Vintage Clothing

Vintage Defined

What exactly defines fantastic vintage?  That's a matter of personal taste, of course. However, what defines "vintage" is another story.

• It is usually classified by decade, ranging from the Victorian era to the 90's depending on your take of vintage.
• Classic vintage usually spans out at around the 60's where the term "retro" takes over and carries into 70's fashion.
• Purists will claim that anything newer than 1960's is not even vintage at all, while less stringent fashionistas will dare to say that 80's and 90's fashions still count as vintage.
• Things over 100 years old usually become antiques.
• An article of just plain "old" clothes will not fit the criteria for being coined as vintage.
• Vintage clothes are particularly representative of the period in which they were created.
• Vintage may also include any clothes created during a particular time that completely counters the common dress of the times.
• Vintage clothing spans across both gender pools as well as into the accessories category, including but not limited to jewelry,  hats,  bags,  shoes,  and other accessories. 

Getting to Know Vintage

Check out Fashion-Era for everything you would want to know about how fashion has evolved through the years. Or take a journey from 1900 to 1980 with this series at American Vintage that gives you information about the history and social customs of each decade and how it influenced style.

1800's-1900's

La Belle Epoque: Late 1800's and Early 1900's
	Antique Bustles Edwardian High Society High Waisted Regency Rennaissance Romantic Victorian

1910's, 1920's, & 1930's

WWI, the Roaring 20's, and the Depression
	Cloche Hats Flappers Harem Skirts Jeweled Slippers Paul Poiret Roaring Twentie's Shift Dresses

1940's & 1950's

WWII Period and the Baby Boom
	A-Line Skirts Chiffon Circle Skirts Fitted Jackets Lace Glamour Saddle Shoes

1960's & 1970's

Retro
	Art Deco Baby Doll Dresses Bell Bottoms Nehru Jackets Peter Max Psychadelic Pucci

Condition and Value of Vintage Items

It's important to know what you are buying and what value the clothing has, especially if you are a collector. Terms used range from:

• Mint (perfect condition), near mint, excellent (average wear and tear), very good (wearable with possible stains), and good (wearable but not repairable). Anything less than good is not really worth buying or selling.
• Regardless of brand names, if a product doesn't meet the quality mentioned within these categories it is not worth buying.
• Remember that repairing of vintage items is difficult and pricey. Usually, it's not worth it.
• Sizes were smaller "then" than they are now. Keep that in mind when shopping as well as any variations in sizes from brand to brand.

Trying to value vintage clothes can be daunting if you don't know enough about what you are buying. It is thus crucial that you take the time to research the products that you are interested in, either through books about vintage clothes,  or through the Internet.

• Check for the tag. Clothes lose their value without it.
• Keep the items clean! Don't store them in musty closets without cedar or mothballs, smoky homes, near animals, or in bright lights where they can fade.
• Avoid storing clothes on metal hangers, in plastic,
• Take extra special care if you are sending anything to the dry cleaner, but make sure that the clothes are clean before storing.

External Links

Can't find what you are looking for on ShopWiki? Check out some of these comprehensive websites that index sites with vintage clothing.

Curioscape.com -  This is a lengthy series of pages that deal specifically with antiques and vintage items.