Women's Fashion And Style Articles By Nycity Woman

Wefts, weaves, clip-ins, pieces, donuts, rats, and other extensions are everywhere these days. So should you...or shouldn’t you?

I was always told that if you haven’t worn an article of clothing in a year, it’s doubtful you ever will. Why then is there so much still lingering in my closet? While it’s painful to part with certain treasures and arduous to sort through the clutter, unloading no longer used garb can be liberating and sometimes lucrative. 

For years, Ena Malone, an I.T. expert on Wall Street, was convinced she’d always have a job in her chosen field. But in 2005, Ena, then in her fifties, was unexpectedly laid off. As subsequent job interviews did not lead to offers, the stress of unemployment took a toll on her hair, which began to thin. Ena continued her job search, but recruiters told her that although she was eminently qualified, prospective employers wanted someone with lots of “energy.” “I play tennis and run track,” says Ena. “I soon realized that “energy” was code for wanting someone younger and maybe my thinning hair wasn’t helping me that way.” 

Classic Vintage starts a century ago with the high-waisted tunics and hobble skirts of World War I, followed by ’20s Flapper styles. These look decidedly costumey today (as per Downton Abbey and Boardwalk Empire). More wearable are the sinuous bias cuts of the ’30s, the austere masculine-feminine ’40s styles, and the Mod ’50s and early ’60s, replete with fit-and-flare shirtwaists and slinky cocktail dresses. All these decades offer assured feminine styles, virtuoso workmanship, lush fabrics, and an elegance too often missing from more recent fashion. Customers tend to be devotees of all ages, but they skew midlife and older, according to most dealers. “These are women with confidence in their style, says Jennifer McCulloch, owner of Olive’s Very Vintage in Brooklyn. But beware: Classic Vintage is cut small, though large sizes can be found.