There’s something really special about wearing something that’s had a life before you ever got hold of it, especially when you think that most of the time, everything you want you can get instantly - and replaced instantly too. That’s probably why anything with a bit (or a lot) of history really stands out, and they make you think a little more, and they’re generally much more meaningful.

You’re not being nostalgic for the past just for the sake of it when you wear something with history to it, and instead, you’re choosing to wear a story and pass that on, and that’s not something modern can do. It could be something passed down through your family, or maybe it’s something like an antique Victorian ring you picked up in a second-hand store or antiques fair, but whatever it is, it’s special. And with that in mind, here’s some more information about the art of wearing it.

Photo by cottonbro studio

Why Older Pieces Feel Different

There’s a lot of emotion tied up with objects that have been cared for over generations, and as soon as you pick one up, you’ll be able to see that someone (probably lots of people) has cared for it, they’ve loved it, they chose it for a special reason, and they kept it safe. Maybe it was worn for celebrations or perhaps it was a gift for an anniversary or to acknowledge a milestone, or maybe someone bought it for themselves just because they saw it and fell in love with it (possibly the same as you did), but whatever it was, that kind of feeling isn’t going to be there with brand new, modern items.

And then there’s the craftsmanship - older jewellery and accessories come from eras where things were made slowly, usually by hand, and with techniques that took years and years to get just right. If there are any imperfections, that’s because no machines or automation were involved, so they make it even more special in the end.

How Pieces With History Shape Personal Style

When you think about modern fashion, you might notice that it tries to make people reinvent their own style all the time - every season, there’s a new thing we’re meant to wear, so we’re often jumping from one thing to the next. The best part about items with a past is that they’re not like that, and you can wear them all the time, and they’ll never look out of style. That means you can use them to create your own look and stick with it for as long as you want to, which is fun.

Plus, you’ll always be able to find something that works for you because there’s so much vintage jewellery and clothing out there for you to search through. So no matter what your style really is, there’s going to be something lovely to complement it, and you’ll be able to mix and match whatever you want as well.

Making Old And New Work Together

It’s great to know that you don’t have to get an entirely vintage wardrobe if you want to enjoy wearing something with a past, unless that’s what you want to do (if that’s the case, go ahead!), and in fact, older pieces can look amazing when they’re mixed with newer ones in the right way - the key is to keep everything simple so nothing overwhelms anything else, and if you can do that, the mix and match idea should be a good one.

And the result of all that is that the older items can really stand out without being too much, plus you’ll be able to create your own style in exactly the way you want to. You’re not going to end up trapped in any particular decade or only being able to use certain items and styles.

Why We Hold Onto These Pieces

Since we tend to throw so much stuff away, what is it that these older items were kept (and are kept)? After all, it seems that people often keep older items, but perhaps they can’t quite explain why. It could be because they’re so beautiful and well-made, but it might also be because they’re reassuring in a way. After all, the world changes so quickly, but these things are still here after all this time.

In other words, wearing something with a past can give you a good feeling of security, even if everything else can feel overwhelming a lot of the time, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. So why not start your search for something you can wear that has a past? It could be exactly what you need.

Featured