The power, popularity and pomp of wearing vintage aren’t just a response to fast fashion, but a real opportunity to express yourself uniquely, creatively and consciously. I dove into the importance and beauty of heirloom pieces in Chapter 3 of my book A Common Thread, and how to incorporate them in the way we present ourselves. While family heirlooms are beautiful and meaningful reminders of our history, buying a vintage piece can carry the same sentiment.

While meaningful vintage pieces are deeply personal, making them flow perfectly into current day fashion takes some intention and practice. Here are some tips to support you on your way.

*Dressing around one dramatic vintage piece is all it takes; we never want to dull the beauty of an heirloom piece by having it compete with other heirlooms. Give it full stage to shine. For example, my beloved-jeweled Judith Leiber clutch paired with a current day black tight tailored suit is a showstopper, giving the old and new pieces the spot light. Balance is everything.

*Give your vintage finds a make over. If the Chanel boucle jacket that you scored needs altering to create a better silhouette, by all means take it to your trusted tailor.

Vintage is only fabulous if it fits your body perfectly and still looks alive.

Sometimes a vintage designer bag can look more shabby, than designer, if this is the case, invest in refurbishing the cracked leather with a professional. We want our vintage pieces to be timeless, not washed up.

*While finding those diamonds in the rough can be an arduous challenge, there are incredible vintage stores in my area that I happen to always win big in. Shopping for vintage is a dedicated and arduous process, but when you hit the jackpot it makes it all worth it. Here are a few of my LA favorites.

*Decades
*Catwalk
*The Way We Wore

If you are not in the LA area, Ebay, The Real Real and Poshmark are alternatives with various pricing, authentication processes and the ability to bid. The quest to find that timeless piece can be addicting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.