Adventures Through the Past: An Eclectic Sampler of Vintage Instagram Accounts
Does your Instagram feed need a revamp?
We’re in awe of people and brands who “live vintage”, keeping the magic of the past alive by documenting their daily looks and discoveries, whether it’s through old-timey makeup and style, old-world photo techniques or throwback burlesque performances (while we’re over here doing our discount-bin makeup on the bus!) If you work or live in an environment that’s aesthetically abrasive, escapism through social media is sometimes worth its weight in gold.
We wonder if our great-grandparents could even imagine the wonder of sharing what you’re wearing with millions of people in just an instant. It’s also a great way to gain a sense of context on the styles currently in vogue today – is anything really new anymore?
Over the past five years I’ve spent on Instagram, I’ve been unconsciously using it to “collect” a bunch of wonderful Instagrams from this thriving online community, inspired by elements everywhere from the 1700s to the ‘70s. This is just a handful – if you’ve got a favourite not featured here, let us know!
Besame Cosmetics
This cruelty-free line of cosmetics works to recreate the beauty and glamour of ages past, bringing us exact replicas of products from the 1920s through the 1950s. From the exquisite, detailed illustrated packaging to the carefully formulated shadows, blushes, lipsticks and more, Besame caps off any vintage wardrobe with an authentic touch!
Vintage Egyptologist
Colleen Darnell has a passion for the past – both the 1920s and the world of Ancient Egypt and her IG is rife with her lavish outfits and fascinating historical tidbits. Colleen teaches Egyptian art history at a university level, has made several important archaeological discoveries, and is an expert in 20s Egyptian revivalism – when the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb prompted a surge in kohl eyes, ornate headpieces, silks and scarab jewellery – inspired by some of the most stylish women in (ancient) history.
True Vintage Outfit Of the Day
True Vintage brings the online vintage community together in a huge way, putting a spin on the popular Instagram #ootd by celebrating the hard work and care that goes into finding, preserving and wearing vintage threads. Simply tag a photo of you with “vintageootd” wearing an authentic vintage piece (so no Dangerfield, Modcloth or PinupGirl recreations allowed!) and you could be featured – with your own snippet of an old-timey song to match (and it’s a great way to find new accounts that you jam with!)
Annelies van Overbeek
Instagram’s own Audrey Hepburn, Annelies has turned playing dress-ups into an art form, stunning the IG world with her recreations of everything from classic Hollywood looks like Scarlet O’Hara or Daisy Buchanan to pop culture icons like Harry Potter or Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride! The 19-year-old self-described “Metamorphmagus” is a virtuoso at sourcing wigs, makeup and vintage costumes, with an uncanny eye for detail and posing, to morph herself into almost anything.
Dandy Wellington
We’ve got heart eyes for days over this all-singing, all-dancing showbiz gentleman from NYC. He leads the Dandy Wellington Band and always sports a dapper vintage suit set + hat and coat, and is always worth a listen as well as a look.
Sophie Caligari Photography
You can’t help but scroll back up and take in the full scope of Sophie Caligari’s page when you chance upon her– Sophie’s an Australian photographer who harnesses the now-rare wet plate collodion practice of developing photos common to the 19th century. The attention to detail in her composition and her craft produces intimate, feminine, sentimental work.
The Art of Dress
Cassidy Zachary is an Albuquerque fashion historian with a special interest in the 1910s, making daily posts delving into the fashions of the ages, through illustration, vintage photographs and museum pieces. Lately she’s been showcasing the best of the Chicago Museum’s 50, 000 + costumes and textiles.
Strange Desires
“Clothing with a past” – Strange Desires is the Instagram account of one of my favourite vintage ebay stores, collecting the weird and wonderful from as far back as the Victorian era (a recent find - handmade candles in the shape of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI – oh to be rich!). Even if you can’t afford any of these treasures, (and there’s a good number at around $100), there’s such a fascinating selection that’s a window into life into the past, from 40s playsuits to 30s beach pajamas (they’re just as good as they sound).
Miss Tammy Savoy
Chicago-based performer and pinup, Tammy Savoy boasts a stunning vintage wardrobe and a coiffure to match. We’ve been obsessed with her versions of the Instagram “30 pinup styles” challenge and the anecdotes behind her photos that she includes to remind us that often there’s a lot more than meets the eye to a photoshoot – most recently her vintage Barbie swimsuit shoot where she recreated an outfit using fabric tape!
The Vintage Costume Collector
Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, Nick is a lawyer by day and a vintage costume aficionado by night, and has snagged some of the most important pieces of film history – and has a story to tell about each one. Even if you can’t dream of winning the bid on a gown worn by Ava Gardner or Liz Taylor, it’s a comfort to know they’re being very well cared for!
Curious Pip
I tried to make a simple cloth doll a few months ago because “how hard can it be”? The answer is – very, very hard. “Busby Berkley girl in a past life” Sarah makes charming cloth dolls – often completely by hand - available for purchase online – sporadically as they sell out almost instantly! With their big eyes, sharp brows and immaculate red pouts, they’re all a little piece of old Hollywood – keep your eyes fixed on her Etsy for the chance to adopt one!
Telombre
French actor and model “Telombre” could be an aristocrat one day and a swashbuckler the next – he owns an impressive armoire of his own historical costumes and accessories as well as constantly documenting his creative work, pinning all on “time-travel”!
Virgo Mood
While this may make you feel old, the 1990s happened nearly 20 years ago and so 90s fashions can now be observed through the rose-coloured rimless rectangle les of “vintage”. While Alex Coleman, the tenacious creator of this Instagram does run others devoted to capturing various moods of the star signs, this one is the flagship and has become a celebration of the 90s runway and the cuts that so enhanced the female form over one of arguably the strangest decades for fashion yet. Busts, diamante, supermodels, halter necks, midriff crops have all been turned into an art form in this sensuous clip show.
.There you have it - our eclectic sampler of vintage Instagram accounts! Which ones will you be sure to follow?.Written by Cecile | Cecile is a writer from Brisbane, Australia. She writes and edits at The Creative Issue and hoards vintage clothing – follow her adventures on Instagram at @saintcecile.