1970′s Surf, Sand and Beachwear

It is almost that time a year where many of us get to shed our clothes and soak in some rays down at the local water hole. This year 1970′s fashion is on the rise and I just can’t help but browse through some of favorite photos of 70′s swimwear. From European designer beach wear to southern California surf-wear, 1970′s swimwear had a  a style and appeal all of its own.

There are certain keys to follow when dating vintage swimwear:

-Lastex began to be used in swimwear starting in the late 30′s and continued through the 50′s.
-Spandex, better known as elastane in Europe, began to be used in swimsuits in the late 60′s. Dupont patented this as Lycra.
-Fabric content on labels was mandated in the 1960′s
-Garment care instructions seen on labels beginning in 1971
-Symbols on care labels began in the 1990′s in the US, earlier elsewhere

Model Cheryl Tiegs at the beach in an orange bikini with white polka dots by Villager, with a man reclining on chaise — Image by © Condé Nast Archive/CORBIS

Famous Farrah Fawcett Poster on most adolescent boy’s walls in the 1970′s

Cheryl Tiegs swimsuit pose

Classic One-piece and Two piece swimsuit designs from the 70′s

Modern bathing suit with exact 1970′s glamor cut

Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime with a wig-wearin’ female friend, circa 1970s.

Surf Rats Hanging out at the beach

Christie Brinkley Sporting a colorful one piece

1970′s European Men’s Matching Swimwear

Mark Richards matching his board shorts with his surfboard

Larry Bertlemann pure classic style

Kids 19070′s beachwear

North shore 1970′s beach fashion

1970′s Venice Beach

MR Ripping the Bottom Turn

Tips for Wearing Vintage Clothing

From: Huffington Post
By: Natasha Koifman

Sometimes, I even think about their original owner — wondering how differently we’re wearing the same piece, how different our lives are. There’s something magical and mysterious about the connection to a woman you know nothing about other than that you wore and loved the same piece of clothing or jewelry and that somehow it has lasted all this time ~ Natasha Koifman

If you’ve flipped through May’s magazines you will know that the fashion world is waiting with baited breath for this weekend’s release of The Great Gatsby. The classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald has been adapted by Baz Luhrman (of Moulin Rouge fame) and, if the trailer is anything to go by, it will be a visual and style spectacle.

It’s remarkable to see the impact this one movie has had on designers in recent seasons — it started even when the movie was just announced. Chanel Haute Couture, Oscar de la Renta, Miu Miu and Alexander McQueen are just some of the designers inspired by this era. Flapper-style dresses, dropped hemlines and luxe deco-inspired jewels started to make a big impact on runways that trickled all the way down to stores.

Now, with the release of the movie, Tiffany & Co. unveiled a new collection of jewels inspired by the latest adaptation…including the ring-to-wrist pearl and diamond stunner worn by Carrie Mulligan on the current Vogue cover.
[...]

While current designers and collections offer many options for those of us enchanted with these styles, we can also go right to the source. On a recent trip to New York, I went searching for some authentic vintage finds. The appeal is quickly apparent; not only can you find something truly unique and beautifully made, but there’s also a sense of history and character to the piece. I love the idea of mixing a vintage piece of clothing or jewelry with my more current and contemporary pieces.

Sometimes, I even think about their original owner — wondering how differently we’re wearing the same piece, how different our lives are. There’s something magical and mysterious about the connection to a woman you know nothing about other than that you wore and loved the same piece of clothing or jewelry and that somehow it has lasted all this time.

But there’s another reason to think about shopping for a vintage piece; it is both ethical and green. I’m not saying that I’m only ever going to wear vintage clothes… but shopping occasionally for vintage is a small way of buying something lasting and special [...]

Here are some more tips for shopping vintage:

(1) Follow your heart and your style: When you’re submersed in that vintage shopping experience, it’s easy to lose sight of your own style. Remember you’re not looking for a period costume, but for something that can be incorporated into your existing wardrobe. For me, this means sticking to my trademark palette of black. Think about how you’ll wear the vintage item, how you can update it (with either complementary or juxtaposing items). Vintage is one area where you can really follow your heart and make that impulse purchase because if you wait, you’ll never find that item again.

(2) Ignore sizes and embrace alterations: We all know that sizing has crept up in recent years. This means that what was a size 6 in past decades may be significantly smaller that what we call a size 6 today. If you’re buying online, ask the seller for waist and bust measurements to be confident the item will fit. If you’re buying in person, be sure to try on. Most vintage store-owners can also make recommendations about where small repairs and alterations can be made on a piece too. Don’t rule out a little bit of tailoring to get that perfect fit!

(3) Make a statement: With so many options for great basics in every style, shape and colour today, look specifically for something DIFFERENT when you’re shopping vintage. Seek out bold accessories and embellished clothing, like beading or lace work. Your vintage piece should be a conversation starter… and one secret you’ll gleefully share!

Vintage style is not just something to admire on the silver screen. With a little exploration and experimentation, you can give a vintage piece a new lease on life, a loving home and in the process, give yourself a new fashion outlook!

READ MORE

My Freedamn! JAPANESE VINTAGE SO-CAL 2 NYC

When it comes to collecting vintage clothing from the United States the Japanese buyers have been paving the path for nearly 30 years. Since the eighties Japanese vintage collectors have been traveling across the United States hitting up thrift stores, vintage stores, clothing flea markets and just about anywhere they could find old vintage jeans, leather jackets, sneakers or t-shirts.

As the vintage clothing culture became more popular in Japan and the demand grew collectors began to find new ways to locate more product. Because each vintage piece is essentially a one-off it is difficult to determine the actual size and fit without trying it on. One problem the collectors had was finding vintage pieces that were not only the correct size but the way the garment fit had to be perfect as well. To overcome this obstacle they hired hip Japanese boys and girls that were the perfect body shape to match the sizes that they were looking for.

If you were young Japanese boy or girl size 30L 30W, 29L 30W or 32L 30W, you just might land a gig all expense paid buy trip to the US. You could get a budget up to 10 thousand dollars to spend on product and expenses.

Scores of young hip Japanese kids traveled across the United States in rental vans finding jeans, sneakers, t-shirts and jackets that were in there size and fit. They would show up to flea markets before they opened, often renting a stall for the sole purpose of shopping what the other vendors had before the public arrived.

If you were selling vintage clothing in the 90′s you were mainly into the business to source vintage Levis for some of these young Japanese buyers. The vintage culture in Japan was in full motion and the young Japanese fashionistas were obsessed with vintage American culture. Everything from American rockabilly, vintage surf,  motocross, punk, 70′s skateboarding, 80′s sneakers was being snatched up whenever they could get there hands on it.

Meanwhile in the United States there was hardly a demand for vintage clothing except among theater students and fashion designers. It wasn’t until the young Japanese buyers came to the US looking for their select pieces that the vintage market in the US began to take root. The vintage clothing store became an outlet for these buyers to source more clothing in a select space. Instead of going through a never ending amount of racks at a thrift store looking for one or two good pieces, the buyers could now hit up a vintage clothing store and spend a couple of thousand dollars on a few hundred pieces in one stop.

Some shop owners got rid of the brick and mortar all together and just focused on setting up a warehouse or storage unit to show buyers their collection when they came to town. Flea Markets or swap meets dedicated to antique goods, esp. clothing started to become meeting places for American collectors and Japanese Buyers. Japanese buyers would scour their collections with flashlights on their heads before the collector had time to take it out of their trailer or trunk.

Soon old American clothing, used clothing, the stuff Rag houses labeled trecera or trash, was beginning to create a demand and industry of its very own.

Select old Levis were selling for over 1 thousand a pair retail in vintage shops in Tokyo, the average pairs of Levis were selling for up to 2 hundred a piece. It was a good market to be in and everyone seemed to be happy from the vintage collector in the US, the young Japanese buyer, to the collector and shop owner in Japan. The main force guiding the new market and helping it evolve was the Japanese shop owners who were funding it.

It seemed to be a lucrative market for everyone that was involved until one day the bottom fell out. One morning in late April a ship pulled into a port in Japan carrying a container with items that had never hit the Japanese seaboard in this much quantity before. The container was full of vintage Levis size 28-32 all folded and ready to hit the retail market.

Instantly the Japanese market was flooded and overnight the wholesale price of Levis dropped from $35 a pair to $6 a pair, often less than the collector had invested into them. Some collectors had hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into Levis that they were saving for their Japanese buyers. Each collector took a hit and needed to find a way to replenish their losses. The demand didn’t end, but it changed, and as the dust began to settle from the fall out a new customer began to take notice of cool old things, and they would soon be a force to be reckoned with.

The time was the mid nineties, DJ’s were getting big, raves were in full swing and American fashion and culture had taken a turn towards more urban, loose fitting garments. If you didn’t go with the flow you were labeled alternative or independent (indy), and soon a huge alternative market began to take form.

Young kids and college student across the Untied States began listening to their alternative music, watching their alternative films and wearing their alternative clothes that just happen to be what the Japanese kids were into five years earlier. Bands like Nirvana and Tripping Daisey, made vintage clothing cool and alternative while films like Pulp Fiction and American Graffiti made it hardcore and independent. American collectors started putting their collections in vintage clothing stores where the new alternative American kids could find outfits to match their attitude.

One of the Japanese collectors that was there as the industry grew and changed is Rin Takan.

For the past 15 years Rin has put out a number of books in his My Freedamn series photographing collections and select pieces that helped turn the industry into what it is today.

Rin uses the knowledge he has gained from his years of collecting to put out an informative, artistic and creative coffee table books packed with images and story’s of why each style was unique and cool in it’s own way.

The My Freedamn series of books are not only great to look at but they are also a educational tool for anyone interested in vintage clothing and the vintage culture.

Rin Takan’s latest release Schott NYC 100 Years of An American Original features an amazing collection of leather jackets and outerwear put out by clothing manufacture Schott NYC.

To find out more about Rin Takan and My Freedamn check out http://myfreedamn.com

Online Vintage Clothing Warehouse Open to Buyers

DUST FACTORY ONLINE VINTAGE CLOTHING WAREHOUSE IS OPEN FOR BUYERS AROUND THE WORLD TO ORDER MERCHANDISE FOR THEIR STORE WITH THE CLICK OF THEIR MOUSE

At Dust Factory we have been mastering the process of locating, sorting, grading and selling vintage apparel to shops for the past 10 years. We realize that so much of our product compliments contemporary style and that we already have the natural worn look and feel that so many designers have to work at reproducing.

Our team of collectors have selected specific groups of 100% vintage clothing to include in our new season. And through style, size and color breakdown, have constructed a familiar and convenient way for boutique buyers to select timeless vintage pieces with unique style and blending abilities.

The days of sifting through different attics or thrift stores for product are past us. We have now broke down the process even more with our online virtual shop. Designed as a fun, informative and easy way to order vintage clothing.

Online Wholesale Vintage Clothing Shop

Vintage clothing buyers from all around the world are ordering vintage clothing directly from their mobile devices and computers. Current customers can began placing their orders today, new customers can open an account and place orders as soon as their account is approved. Usually withing a few minutes.

Dashboard                                Products Page

Product Description                       Checkout

Ordering vintage clothing for your store has never been easier. With an easy to use interface buyers can order directly from the products catalog, or from the product description page.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ORDERING VINTAGE WHOLESALE ONLINE

At Dust Factory we are always trying to make the buying process easier for the buyers, which in most cases are also the shop owners. That is why we have put some of our more common items that we carry season by season in our online warehouse. This way we can offer special deals to our current customers, as well as make ordering authentic vintage merchandise for their store as easy as possible.

PLEASE NOTE:

Our online warehouse is reserved for Dust Factory Customers Only. Don’t worry it is easy to open an account.

Click Here If you would like to open an account with Dust Factory and have access to the Dust Factory Online Vintage Clothing Warehouse.

If you looking for a mix that is unavailable in our shop it does not mean that we do not carry it, please contact a sales representative at info@dustfactoryvintage.com to check on availability.

FOLLOW US to open an account!

 

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