Ask Mike: Vintage threads
Hey Guys,
Styles come and go, but “vintage clothes” are always in fashion. I came across a question from redleg510, who asked whether vintage has a definition. Are there rules for what qualifies as vintage and what doesn’t?
From what I can tell, vintage doesn’t have an official definition. At least not one that everybody uses. Fashion-Era.com writes that the term vintage can include anything from the 1920s to the 1960s. In their opinion, clothing made after the ’60s doesn’t qualify. The site goes on to explain that whether or not an item is vintage is “in the eye of the beholder.” The important things to remember–”it must belong to another era” and should be part of a limited supply. It isn’t a vintage shirt if there are a million of ‘em.
The Vintage Fashion Guild offers a lot more tips on identifying vintage clothing. Some facts to remember that may help you figure out how old your grandpa’s threads are:
– Men’s dress trousers continued to have a button fly thru the ’40s.
– Belt loops on men’s pants started in the early 1920s
– The famous YKK zipper brand started in 1934.
– Velcro wasn’t commonly used in clothing until the 1960s.
What do you guys think about the vintage trend? What is it about old clothes that makes them eternally hip? Is it the owning of something that nobody else has, or is it something else? Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Thanks for reading,
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Hmm, very interesting. I’d like to say that vintage clothes is anything that came from another era. Or just looks like it does.
I love the whole vintage style. Probably one of the very few good trends
I tend to be fascinated by classic things such as music, items, photos, and videos, just because they are old. I would be interested in vintage clothes for that reason. I am not interested in wearing them myself; I could look at them on other people.
To me, Vintage has always ment something is 20 to 25 years old or more away from the time considered.Since it is 2009, anything before 1984-89 would be Vintage to me.
Personally, I consider anything from before the 80s and before to be vintage. But that might just be because I’m still in my teens! I guess the younger you are, the term “vintage” applies to things that, for much older people, would still be considered fairly new.
Yo Dude – Vintage is best – 80’s may be back – but not necesarily the best……..and you didn’t mention the 50’s, 40’s, 30’s and 20’s……could and can and are still cool
Vintage clothing are a great way to spice up a wardrobe. You become unique with pieces that no one else has and they help create a trendy image. There is no better way to start a trend than by looking to the past- bellbottoms and empire waists always come back. Plus, shopping at thrift stores can be an inexpensive steal.
Vintage are those “classic” pieces from 20’s -60’s because after the 60’s the Flower Children pretty much wore nice rags…. However, to some familiar with the hip hop scene, may consider pieces from the 80’s vintage, like the Adidas jackets and pants… that were limited editions as well, and can only be found randomly on the shelves.
In a nut shell, Vintage must be old, yet classic and distinguishable pieces from the era’s I mentioned above. It is the idea that these items were worn in the time of their debut’s and lived through their history that make them so unique.
Some clothes that are iconic for their era are beautiful (1950s dresses with tiny waists and full skirts) and some are horrible (1970s coats made from loud, mismatched plaids).
The daughter of one of my friends has a sense of style. She has been seen in a pleated plaid skirt that really did belong to her grandmother, back in the day. If only I could fit into them, I’d love to wear my grandmother’s 1950s collarless sheath dresses, made from wool fabrics that had a certain body to them so they hung nicely.
Formal evening clothes have the best chance at a second life. Who wouldn’t like to wear a gown like one originally worn by Jacqueline Kennedy?
that’s a tough one. perhaps its popular vintage if the era style is actually in style today. For example, I certainly wouldnt want to wear a poodle skirt made yesterday or today, but there are so many styles of the past that I would wear even if a shirt were from someone’s well kept attic box of clothes. A cool hawaiian print from the 70’s that you cant find anymore or wool pencil skirt or button fly jeans can fit easily into a wardrobe containing updated versions of the same.
I’d take vintage clothes over new ones any day! I just bought two full-length vintage velvet evening capes for $25 apiece and they look better than anything new I could’ve bought in a department store!
I have collected vintage clothing since the 70’s . Vintage is anything 20 to 30 years old , Antique is older than 30 years . Rules of thumb for true collectors are that the tags must still be in the article of clothing , must be in excellent shape . When worn ,wear with pride .
I have 11 wedding gowns , 15 evening dresses , 20 beaded sweaters , 10 skirts , 25 hats , and 10 purses , also jewelry and gloves . A lady never left the house without her gloves . All my clothing in my collection starts in the 30’s and ends in the early 60’s .Some of them were handed down to me by my Grandmother , ,elderly neighbors , second and third cousins . Oh I also have 5 beautiful coats , that are so warm and less bulky than coats made now . I plan on leaving all my collection to my daughter when I’m gone , because she has the collection bug too .
I have clothes in my closet that I wore 20 years ago and they are still in style. However, “style” is not the subject at hand. Some items never seem to go out of style, ex. a plain black turtleneck, a plain white, button up, long sleeved shirt, etc. But when you say vintage, I can’t help but to think of the band Led Zepplin. The tight bell bottoms with a “Jerry Seinfeld/pirate” style shirt, unbuttoned about half way down. I would have to say that what a person considers vintage depends on the time period in which they grew up. The 70’s in my case.:)
??? I’m 58..still wearing,,,clothes from HIGH SCHOOL//must be nice,,2 throw clothes away.
Vintage clothing, or an older, more classic style can be attractive because it has passed the test of time. I consider vintage to be anything prior to the early 1960s. People were more elegant compared to what is worn on the street today. The silhouette was closer to revealing the natural anatomy of the wearer. Today’s clothes tend to have a more baggy less defined character which might be preferred since obesity is far more common today than it was prior to the 1960s. I have worn well-fitted clothes and dress more formally than what is commonly accepted today. I made this change a few years ago. What I have found is that I am the first to be waited on in a store, customer service in any public venue has improved, and I am never unemployed. Furthermore, dressing vintage or simply dressing more formally can be very sexy – just look at the “Madmen” TV series as an example of dressing up and looking sexy.
vintage clothing is technically any garment pre- 1960’s
true vintage clothing should be couture clothing that is in pristine condition. for example an amazing Dior gown literally handmade from the 1950’s. Or an early Yves Saint Laurent from 1965 , his famour Mondrian dress. Some design collections were and still remain iconic. A Chanel suit from 1955, her comeback year.
Apparel from the 1920’s and 1960’s are usually most in demand because these 2 decades were groundbreaking for fashion.
The 1930’s had their famous bias cut gowns withthose opulent fishtails a direct influence from Hollywood ..who wanted to show, even though there was a great depression, there was still grand clothing.
The 1940’s apparel of course had restrictions and limits as to how much fabric could be used, because of war rationing. Small prints, padded shoulders, and new fabrics were the hallmarks of that decade.
the 1950’s saw a return to opulence which was reflected in the voluminous skirts on dresses and gowns.
These types of apparel can fetch thousands of dollars at auction houses and do.
The costume institute at the Metropolian Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue & 80th Street houses some of the most exquisite clothes and they hold fashion exhibits during the year. For anyone who is a memember of the Council of Fashion Designers, the school FIT( fashion institute of technology) has a “library” where one can “study” how apparel was made in an earlier time. You must wear gloves when examining the clothing.
Of course I am only speaking about women’s clothing.
On another level one can find vintage clothing at good shops, but use your “eye” and choose wisely.Know what you are looking for. Check for stains, etc. And remember most vintage apparel was cut very differently than sizing today. A size 14 dress back then might fit a size 6 today.
Care of these garments is very important, many of them will be made of material which cannot be hand laundered. If anyone invests in good vintage apparel store it properly.
Vintage accessories is another way to put a twist on modern clothing.
( yes, i work in the fashion industry in new york city)
I have to say I adore vintage.. I would class Vintage as any period in time where fashion was defined by society.. For example.. the 80’s.. punk era .. anarchy.. the colours, the rips, the pins were all a statement of going against what was classed as the norm! then for example in the 1920’s, women wearing trousers became standard. this was primarily down to females being treated more as an equal and make their own mark in society. Wearing the trousers was a key turning point.. These trousers are then copied now as the big baggy palazzo pants, which look very masculine, which is what they were striving to achieve back in the 20’s.
I myself have many vintage pieces, collected over a number of years and relating to many different periods.. I’ve got the originals flares of the 60’s.. the cheesecloths maxi dress of the 70’s, the nipped-in-at the-waist suits from the 40’s. i have all of these due to not wanting to follow the herd.. Originality is a good thing.. Its such a shame that now in the Noughties we don’t have any defining times in fashion.. maybe apart from the fact that due to whole ” go green” factor we recycle and hence thats how we get our vintage clothes.
Anything that ranges in age from 20-99 years is considered vintage. 100 years or older is considered an antique. The exception to this rule I believe, are autos which are considered antique after 50 years.
Every decade of fashion is going to have good and bad. What comes back in fashion from previous decades is usually the best or most notable designs of the Era. For example bellbottoms from the 70’s came back, but men’s tight tight little shorts from that era never (thankfulloy) resurfaced. The preppie look (Polo, Esprit, Member’s Only) from the 80’s is back, but (thankfully) not the superbad frizzy teased mall hair.
I think vintage is one of those things that’s just whatever you think. One person could think something was vintage, to them it would be.
I think they have “vintage” confused with “antique.” Vintage is a style and the actual article of clothing can be old or new. Usually new, made in an out of date style.
Antique clothing (which has survived over the years) is a different matter, and should not be confused with “vintage.”
People like the vintage style because it’s romantic and charming.
In reply to Momma8798, wouldnt something that is truly Vintage, be an anitique also?
Vintage Clothes are a very cool thing they are super unique and I know of this awsome website called thegrovevintage.com it has they best vintage clothes at awsome prices!! Check It Out!!!!!!!!
“Vintage”, must be defined as to vintage what. Clothes won’t do it. Man has been wearing clothes for thousands of years. Vintage style is like vintage wine it is rare and unusual. However, many vintage styles are passé. Except for a costume you won’t catch a woman in a hoop, bustle, or girdle. You will find them in a prairie dress from the same era. The best definition for vintage clothes style would most likely be something in the order of from the past, not commonly seen today and not a costume.
i love vintage! it’s absolutely amazing!
but i wonder why 70s clothes isn’t considered vintage.
What? 70’s isn’t vintage? Oh well. It is for me. Having been born in the 60’s, and currently living in New Yorks’ East Village, for me, vintage is everything. We were poor and hand me downs was the name of the game. Now, I can choose my hand me downs. A buttonfly bubblegum pair of jeans (80’s) with a black velvet jacket (60’s) red corduroy shirt (70’s) and black patent pumps (50’s). I think that 90% of what I own is vintage. I like to stay away from wearing too much of the 70’s clothes, all at once, because they look almost costumish, too much paisley, frilly tops, strands, braids, flowers, designs, head bands, plastic jewelry, platform shoes, rust colored coats, plaid coats, & here in New York City we had “marshmallows”- a leather upper in any color you can imagine with a stark white rubber platform.But that is actually the favorite era of my life-the 70’s. Especially the music, rock, folk, punk and especially disco. Vintage to me means a happier time, a less complicated era. A time I lived through and also times I never saw. When I purchase vintage clothing, I try it on, because if it doesn’t feel right spiritually, I can’t wear it. You know, these things were once owned before us and I believe in aura so strong, it stays with a material item. Vintage is and always has been. Think, it is that special ring that once belonged to your Grandpa, and now it belongs to your grandson.
I think that the vintage style looks better than most of the styles that we have today to be honest. Some of todays colthing just looks plain trashy.
Kids considering 70’s-80’s clothes “vintage”? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah and 90’s cell phones are antiques!
Vintage is anything pre-50’s. The rest is fake, wanna-be vintage. Maybe in 20 yrs from now will 50’s be eligible for “vintage” label coverage.
However I have never heard of anyone dressing vintage. Just kids going to consignment & other thrift stores and buying “used” clothing and calling it vintage.
Whatever floats their boat. 80’s clothes ruled, not so much anymore and that ain’t vintage. But thanks for the laughs!
I can’t believe the 70’s aren’t included in the decades considered vintage. The 70’s had some of the coolest T-shirts in my opinion.
I have been wearing vintage clothing since i was allowed to pick my own clothes. I love the history and the style that they have. I continue to go through my grandmother and my mother’s closets because they have a style that i like. All of the modern clothes of today look the same and have no personality. I went to the mall yesterday and each store was selling the same things pretty much only different colors. I like to stand out and not look like everybody else. I only shop at thrift stores because that is what i like and the same goes for my taste in furniture as well. Vintage to me is anything that was made before I was born in the 80’s. So the 70’s and below have my sense of style.
modcloth.com has “vintage clothing” that actually isn’t vintage. it just looks the part
Ive been finding one of a kind vintage clothes at thrift stores for like years! I love it. It makes me unique!
Well, from what I have read…. vintage is anything from 1920s to the 1980s. Anything pre-1920s is considered antique and isn’t’ recommended for wearing.
Anyway, I’m not sure what it is… I think my love for vintage clothing is because I feel that I was born in a different time period, and that the clothes give me the feeling of having the part. Or maybe it’s because such wonderful movies were made back then, and you’ll buy something similar to what they wore to make you feel like a movie star… or maybe it is that we just want something unique, hard to find, and only yours.
And you have to consider, many people are turning “green,” and a great way to do so is to buy vintage clothing!
THANK YOU
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Howdy everyone,
Im new to the forum and just wanted to introduce myself, my name is John and I’m form US. I’ve been a long time lurker who has finally decided to make an account and contribute.
Hi everyone,
Im new to the forum and just wanted to introduce myself, i’m Donald form UK. I look forward too makeing a contribution here.