Standard Vintage: truly timeless attire

Real style stunners know that you can’t just shop at department stores and boutiques to put a show-stopping ensemble together. Sometimes the best finds, the real standout pieces, come from little vintage shops that are tucked away in back alleys or only sell on Etsy!

Hong Kong can sometimes seem to be a land of only luxe and to find these special shops, you have to be tipped off by a friend. Well, call me your BFF because I know a place where you can score stunning vintage in Hong Kong…. Standard Vintage!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Andy Chow, founder of Standard Vintage, and have a chat about the clothing, Hong Kong, and what his plans for the future are.

Andy first became interested in vintage clothing when he started collecting with friends in college. He discovered that this classic clothing had better craftsmanship than many of the items found in contemporary stores today. He scoured weekend markets and eventually collected enough pieces that he knew he had to share! It was women’s Japanese vintage clothing that Andy thought was the most inspiring and he decided to open Standard Vintage in May of 2011 to sell his wares.

Standard Vintage sees their customer as a woman who has a love of all things nostalgic. Andy envisions his customers purchasing items that remind them of what their mom used to wear when they were younger. He sees Hong Kong ladies as very daring with lots of range and thinks that, no matter the neighbourhood you live and work in, you can find a vintage piece or two to revive your wardrobe and add a little spice! The trick is to never go head to toe vintage or you can end up looking like a relic. Do like Andy does and mix the vintage with high-end and high street items to make a look that is all your own!

Japanese vintage is more conservative than Western styles, resulting in higher necklines and longer sleeves and hemlines. As with all vintage, you should try it on, because sizes have changed over the years – today’s size 4 may have been yesterday’s size 8. The fabrics and colours cover the full spectrum, so you really have to check out every piece to make sure it is something that works into your wardrobe.

You can check out everything in stock at Standard Vintage’s shop on Etsy. If you feel you want to see it all in person and try it on, then contact Andy directly to set up a time to stop by his showroom in Causeway Bay. Andy also hopes for more opportunities for pop-up shops (he held one recently with the General Store – the baby of our recent That Girl Shelly!) and is always looking for partners to make this happen.

Standard Vintage is not even a year old and is already making waves in the vintage scene here in HK! While only carrying women’s clothing and accessories for now, Andy hopes to add a men’s collection and maybe even create his own vintage-inspired line one day! So check out Standard Vintage for some truly timeless attire that is anything but standard!

www.etsy.com/shop/standardvintage
www.facebook.com/standardvintage

Some photos by Sabrina Sikora Photography