an arm and a leg!

• Are you concerned about the environment, the use of fossil fuels and the amount of garbage going into landfills? Most clothing and accessories now seem to be made with synthetic, fossil-based fabrics. They may have some nice properties like stretch or wash-ability, but don’t have the best appearance and don’t tend to last. It’s often hard to repair them, too. Rather than adding to the trash, poisoning the earth, air and wildlife, look for true vintage garments and accessories made from higher-quality vintage materials that are beautiful, comfortable, last a long time and can be repaired when necessary.

• Are you an animal welfare activist who wants to live a humane lifestyle? I can hear your thoughts – “high quality vintage clothing is often made of wool, silk, skins, furs, feathers and leather!” Yes, they are and they’re beautiful, too. What could be more loving to animals than to enjoy these old historic garments while they last and offer no support to the current vendors of fur, silk, animal skins and leather? If you want a modern garment, buy faux fur and faux leather. These products get better every year. Go with a special faux silk piece. Wearing a fur coat made in 1950 does no harm to the animals that were killed in order to make it then. Like Native Americans, we can honor their sacrifice by caring for these garments and loving them until they have reached the end of their usefulness and the trade in animal products has been ended for lack of customers. “But what about the example you set?” you say – No one who knows anything about clothing will think that you bought your true vintage fur coat at the mall last year. If someone buys a modern fur because they like your vintage one, well, that’s their look-out and we have to expect people to be responsible for their own choices.

• Do you always want to wear the “latest thing” or follow the styles of your friends who shop at retail? OK, go for it. No one is entitled to criticize another’s sense of fashion. However, the people with the most interesting, stylish and impressive wardrobes have a unique style and tend to go for great design, good tailoring and high quality – even in casual, day to day clothes like jeans and t-shirts. Unless you’re shopping bespoke in Paris from your own private tailor, there’s no better place to find clothing like that than among true vintage items.

We are powerful! Our thoughts shape public opinion. Our choices shape the markets and manufacturing decisions. No one shears sheep, makes fur coats or leather shoes if no one is buying them. You can still enjoy these items for decades if you buy true vintage and take care of it while you’re getting used to the idea of letting it go. We’ll have even better alternatives when we need them.

Do you long for a more beautiful world where well-dressed, healthy people walk under trees and among flowering plants or swim in clean oceans in every city or country, breathing clean air and listening to the birds? Do you like the idea of having a great selection of restaurants everywhere which all offer delicious vegan cuisine? Would you feel relieved by knowing that products in stores are all cruelty-free and environmentally responsible? Changing our shopping habits is a GREAT place to start and, what could be more fun, adventurous and satisfying than building your own true vintage style while you’re at it?

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG: MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM