In this maddening world of fashion trends that go in and out as fast as you can say casual Friday, it's refreshing to find clothes that rarely go out of style. In fact, you, too, can have a wardrobe filled with classics that have a very unique place in history. The car coat, the pedal pusher, the white shirt, the cashmere sweater set - these are the timeless fashion favorites that authors Tiffany Dubin and Ann Berman make come alive in their new book, "Vintage Style: Buying and Wearing Classic Vintage Clothes" (HarperCollins, $40).
"Banish those images of boogie-woogie-bugle-boy platforms, limp Victorian chemises, and pink poodle skirts," say the authors. "Once funky and low-budget, the vintage world is going mainstream."
Off the runways and the fashion pages, the craze for vintage has inspired this informative guide that is the savvy shopper's best resource for selecting, buying and wearing classic clothes.
"The focus of the book is more about great items and great value," says Tiffany Dubin, who has been dubbed America's leading vintage guru. Dubin launched the first fashion department at Sotheby's in New York. She is currently working on other fashion projects, including a book on accessories.
"I really wanted to do a book that makes vintage look modern," says the 34-year-old who lives in Manhattan with her husband and 5-year-old daughter in a home filled with mid-20th-century furnishings.
"My mother saved all my clothes when I was little," says Dubin, who dresses her own daughter in classics from the past.
"I have always been an acquirer," says the vintage clothing expert.
Dubin's first vintage thrill came when she discovered a black Norman Norell dress that fit perfectly.
"I started looking in consignment shops everywhere for Norman Norells in size 6," she says.
She remembers another serendipitous find: "I found a wonderful dress from the '50s for only $15 at Waistland in Los Angeles."
From then on she was hooked. Her days of working with the haute couture of fashion at Sotheby's turned into a new career that blasted her back to the past.
"Everyone loves a fun, sexy dress," she says.
And everyone loves to find that unique one-of-a-kind fashion treasure.
"Now that all the fashion rules have broken down," says Dubin, "you can search for that one individual look and find the vintage piece that works for you."
In "Vintage Style," 37 vintage garments are shown worn three different ways, from casual to workday to evening, in outfits that include contemporary and other vintage pieces.
No more cookie-cutter clothes for the followers of vintage style, whether they're leggy Katharine Hepburn types who prefer those '40s high-waisted trousers or pert go-go types who collect empire-waist dresses. There's something for everyone in this book - and it's a great way to revisit those days of our youth. You may wish you'd saved those Donna Karan body suits of the '80s. Who would have dreamed those svelte one-piece garments would be vintage classics of the future?
But the designs of the '80s are now in big demand, says Dubin. It may be time to bring out those 15-year-old jackets stashed in your closet that were just too good to give away.
Got any ultrasuede hanging around? Dubin sees ultrasuede as the next big thing. She even convinced her husband to wear an ultrasuede jacket she bought for him.
After all, the search for the perfect Pucci dress has become just a little too trendy for these style nonconformists.
"There are still bargains to be had," admits Dubin. "Just find designers that aren't really household names, especially from Britain."
But what's the one thing you should look for no matter what decade you decide looks good on you?
"Always buy a quality garment," says Dubin. "Vintage clothes in good condition are always in style."
There are a few perennial vintage favorites, according to the authors of "Vintage Style."
"If you see a beautifully beaded bodice or a print designed by Pucci, for example, take a closer look. You'll also find that there's always room in your closet for something great in leather, denim, silk jersey, tartan or an animal print. And nobody can ever have too much beautiful, versatile vintage lingerie."
For vintage first-time shoppers, Dubin suggests collecting familiar silhouettes.
"If you like to wear cardigans, then buy a few cardigans," she says. "Then you can get more adventurous."
You will probably not be headed to the mall. She urges vintage seekers to browse lesser-known specialty boutiques and thrift stores for great bargains, including the Internet and online auctions. The book lists many other Web sites. And, yes, there are always those incredible finds hidden away in a yard sale you just happen to visit on a Saturday morning. Don't forget to check your grandmother's closet either.
Dubin, who is currently working on a book about fashion accessories, is intent on putting a modern twist on style.
"There has been an explosion in the area of accessories," she admits. "But I think they should be worn more creatively, not in a traditional way."
Another hot fashion flash from the vintage guru - "I just bought several belts for $3 at a flea market," she says. "I'm wearing them as necklaces."
Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.
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