How To Modernize a Vintage Skirt: Andrea’s Fashion Galaxy Shows You How

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Vintage pieces are treasures, but styling them for today can sometimes feel daunting. How do you take a beloved retro skirt from “old-fashioned” to refreshingly current? In her latest video, Andrea from Andrea’s Fashion Galaxy tackles just that—showing us, step by step, how to modernize a vintage skirt and create a contemporary look you’ll love to wear.

Whether you’ve just discovered vintage shopping or you’re dusting off a heritage piece from your closet, these practical tips will help you wear your vintage with new confidence.

Combining Old and New: The Secret to Effortless Modern Vintage

Andrea introduces us to “Yamalina,” her vintage skirt with a “yummy pattern” that’s crying out for a modern twist. The mission? Give Yamalina a makeover while keeping her unique charm front and center.

The first lesson is a crucial one: Modernizing vintage doesn’t mean hiding its history. Instead, pair your classic staple with modern, fashion-forward pieces for that exciting “juxtaposition of old and new.” This brings freshness to even the most time-worn item.

Step-By-Step Guide to Modernizing a Vintage Skirt

1. Anchor With a Contemporary Top

Andrea opts for “Jackie,” a boxy crop top from Jacquemus in a similar linen blend to the skirt. This choice works on two levels:

  • Fabric harmony: Both pieces share similar textures, keeping the look cohesive.
  • Modern silhouette: The cropped, sculptural cut brings structure and edge—instantly updating the skirt’s classic lines.

Tip: When pairing your vintage skirt, seek out tops with bold shapes, cropped hems, or unique tailoring that scream “of the moment.”

2. Play With Volume—Top and Bottom

Instead of the usual pairing of a fitted top and voluminous skirt, Andrea pushes fashion boundaries by choosing volume on both the top (boxy crop) and the bottom.

“Because we have so much volume on top… I feel like adding volume to the bottom too. Let’s do it.”

This unexpected approach creates a balanced, runway-inspired look that feels fresh and current. If you want to try this at home, look for:

  • A-line or pleated skirts with crisp, modern tops
  • Balloon sleeves or boxy cuts with a fuller skirt

3. Accentuate With Accessories

Accessories are where the magic really happens. Andrea zooms in on a little silver detail in the skirt and builds her accessory choices around it.

Here’s her strategy:

  • Belt: A modern belt featuring silver and circular elements. This subtle repetition ties the top and skirt together, elevating the look.
  • Earrings: She considers purple and lilac to echo the skirt’s color, big silver hoops for on-trend metallics, and finally settles on chunky earrings that match both the top and skirt.
  • Shoes & Bag: Silver Mary Jane shoes and a silver bag reflect the metallic motif and keep things contemporary.

Tip: Pick out a color or finish that’s unique in your vintage skirt and echo it in your shoes, jewelry, or handbag. This creates a cohesive and intentional feel.

Looking for statement accessories? Browse fresh trending styles or playful pop culture finds.

4. The Result: Contemporary Vintage That Moves With You

Andrea’s final reveal isn’t about drastic transformation, but about flow and attitude. After some subtle tweaks, she notes:

“The way she moves is more substantial and goes better with Jackie… Subtle, but essential to create a relationship between the top and the bottom.”

That’s the beauty of modernizing vintage: Small styling choices can make a beloved skirt feel brand new while still honoring its vintage soul.

Why Modern Vintage Works For Every Closet

Mixing eras is more than just a trend—it’s a way to make your wardrobe truly unique. By pairing heritage pieces with today’s hottest styles, you:

  • Embrace sustainability (and save gems from landfill)
  • Stand out from social-media fast fashion
  • Infuse your look with personality and history

And if you’re inspired by Andrea’s approach, you’ll love even more ideas from vintage sports, event & tour, or even political and Halloween collections—each ready to pair with your vintage finds!

Conclusion: Modern Vintage Is All About Creative Play

Andrea’s Fashion Galaxy proves you don’t need to alter vintage clothing to make it modern—all it takes is thoughtful styling and bold accessories. Next time you pull a beautiful skirt from your wardrobe (or from the thrift store), try mixing in a boxy crop top, repeating an accent color, or layering in metallic accessories. The results? Effortlessly fresh, completely you.

What do you think—will you give your vintage favorites the modern treatment?

@andreasfashiongalaxy How to modernise the look of a vintage skirt #letsgetdressed ♬ original sound – andrea’s fashion galaxy

andrea’s fashion galaxy
How to modernise the look of a vintage skirt #letsgetdressed

00:00:00 --> 00:00:01
Yamalina, come here.

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I’m coming. This vintage skirt, yamalina,

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because of her yummy pattern,

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ask me for a makeover. Yes.

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I want to look more modern.

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Let’s do it. Yep.

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Old fashioned. To modernize the look of a vintage skirt without using.

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We need to combine the skirt with tops and accessories

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that have a particularly modern look and feel.

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And because yamelina is made from a linen mix,

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I’m thinking a linen top. Jackie.

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I’m coming. So Jackie is a modern,

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rather boxy crop top from Jacquemus.

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And I think that because of this juxtaposition of old and new,

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the final outfit will look nice and fresh.

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Too cute. Now,

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because we have so much volume on top,

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because of how Jackie is cut,

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I feel like adding volume to the bottom, too.

00:00:40 --> 00:00:42
So let’s do it. And of course,

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we’re going to ask Bettina for help.

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Here I am. Okay,

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so this is the skirt before Bettina,

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and this is her after. Now,

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it’s not a drastic change,

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but the way she moves is more substantial and goes better with Jackie.

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Now let’s do the accessories

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and concentrate on this Little Silver detail here.

00:00:58 --> 00:01:00
I think we need a belt that has silver in it,

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as well as circular elements.

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Gorgeous. What a match.

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There we go. Subtle,

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but essential to create a relationship between the top and the bottom.

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Now, in terms of earrings,

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we could go with these lilac ones.

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Tomorrow, the purple and the skirt

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or We could go for big silver hoops,

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or we could go for some chunkier earrings.

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I’m opting for these ones

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because they match both the colour of the top and the skirt.

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But now

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we need more silver accessories to make sense of the belt again.

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So I’m opting for these silver Mary Jane’s and this bag

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and this contemporary vintage skirt. Look,

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what do we think? Do you like it