Why Boho Vintage Has Become So Much Easier

It’s no wonder the boho look is coming back. Maybe it’s never left us. My favorite vintage and consignment stores are all carrying 70-era items. Some are actually from the 70s like this blouse I found at Rosewood Clothing in Richmond. Some pieces I’m finding lately are simply inspired by the 70s. In any case, it’s become a lot easier for me to stick to my commitment to shop consignment and vintage as much as possible because deep down, I think I was meant to come of age in the 70s.

I shop second hand for a few obvious reasons including the fact that it is environmentally friendly and wallet savvy. As a fashion lover and curious student of style, I think shopping second hand is much bigger than these two reasons, however.

I feel as though we are all connected by our clothes. When we wear them, we say things to the people around us without having to open our mouths at all. When we shop for clothes, we are consciously choosing them because of a certain event we need to get ready for, because of a certain mood we are feeling, or because we have been inspired by some TV show or even work of art we’ve recently seen.

Our outfits punctuate different seasons of our lives. When it’s time to move on to a different season, we have the opportunity to share that part of our life with someone else. When I donate or sell a blouse or coat, I know some woman just like me will find it fulfills her needs in that moment. When I step into a thrift store and make a bee line to a pattern I see from across the room, I’m retracing the steps of another person who did the very same thing, with the very same item, years ago. Like leaves, I get to shed my styles and sprout all new ones whenever I need to. By doing so, our roots become so twisted together in a beautiful forest of fashion, that is very much the foundation for our modern culture today.

I took a trip to Richmond’s iconic Libby Hill to show you one of my recent boho outfits, created from vintage and consignment stores and featuring a statement necklace from a new local boutique.

You’ve seen me rock this coat more than once like for a fall wedding here. My boyfriend scored this for me from Bygone’s Vintage about a year and half ago. The inside bears the name of Mae Rosemond stitched into the satin lining. One day, I’ll take the time to figure out who this mystery woman is.

In case you’re wondering, I’m drinking a delicious latte from Whisk, a new coffee shop and bakery in Church Hill. Yes. I got the macaroons. Yes. They were worth it.

I’m rocking a new pair of Paige Denim flares from ThredUp. I was an early adopter of ThredUp. Read this article I wrote last year with tips for selling your clothes at ThredUp.

Because ThredUp carries name brands, it’s easy to search for the sizes in brands you already know and love. The selection is huge. Put the sort bar to use. When ThredUp reached out to me to collaborate, I went right to the jeans and chose a few brands in size 28 and finally settled on these beauties. They fit like a glove. I could probably stand to take off an inch at the bottom, but with tall heels, they’re just right.

I’m rocking a new necklace from Sassy Jones, an online accessories boutique based in Richmond, VA. The necklace could easily be paired with a pretty chambray shirt and white jeans. Instead, I decided to top this blouse with it at the last minute. I love how it picked up the warm colors from the shirt.

Speaking of seasons, this is what a winter afternoon looks like from the top of Richmond.

I’m so glad I went back for another visit to Rosewood. I had seen this shirt on my first trip. The rosey snakeskin pattern caught my eye for its mutual softness and rock ‘n’ roll vibe. I picked it up during my interview with Coffee With Strangers.

Let’s talk about flares for a moment, friends. My legs are definitely not this long. I look like I’m 5’9″ in these babies, not my actual 5’2″. Yet another reason the boho look is back. I still love my skinny jeans, but I’ll be rocking flares with pride for a while…