For this University of Houston student, vintage clothing pays the bills

For this University of Houston student, vintage clothing pays the bills - Houston Chronicle

For this University of Houston student, vintage clothing pays the bills - Houston Chronicle
Nordstrom's latest collection of sustainable vintage clothing is here - but blink and you'll miss it! - Yahoo News
8 best vintage clothing finds for men - GQ India

For this University of Houston student, vintage clothing pays the bills - Houston Chronicle

Posted: 05 Mar 2021 02:52 PM PST

Olivia Haroutounian's keen eye for vintage clothing is paying off.

The 22-year-old University of Houston senior, who scours local garage sales, estate sales and websites for rare designer clothing and accessories, is cashing in on her finds to pay her tuition.

Business during the pandemic is booming. With 28,000 followers on Depop, a social-media platform for vintage designer fashion, Haroutounian's collection, @reallifeasliv, boasts everything from a rare '80s Norma Kamali bird print dress to a '90s Romeo Gigli empire-waist dress — not to mention the 1980s Christian Lacroix red suit. A vintage '70s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche caramel coat recently sold for $240.

"This has been my best year financially," says Haroutounian, who lives in her parents' southwest Houston home, where she's transformed the living room into a DIY photo studio. She was recently featured on Vogue.com. "The pandemic has definitely helped. People are at home shopping online. I'm spending about three to fours each day shopping myself."

Haroutounian is a huge fan of Prada, and she snagged a pair of 1996 Prada pants (for a mere $20) from the spring/summer collection made famous by Kate Moss. The only problem: The pants don't fit.

"They wouldn't go over my hips," she says. "I spent years looking for these stupid pants, and they didn't fit."

But her greatest finds come from lesser-known designers from Japan and France, where she buys pieces in bulk.

University Houston student Olivia Haroutounian with some of her vintage designer clothing that she collects and sells to pay her college tuition on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021.
Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Haroutounian's love for vintage clothing began in childhood. She was just 6 when she would accompany her mother, who owned an antiques store in Arkansas, on shopping trips to thrift stores and estate sales. The family later moved to Houston.

Haroutounian, who is studying communications and anthropology, started selling vintage clothing as a college freshman. Her first big sale was a pink and black, wool tweed Chanel jacket she bought for $200 and sold at a consignment shop in Los Angeles for $7,000.

"I spend so much time with the clothes that it's become a love affair," she says. "I'm so passionate about this."

Haroutounian also spends hours researching designers and fashion history. Currently, she's studying Los Angeles fashion of the 1990s.

"When I think I know about a decade, I find out so much more," she said. "You never know everything. I want people to learn more about the importance of buying used clothing. It's better for the environment. The clothes are constructed better. I don't support fast fashion because the way you buy clothing has a bigger impact than you think."

The one piece she'll never part with? An oversize red Chanel coat by Karl Lagerfeld that stops traffic. "I will probably be buried with it."

Nordstrom's latest collection of sustainable vintage clothing is here - but blink and you'll miss it! - Yahoo News

Posted: 04 Mar 2021 09:41 AM PST

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Nordstrom is teaming up with Goodfair to bring shopping for vintage online. Images via Nordstrom.

Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

If 2021 is the year that you've decided to shop smarter, know that you're not alone. According to a recent Data Drop from Lyst, year-on-year searches for keywords such as "vintage" and "second hand" increased by 40% in December 2020.

Goodfair is a brand that offers an easy way for shoppers to buy second hand straight from home, and thanks to their collaboration with Nordstrom, it's even easier to find the perfect vintage pieces for your closet. From one-of-a-kind tees, brand-name jackets, old-school sweaters, and more, Goodfair is dropping a collection of new items at Nordstrom monthly, but in limited quantities.

Priced competitively with styles ranging from $40-$80, customers will have access to curated vintage clothing without the hassle of sifting through piles of clothing at resale shops. Plus, all styles will be featured with Goodfair's True Sizing, so customers can find the perfect fit based on the brand's in-house measurements.

With a new drop of vintage styles just added to Nordstrom's site today, you'll want to move quickly to get your hands on this latest collection, since January's drop of one of a kind vintage picks sold out within its first 24 hours.

Take a look at some of the top vintage finds below!

Unisex Vintage '90s YMCA of Middle Tennessee Graphic Tee. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $15

Unisex Vintage '80s Fun in the Son Long Sleeve Graphic Cotton Tee. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $15

Unisex Secondhand 2003 The Beatles Graphic Tee. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $20

Unisex Vintage '80s Indiana University Sweatshirt. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $20

Unisex Vintage '90s Racing Team Jacket. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $30

Unisex Secondhand Fleece Hoodie. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $30

Unisex Vintage 1982 Epcot Center Cotton Blend Sweatshirt. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $45

Unisex Secondhand 2000s D.A.R.E. Graphic Tee. Image via Nordstrom.

SHOP IT: Nordstrom, $30

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8 best vintage clothing finds for men - GQ India

Posted: 04 Mar 2021 07:30 AM PST

Shopping for brand new clothes is really easy. Go to a store and everything is neatly organised into sections for you to choose from. Or if you are shopping online, then things get even easier. Think next-day deliveries, options for EMIs, single click buys...you know it! But all of this means more clothes ending up in the landfill. Did you know that in terms of pollution, the apparel industry is second only to oil. So why not buy second-hand clothes? In other words, vintage.

With vintage shopping, you're not only doing your bit to save the planet but also upping your style game. Think of some of the most ahead-of-the-curve guys (read: Mick Jagger, Steve McQueen), and you'll notice that they were not wearing straight off the runway pieces, or something from the high street. These dudes were wearing one-of-a-kind things that made their personal style truly unique.

You don't even have to go through piles of clothes to find a gem anymore. It's now easier than ever to shop for vintage clothes online or via Instagram. To help you further, we've pulled the best items from the best vintage shops. Because these clothes deserve a second life.