''Vintage fashion auctions are amazing places to source rare or unusual items," says Tanya Demby, fashion and design consultant for Stephan Welz & Co.
She thinks vintage clothes set individuals apart. ''There is far less chance of being spotted in the same clothes out at a function, and the quality and longevity of vintage often surpasses that of factory cheapies."
She has hunted for the vintage clothes in deceased estates, second-hand shops and markets, and says there's a big difference between authentic vintage garments and used clothing.
''Real vintage is at least 20 years old and should still have a label inside. If it doesn't have a label but is an exquisite piece that has history to it, I would still consider it. The quality and condition should be superior, with minimal staining and damage."
To wear vintage well Demby advises: ''If you can imagine yourself wearing it in a contemporary way, with a pair of jeans or sexy heels with a confident attitude, most pieces can look classic. You can always cut out the shoulder pads, and shorten the hems to make it more youthful and chic."
One of the auction highlights is an evening gown by Belville Sassoon, the most prolific of Princess Diana's early designers.
Also up for grabs is a Celine tweed suit valued at between R4000 and R6000. If that's not your bag, maybe two psychedelic Pucci dresses from the 1960s are. Valued at between R5000 and R7000 each, they come from the designer who Demby says "provided the antidote to 1940s monochromes and a preview of 1960s technicolour pop." Three Escada couture ball gowns will be on sale, with a range of Chanel and Hermès silk scarves.
The sale takes place at The Studio, Nelson Mandela Square tonight. Further vintage pieces can be bid for at the Fine Arts and Collectables auction on August 4 and 5, stephanwelzandco.co.za.
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