Video:Vintage Red Carpet Looks

Transcript:Vintage Red Carpet Looks

Hi, my name is Andrea Perini, founder of vagabondnyc.com, here for About.com to tell you a little bit about glamming it up for the red carpet with vintage clothing.

Research Vintage Eras

First of all, you want to research some books depending on what era you’re interested in. Then you can go to e-bay garage sales, flea markets, consignment stores, to find these beautiful things.

Accessorizing Your Vintage Look

Here I have Nora with a beautifully silk, Victor Costa gown, with gold palettes, the beautiful detail in the back. This is very 80’s silhouette and actually a beautiful investment.

To do something a little bit more to jazz up your vintage piece, you probably want to look to accessories. You can choose things like a big dangly 80’s earring, you can add some opera length gloves to jazz it up, contemporary flats, sandals, python – black tights. Add a beautiful Gucci purse. Crystal encrusted sunglasses.

Pay Attention to Details

More things to think about are just pizazz and sparkle. A beaded tunic, will stand out with some trousers and a heel. Another thing to look for is satins and jersey and just another very collectible piece, that again, you can jazz up with a purse. This is a vintage curtain tie. Wrap it around the waste and for very little money you look really beautiful. This is another great example of a fun party dress. It’s not by any famous maker. Beautifully made, fringey, fun, it kind of refers to the flapper thing. And, it can be worn with a beautiful and cool crystal encrusted cross earring if you really want to go crazy. I got this for very little money. And, I can wear it over and over, to parties and have a lot of fun in it.

Vintage Clothes Don't Need to Break the Bank

For vintage there’s a wide range and you can get amazing scores by amazing designers. This one I purchased for ten dollars. This one, if you’re really looking for something special, something that was likely $2400 in the 70s, you can get it today for about five hundred dollars, that’s a really good deal and it’s beautifully made. People will comment on it, you’ll feel beautiful in it, and it will last you forever.

More Vintage Looks

Another investment piece is by Halston, a very well known studio 54 era designer. This is a romper, very signature of that era, bat wing sleeves, very frothy. Something that you can also do with a rope tie belt. Some beautiful earrings.

If you want to go a little bit more sexy you have an 80s – late 80s early 90s – body conscious dress. Refer to your accessories to dress it up. Vintage accessories are much less pricey. They bring in a little bit of pizazz.

Another way to go is consignment stores. This is a beautiful 50’s inspired sort of Mad Men cocktail dress, party dress, beautiful silk damask. Looks very beautiful but also very timeless as well.

And, finally, this quilted velvet jacket with brocade appliques. You can make something look really glamorous for just this little tiny piece here. And, actually collectible.

Dress for Your Silhouette

So, when you are looking for party frocks or red carpet frocks, kind of figure out your silhouette. What era works for you. Dream on it and make it modern or the other way around, to wear your own dress and beautiful stand out accessories.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at about.com.