From Rags to Riches: What is vintage and what can it do for you?

“From Rags to Riches”

What is vintage and what can it do for you?

 

Three common misconceptions about vintage fashion:

*      If it’s vintage, it must be worn out, dirty, and outdated.

*      All fans of vintage are fastionistas and regularly dress as if they’re on their way to a costume party.

*      People would give you strange looks if you wore older, eccentric styles.

 

The truth about dressing in vintage

The definition of ‘vintage’ is very dynamic, making it hard to define. Technically, every decade that passes carries with it a new collection of vintage styles. By current definition, what we call authentic vintage merchandise dates back no earlier than 100 years and can be as young as 20*. Ancient, on the other hand, defines all items that are older than 100 years old.

Over the past few years wearing vintage has become a growing fashion trend the stretches all the way out to the red carpet with examples such as the models Kate Moss, and Agynes Deyn who are often seen sporting vintage-inspired attire. Karen Elson, model and wife of Jack White from the White Stripes, is also well known for loving vintage. She used to own and may still be running her own vintage shop in Nashville, TN. Vintage fashionistas such as “Retro Chick” have also been quoted happily flaunting the vast array of positive compliments and admiration they often receive on their eccentric attire.

Some customers prefer the retrospective or ‘retro’ aspect of vintage merchandise that references the fashion styles of previous generations. However, many online sources are suggesting that the true charm of the vintage style is the absolute uniqueness and character of each individual piece. Shelley, the owner of the Rag and Bone in downtown State College, PA, has never sold two of the same pieces of merchandise in nearly twenty years of business. She once discussed with our group that few people dress entirely in vintage on a daily basis; however, it is more common for many of the Rag and Bone’s customers to shop for smaller pieces that they can incorporate into their wardrobe. They are sharing history and adding character to their style; one vintage accent at a time.

*For reference: The Rag and Bone boutique is always looking to purchase high-quality vintage merchandise from the 1920s through the 1980s to add to their inventory.

Quality vs. Quantity

When considering purchasing merchandise that has been gently used it would be in your best interest to be careful where you buy. Thrift shops may offer a cheaper price tag, but they don’t usually take the time to wash and repair their items for sale. Specialty vintage boutiques, on the other hand, usually take more care in preserving their inventory.**  

Have you ever bought a fancy shirt from a retail store only to discover that it has gotten stretched out after the third washing? Older, vintage clothing is typically made of higher quality materials than most clothing made today due to the genuine labor put into the design of each piece, and unavailability of many artificial materials for use at the time. Plus, doesn’t it make quite a statement for a piece of merchandise to have survived all of these generations to remain in such great shape today?

**If you are concerned with the cleanliness and quality of any store’s merchandise, managers and the owner of the store will gladly answer your questions.

All that Glitters is not Gold

One factor to take into consideration with the current popularity of vintage styles is that famous clothing manufacturers have been starting to “bring back” the retro look. This means that more articles on the market are over-priced vintage look-a-likes that could be falsely advertised as being authentic. Designers have been known to charge a couple thousand dollars for vintage-inspired clothing. Ironically, you could find a similar item of authentic vintage clothing at a specialty boutique (like the Rag and Bone) for under $100 that is often better made than the modern designer piece.

Some of the following high-end designers that sell vintage-inspired attire, and may be familiar to you, include: Ralph Lauren, Prada, and Nina Ricci. Even Banana Republic did a “Madmen” collection. If you’re looking for a store that also sells vintage looks “Anthropology” may perk your interest. However, as mentioned above, just be wary that all of these are options going to come with a high price tag compared to buying a vintage original.

Secrets to identifying authentic vintage attire 

 from Shelly herself

“Don’t you Label Me”

-      Vintage labels may look unusual based on: color, size, print, how it’s attached, etc.

-      If a label claims that the piece is made overseas in places such as Thailand or Indonesia, it’s not vintage

-      Labels with a long list of washing instructions are typically post 80’s

 “Zzzzzzzip It”

-      The use of plastic zippers became common in clothing starting in the mid 70’s

-      Metal zippers were included up until the early 70s.

 “Spin Me a Yard”

-      Aside from the popularity of polyester in 70’s styles, vintage clothing is typically made of cotton blends, linen and rayon.

Keeping these tips in mind, how about giving those flashy 70s earrings a chance? For guys, what about adding 60’s necktie to your style? When the chilly wind blows, a 50s peacoat or 80s biker jacket would keep out the cold.

Every vintage piece tells a story;

why not add some punctuation to your style?

Still to come…

Need to feed that insatiable appetite for vintage fashion? Keep reading for our later article about determining the era of vintage attire, and learn fun facts about culture of the time.

If there are topics that you would like us to write about,

Leave a comment and we will post about it!

Thanks for your support!

Haley, Katie, Janel, & Shelly

Sources Cited

Kane, Ashley. "What is Vintage?." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://vintageclothing.about.com/od/glossary/g/Vintage.htm>.

Seagar, Gemma. "Brave Enough for Vintage?." Retro Chick: Vintage Fashion & Retro Style. N.p., 17 Aug. 2011. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://www.retrochick.co.uk/2011/08/17/vintage-brave/>.

Seagar, Gemma. "What is 'Vintage' Anyway?." Retro Chick: Vintage Fashion & Retro Style. N.p., 14 Oct. 2011. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://www.retrochick.co.uk/2011/10/14/what-is-vintage/>.

Terry, Laura. "Vintage Fashion: The New Trend." Female First: Celebrity Gossip & Lifestyle magazine. N.p., 20 Nov. 2008. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/lifestyle-fashion/styletrends/vintage-6096.html>.

"Vintage Clothing." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintage_clothing>.