LOST IN THE REALM OF ACQUISITION

"THE SUN IS SHINING AND THE WEATHER IS SWEET" C/O i-D MAGAZINE

A Chanel jumpsuit. Two sizes too big, pink, made of cashmere, and $560. So begins the tale of a lapse in possession.

Let's cut to the cliché: I have always had an eye for vintage, for wearing something with a history that doesn't involve foreign labor or questionable workmanship. Vintage pieces are innately unique; you will never find someone donning that same silky slip dress or monogrammed varsity jacket, as it is unlikely to find a duplicate of that exact piece. That's where the paradox comes in: what I love about vintage is also what I hate most.

You see, there is almost always some unsolvable obstacle found in size, price, or stain: the white Prada slides that are way too small, the exceedingly impractical cropped vinyl Yohji Yamamoto jacket, the $400 vintage, pink velvet go go boots. And if, by the slightest chance, you finally find that perfect piece, there is an unspoken pressure to maintain it perfectly--no shrinkage, heavy handling, or excessive wear allowed. For if you do, on some account, mess it up, there is no going back, no likely replacement or worthy dupe to be found. And that is one of the greatest heartbreaks of all.

But, despite all of this, I have managed to find some pretty great pieces that quench my sudden love for everything remotely suggestive of the 70s. Here are a few of the best:

THE SUIT