news – Shoppalu

Top Tips for Vintage Clothes Shopping

Posted on June 07, 2013 by Janice Liu

Vintage clothes are known for their elegance, glamour and unique style. The reason why most people prefer vintage clothing is probably that they've realized shopping at high street stores usually results in everyone wearing the same "too commercial" outfits or adopting similar styles. On the other hand, shopping at local vintage stores almost guarantees that nobody is going to rock up to a party in the same outfit as you.

The great thing about flaunting vintage outfits is that you can wear them with both vintage accessories as well as modern accessories. For example, classic-styled jewellery from somewhere like 77diamonds.com or Pandora will compliment your outfit just as well as an authentic vintage brooch or a pair of pearl earrings. You can also embellish modern outfits with old-fashioned accessories to give them a quirky vintage-twist!

While shopping for vintage clothing, each garment is unique - therefore it is very unlikely that there will be duplicates of items in the store. Because of this, if you find something you like, try to grab it before someone else takes it!

A great place to find vintage items is of course at your local vintage shop, but why not explore markets too? If you live in a major metropolitan area, you will discover that prices will be drastically lower in neighboring towns.

Vintage clothes need a good wash before you wear them, but since they are such delicate garments it can be worth it to visit a speciality dry cleaner. In addition, you will find that the sizing is very different to today's method, therefore you may need to alter your outfit slightly. If you are confident with a needle and thread then that's fine, but if you're a less experienced seamstress it will probably be worth passing it over to a professional.

Final tip - not all vintage shops have dressing rooms so it is very useful to know your measurements off by heart. Alternatively, bring a tape measure along with you or save your measurements on your phone.

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Fall 2013 Trend Report!

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Janice Liu

Over the past few weeks we’ve been keeping a close eye on the various fashion weeks that have taken place internationally. From New York to Paris, and everywhere in between, we’ve been compiling what we believe to be next seasons hottest trends. Better to start thinking earlier rather than later, right? After doing so, we’ve have compiled a list of eight of our favourite trends that we’ve seen on the runway for Fall 2013. Take a look below to see what our Fall 2013 fashion trends are.

Alexander Wang, Chanel, DKNY, Gucci

Next season we can expect to see a whole lot of “Boxy Outerwear”. Perfectly Ideal for the colder months as they leave room for being practical and layering underneath. A very 60’s vintage inspired trend.

Oscar de La Renta, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Reed Krakoff

Move over black! Gray has become the new neutral for Fall 2013! Using different shades and fabrics of gray and compiling the perfect outfit head to toe, looking chic this fall will be no issue.

Ann Demeulemeester, Calvin Klein, Hermes

This fall you can easily make a huge statement by wearing a leather top. This is a great alternative to bring a bit of a harder edge into your wardrobe without going over the top.

Oscar de La Renta, Ralph Lauren, The Row, Victoria Beckham

The “Luxe Tux” is a great way to wear a suit while still looking feminine and sexy. With a variety of different ways to style a nice jacket and pant, this trend leaves room for interpretation allowing you to find what works best for you. From a vintage look to a modern look, this is perfect for Fall 2013.

Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria Beckham

“Modern Plaid” is a great update to the regular (sometimes farmer) looking plaid that we’re used to seeing. From smaller scales to larger ones, this trend will definitely help you stand out and looking fashionable.

Christian Dior, Moschino, Vera Wang

We’ve seen the “Peplum” trend for the past couple seasons, and we are definitely not complaining. This trend is fun, flirty, and feminine. It has been revamped in various ways for Fall 2013 and we couldn’t be more excited.

Emporio Armani, J. Mendel, Ralph Lauren, Tadashi Shoji

The “Velvet Dress” is going to be the perfect Holiday Look this season. We can already feel is. This trend brings the perfect vintage feel and flair that we love in fashion. From long to short, we cannot wait to be rocking this come fall.

Gareth Pugh, Vanessa Bruno, Victor & Rolf

A great, simple trend for Fall 2013 is wearing White on top and black on bottom. This trend leaves a tremendous amount of work for every fashionista to bring their own spin to it and make it work. This will definitely be our “go to”!

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Keep Updated!

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Janice Liu

Hey fashionistas! As many of you know, we hail from the great white north of Canada! That’s why we’re extremely excited for this week. Currently in Toronto, World MasterCard Fashion Week is in full swing! We, here at Shoppalu, want to keep you informed and updated as much as possible. Therefore, make sure you’re following us on all platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to keep up with all of the Canadian Fashion Trends!

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What We're Listening To!

Posted on March 07, 2013 by Janice Liu

Happy Thursday Everyone! We hope your week is going fabulously and fashionably. We’re here today with another post about What is currently on repeat on our iTunes. Today we have a song called “Youth” by Daughter.
Daughter is a band from London and their sound is not only different but incredibly captivating. The lead singer, Elena Tonra, immediately draws you in with her voice that has this remarkable vintage feel even though it is such a new sound. Be sure to take a listen and get drawn back to a time where you felt most at ease.
If you’re living in Toronto, or the Toronto area, the band will be performing on Tuesday May 7th at ‘The Great Hall’ in Toronto. I’ve experienced them live, and it is definitely something worth experiencing, especially if you enjoy good music and drowning in good sounds.

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Oscars Best Dressed!

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Janice Liu

Last night, Hollywood’s most awaited yearly event was in full swing, and did not disappoint. One of our favourite parts, the Red Carpet, was a star studded affair, and the fashion did not disappoint. From Haute Couture, to vintage inspired pieces, the fashion on the red carpet this year was definitely not something to be missed. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites from the night whom we think truly stole the show. Check them out below.