Welcome to Really Good Vintage!
The inaugural missive of your new favorite secondhand newsletter is hereeeee
Welcome to week one of Really Good Vintage! Are you so excited?? If you’re not, I’ll make up for it in triplicate because I am SO excited!! This newsletter is a labor of love and within it you’ll find excellent vintage and secondhand finds that won’t break the bank - aka just some really good vintage. The below text is some tips for using Ebay but feel free to skip it if you want to get straight to the shopping!
While this week features only Ebay treasures, every subsequent newsletter will highlight multiple platforms and generally be split into three parts:
1. Full looks for which I’ll walk through a quick thought process.
2. Easy “one-two punches” of outfits.
3. A smattering of cute things I just liked.
Below each image will be links to the items so you can purchase everything in here! And nothing in this first newsletter is over $90 (most of it is under $40) because good style doesn’t remotely require big bucks. So let’s get shopping!
The outfit starts with these sheer graphic print pants which are the perfect seasonal piece. Pair with a grey sweatshirt if you want to go casual, but I love it combined with this sheer oversized tuxedo shirt that I would wear untucked for the extra ~cool~ factor. If you need more coverage, throw on a chic long blazer and then spruce up the outfit with suede loafers and a giant cocktail ring.
I’ve been seeing these bungee cord pants of the 00s making headway in Italian vintage circles and I love the juxtaposition of this sporty volume paired with all sleekness I could find. These pants also have some bleach staining which I think adds to the chaos of the vibe. I wanted to amp up the sex appeal with these knee-high boots under the cinched pants and then this vest as a top tucked in. Thrown on this cool shaped leather bag and look out, Milano!
When I first saw this vest I loved it but was at a loss how to style it. But inspiration struck in one of my favorite styling tricks: giant safety pins! They are amazing for cinching and with this outfit I would wear the vest as a top and use one or two to pins to keep it closed. Then just throw on this gorgeous pair of pants with huge pockets and covered side tab button, some J&D minimal sandals, and of course no outfit is complete without a fishbone bracelet. (I may end up buying this tbh I can’t stop thinking about it!).
I generally lean 80s/90s minimal in my clothing and pure 70s in my home decor, but every now and again I can’t resist the siren song of a novelty top and a great pair of pants. So this is my 70s homage look. These are chickens! Such a whimsical print in serious tones - so good. It’s one of those outfits that sounds so simple: button down, trousers, belt, flats; but it’s really in finding classic pieces with a twist where the magic happens.
One top (cropped, tucked, or floating free ) + one bottom (flouncy, structured, or pleated and sheer) = chic dressing made easy.
From top left to right:
Vest jumpsuit, $50. Pretty self-explanatory, no? One piece, your whole outfit, big Elaine Benes energy.
Ellen Tracy tortoise sunglasses, $32. Never going out of style.
Levi’s 501s (34 in waist!), $25. Please see above.
White mesh tank, $20. This is not a drill! Lettuce hem, mesh, sheer tank! This would be perfect with the reprisal of low-slung jeans or I would wear with high waist trousers for just a sliver of midsection shown. Either way, this won’t last.
Quilted silk abstract 3-piece set, $61. This time around I’m gaga about the pants! Click the link and zoom in and you’ll see what I mean. The jacket is super rad and like, a chic art gallery cocoon, and the tank is simple but effective. A really great deal for an uber wearable set.
White tank/pant set, $65. I mean, it’s a great little 90s set and gives me a “summer on the cape in ‘98” feel which is never not good.
Ellen Tracy navy silk set, $62. I told you there would be a lot of sets! Navy is my absolute favorite color to wear (aside from brown) and if the photos don’t convince you, allow me: this set is LUXE and will drape and move beautifully.
Albert Nipon cropped linen blouse, $25. I found your perfect summer blouse! You’re welcome. It’s part “vintage Hermès ad” and part “tending to the lonely goat heard” and that's a winning combination.
Cowl neck micro pleat mini dress/tunic, $22. This one you should click on, too. The belt is removable so this could be your chic little beach cover-up or worn with some Bermuda leather shorts peeking out underneath?! Anything’s possible.
Quilted & lace skirt suit, $22.25. The shirt is meh, the skirt could be cute with the lining removed, but the jacket. THE JACKET. Such a femme take on the military jacket trend. And it’s pristine. I may be extremely sad I didn’t pounce on this one, but I do this all for you!
Velvet Ferragamo Maryjanes, $90. The most expensive things in this newsletter, but an oft-sought one! 90s Maryjanes are hard to come by and these are a 7.5 so go get ‘em!
Cami/short night set, $19. NY summer is approaching and this set would be perfect for setting up camp in front of your fan/ac window unit. I just think these walk the line of cutely sexy and also like, 80s sleepovers?
Square neckline sundress, $34. It may look like a plain black dress at first but consider this: square neckline, fully-buttoned back, linen/silk blend, and big ole pockets. Done, done, done, and done.
Sterling herringbone V necklace, $38. I Love a V necklace. That is all!
Black leather blazer, $25. We’re knee-deep in spring right now and a leather blazer is always a good layering piece. This is a great sleeper hit of a brand, and this leather will be excellent quality.
That’s it for this week! As this is just the first newsletter, please let me know what you’d most like to see! Do you like when I build outfits? When I explain why I style the way I do? Would you just prefer a list of really good stuff? Are you looking for something in particular? Leave it all below in the comments! This is a fun outlet for my hunting and styling, but I also want this to be an effective source of inspiration for you to rethink what you already own and to help you dip your toes in shopping secondhand & vintage online.
Thank you for being here!
xx Maggie
Master curator!
SO GOOD!!