10 Vintage Items Worth the Splurge

I learned through Jessica of Chronically Vintage, that Joanna from Dividing Vintage Moments is hosting a giveaway with an interesting twist. She is asking those who want to enter what 10 vintage items they think are worth spending a little extra money on.

Here are my top 10 vintage splurge ideas.

1 - A good vintage coat. Many vintage styles are so classic, they never go out of style.
2 - Cardigan sweater with cute details. It will be something you can wear with pants or a skirt. Versatility is great.
3 - Real pearls!
4 - A good pair of vintage or vintage style shoes.

My 1940s pumps from Etsy

5 - Well fitted two piece suit or dress. More versatility - wear them together or as separates.
6 - A couple pairs of colorful vintage gloves with nice details. These are a fun accessory and can add a splash of color to any outfit.

1950s suit by Swansdown

1940s suit purchased from Morning Glorious Vintage

7 - Vintage patterns! If you can sew you can use the same pattern(s) to make a variety of dresses, skirts, etc to add to your wardrobe. They are also a good investment and be resold easily.

 
8 - Classes or workshops. Ok, I know those don't exactly fit this list. But for someone who doesn't often have the money to buy the real thing, acquiring the skills and knowledge to make vintage or historical style clothing is the next best thing. I love learning how things are made and I enjoy creating. My 18th century shoe workshop was NOT cheap by any means. But if I make more than one pair of shoes I will have made my money back and then some. I spend almost every weekend of the summer at a different living history event so being correctly dressed, from head to toe, is very important to me.

Partially finished pair of 18th century shoes. I started this over a year ago.

9 - Good quality fabrics and notions for creating a vintage or historic look. Things like buttons and buckle might not seem like much of a splurge to some but I think the little things matter. A good stash of these vintage extras will come in handy for a number of projects.

100% silk fabric and antique buckles used to create my 1920s evening dress

10 - I enjoy collecting vintage. So for me, spending a little extra on a few special items to enhance my collection is worth it. If you have been following me on Facebook, you will know my most recent splurges include the President Eisenhower inaugural ball dress I posted about here and a World War II U.S. Navy WAVE uniform. The WAVE uniform was certainly a splurge but the opportunity to own something like that comes up so rarely I couldn't pass it up.

World War II U.S. Navy WAVE uniform

Dress worn to President Eisenhower's inaugural ball