| Vintage clothing: timeless, unique, beautiful, quirky... ask a | | | | gowns (that you scored for only a few dollars at your |
| true Vintage Fanatic and the list of adjectives will go | | | | local thrift store), curve hugging 1940s style dresses, |
| on and on. How do you know when it gets serious? | | | | polka dots galore, and Your Royal Collection of the |
| Are you just a mere vintage appreciator, or a hard as | | | | Most Unique Kitschy Prints Ever. You often have to |
| nails true vintage fanatic? Read on to learn the signs. | | | | check yourself before going out for a night on the |
| Sign number one: You love the smell of vintage | | | | town, to assess whether you look like you are wearing |
| clothes. When you walk into a thrift store, or up into a | | | | a period costume piece, or just sporting some vintage |
| dreamy sunny attic, you stop and inhale the scent. | | | | flair. |
| That lovely musty, dusty smell might seem stale to | | | | Sign number four: Every time you pass a thrift or |
| some, but to you it is a sweet and mysterious smell | | | | vintage store, you have to fight the urge to enter. |
| that brings to mind vivid images of the past, and | | | | Many people pass by their favorite stores, give a bit of |
| maybe some of your favorite vintage touched | | | | a longing look, and then keep going. A true vintage |
| memories. In fact, you may even secretly dislike the | | | | fanatic has to have the mental skills of a Buddhist |
| smell of fresh, dry cleaned vintage because it just | | | | monk to keep themselves from entering. At times, it's |
| somehow doesn't seem as 'real' to you. If you find | | | | like your legs have a mind of their own. You will be |
| yourself smelling your vintage blouses when no one is | | | | saying to yourself "I'm not going to go clothes shopping |
| looking, you have just exhibited sign number one of | | | | today." (you are walking toward the store) "There |
| being a Vintage Fanatic. | | | | probably isn't anything good there today anyway." (you |
| Sign number two: You know how to sew and repair | | | | continue walking, and are now staring right at the door) |
| clothing like a pro. When people pick up a shirt in a | | | | "My *insert significant other/parent/etc. here* will kill |
| store, point out a small hole and cast it aside, you are | | | | me!" (by this time you are somehow already inside the |
| bewildered by their un-thriftiness. You can repair split | | | | store and saying a jolly hello to the owner who you |
| seams, sew on buttons, make invisible stitches, and | | | | now know on a first name basis). Part of the reason |
| embroider like a pro. This has come from a long time | | | | why vintage shopping is so hard to resist, is because |
| of trial and error, buying, restoring, and embellishing your | | | | you believe that you are actually doing the world a |
| own beautiful and unique pieces of vintage clothing. | | | | favor by collecting, restoring, and displaying these |
| Although you smirk at those who cast aside slightly | | | | treasures. And it doesn't help that thrift or vintage |
| damaged goods, inside you are secretly rejoicing | | | | stores often get new items daily or weekly. You never |
| because you have the skills to make that sale item | | | | know when *that perfect thing* will appear! |
| look like new. | | | | So, vintage fanatics, I ask you-- is there hope for us? |
| Sign number three: The inside of your closet looks like | | | | Are we doing the world a favor by collecting and |
| a vintage clothing store. When friends come over and | | | | appreciating these tangible pieces of history? Will we |
| they catch a glimpse of your closet (your secret | | | | just keep buying and buying vintage until we eventually |
| museum), they gasp in amazement and exclaim how | | | | become owners of our own vintage stores? Vintage |
| lucky you are to have such a great collection of | | | | clothing is beautiful, timeless, unique, and quirky. Being a |
| interesting clothes (to which you often reply "Meh..." | | | | vintage fanatic is like being an archeologist. We |
| because you are thinking of all the other great vintage | | | | categorize, save, restore, and appreciate. Keep |
| you would like to be buying right now). Getting ready | | | | collecting! Without us, the world would have a lot less |
| for the day involves leafing through beautiful maxi | | | | color. |