Clothing with a Past─Vintage, Retro, or Antique?

Do you love apparel from years gone by? Many of us do, and with good reason. For a start, it’s fun! It's rather thrilling to explore history through your wardrobe, to feel as if you own something with an interesting past. Indeed, that cardigan sweater or veiled hat from another era has a story to tell, no? When you wear such items, you share in that mystique, which adds a unique distinction to your personal style. Especially when you seek─and find─items of quality.

Another benefit of clothing from decades past is that it was often created along simpler and cleaner lines─either handmade or at least assembled with fewer toxic by-products, as opposed to modern, mass-manufactured apparel, which typically incorporates synthetic dyes, chemicals, and other processes to ensure that the end products are cheap, replicable, and easy to launder.

While previously loved apparel may require a tad more care, it’s well worth it. Plus you’ll often acquire better quality for a modest price. If it’s lasted long enough to be a vintage item and still look elegant, that speaks volumes, no? You may, however, become rather baffled on your journey by the terms you encounter, such as vintage, retro, or even antique. With regard to clothing, "vintage" usually refers to items less than 100 hundred years old, as opposed to "antique" which is used to define apparel made at least 100 years ago.

Conversely, the term "retro" denotes something associated with─or revived─from the past and should primarily apply to copies of true vintage items. The word "retro" derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning "backwards, or in past times." It’s also been suggested that retro fashion spans the decades of 1960-1980, so any authentic pieces from this time frame would be referred to as retro, rather than vintage or antique.

Then you have the term “retrospective,” which refers to a view toward the past. While it’s certainly not a perfect science, it’s all worth considering, because while virtually anything goes with fashion, an awareness of these distinctions will ensure you don’t overspend on a given item, whether from a garage sale, vintage shop, consignment store, or high-end antique boutique.

With all that in mind, you’ll ideally be even better equipped to explore your fashion journey from times gone by. Why not, when you can have fun, celebrate yourself a bit, look fabulous, and make a visual statement that may well refresh the world around you.

The Essential Cardigan

Both cardigans and twinsets─a cardigan over a sleeveless, matching shell─are a timeless fashion classic. From Audrey Hepburn to Michelle Obama, they’re always right, if selected with care. These tips can help ensure you maximize the flattering possibilities of this essential wardrobe staple.

Seek high quality

As with many items of apparel, cardigans can range from cheap and poorly made to elegant and costly. One great benefit of vintage is that you can often find sweaters in high quality materials and even some lovely embellishments for a fraction of retail market prices. Look for natural fibers like wool or wool blends. And if you manage to find angora, mohair or blends that include them, you’re lucky indeed.

Find a flattering fit

Even with great materials, a cardigan is not essential unless is also fits well. Avoid the oversized boxy numbers in favor of more fitted styles, which have more versatility both for casual and dressier wear. You’ll actually find few fashionable vintage sweaters in plus sizes, as obesity was relatively uncommon decades ago when many of these items were designed.

Collect color

You know by now that if a color fails to flatter you, the item is no bargain after all, even if it’s beautiful on the hanger. Neutrals are great as you can layer and build upon them, but a few numbers in show stopping hues like turquoise, hot pink, or Kelly green can really make great statement pieces in your wardrobe. Look back over older pictures to get a better sense of the colors that really make you feel like a million, and seek those out. You may even have a trademark hue by now. That’s probably the one that nets you the most compliments, if so.

Embrace embellishments

While you can dress up basic twinsets with pearls, broaches, scatter pins, and other wonderful jewelry, you’re in luck if you stumble upon a sweater with some unique embellishments. These add to the value, so they can get pricy, but you may still find an affordable gem with beaded accents, embroidery, lovely unique buttons, appliqué, or other embellishments. These more distinctive pieces are fabulous collectables, especially if they also fit and flatter you.

Imagine the possibilities

Some cardigans make a statement by themselves, especially if they feature some special details, while others greatly benefit from accessories. Either way, these basic staples offer tremendous versatility. Take a form-fitting black angora cardigan. This could be worn over jeans with a dashing scarf on Saturday, paired with a grey flannel trousers and pearls for work, then again transformed for an evening out with a black pencil skirt, snazzy pumps, and glitzy chandelier earrings. Or belt a pretty pink cardi over a silky camisole and flouncy skirt with ropes of pearls for dinner out.

As you can see, your options abound. The key is ensuring high-quality materials, with an attractive fit and color. Vintage finds can be tremendous bargains and lend great distinction to your wardrobe. It’s your look, why not make it special?

Vintage Apparel - Healthy and Green

How is an article on used clothing a health-related topic? Well, there are several reasons. First off, for most of us, saving money helps to minimize stress─an obvious wellness booster─and buying "gently used" is typically far cheaper than buying new. It’s also good for the soul to know that we’re significantly helping the environment with our daily choices as well. And what a great example to set!

Each time you opt for vintage or gently used rather than new, mass-produced clothing, you’re helping the environment significantly. Did you know the textile industry is one of the most polluting on the planet? According to Adria Vasil, in her brilliant book Ecoholic, cotton soaks up 10% of the world’s pesticides and 25% of its insecticides, many of which are highly toxic. Would you believe that conventional cotton-farming methods require a full third pound of pesticides to make a single T-shirt?

Much of the clothing from past eras was created along more natural lines, unlike factory made apparel which uses synthetic dyes, chemicals, and other processes to ensure that the end products are wrinkle resistant, colorfast, and won’t shrink. Those chemicals, and the waste produced in the overall manufacturing process, are clearly unhealthy for the planet and you.

Choosing gently used or vintage clothing, on the other hand, is clearly the most environmentally friendly manner of dressing. It’s the perfect way to reduce, reuse, recycle and re-purpose clothing while saving a considerable amount of money to boot. An added bonus is that you’ll often acquire better quality apparel. If it’s lasted long enough to be a vintage item and still look elegant, that speaks volumes, no?

Another benefit for those interested in fashion is the wonderful, timeless style of classic garments from past eras. Why not freshly embrace them as your own, even if you missed the original period in time? It’s a tremendously creative endeavor as well. Whether it’s a cashmere cardigan set, a fun 60’s mod dress, an opulent pearl-beaded antique clutch, or a handmade lace shawl, these gems can really make a statement and imbue your personal style with original dash and flair.

So why not check out that local vintage clothing or consignment store you've always been curious about? Or even your local Goodwill, where you’ll often find designer threads and shoes mingled in with cheaper items, as well as gorgeous old broaches and other jewelry to wear or decorate with. And when you sally forth in that vintage sheath dress, pearl choker, or silk camisole, you’ll feel extra special because along with the compliments you will surely collect, the earth will quietly thank you too.

The Benefits of Consignment Store Fashion

Are you a habitué of consignment stores when it comes to apparel? If not, you may be missing out on a fabulous resource. For those unfamiliar with the term, consignment is the act of consigning, which is placing items─in this case, clothing, shoes, hats, jewelry and other accessories─into the hands of a given store owner, retaining ownership until the items are sold. In this scenario, the original owner is known as the consignor, whereas the agent is the consignee. When the item sells, both parties make a profit. So, how does this relate to you as the savvy vintage shopper? Well, consignment stores are a terrific resource, for several reasons:

You’ll find better quality

Unlike flea markets or thrift stores, which can be a feast or famine situation depending on the day, the offerings, and your patience, consignment store owner’s screen out poor quality merchandise, so you’ll typically find gently used apparel of respectable quality. You’ll also typically find the merchandise to be nicely displayed, as well as clean, and free of stains.

You’ll get a real dressing room

If you know flea markets, jumble sales, and most thrift stores, you’ll agree that a comfortable, well-lighted dressing room is a luxury indeed. It’s a simple benefit, but one that can really make the difference in your ability to determine whether a garment is suitable, well fitting, and flattering to your figure and personal style. If it doesn’t meet these qualifications, it’s no bargain.

You’ll find affordable treasures

You would arguably need to spend a lot of time at a Goodwill or charity store to discover that one gem─like a cashmere sweater, beaded classic pumps, or vintage lace camisole─though on occasion, astonishingly, you’ll find these. At consignment stores, however, your chances are much higher. And when you do, they will be priced at a fraction of the original value. The cake is sweetened by the fact that such items will typically continue to increase in value if well cared for.

You can distinguish your wardrobe

If you appreciate unique items, and tend to cultivate an interesting personal style, you’re probably not shopping at Wal-Mart. Many consignment shops are noted for timeless, classic apparel from a range of fashion eras, with many unique items. You may find a great designer dress or treasures from smaller designers, or even handmade items. No question about it, finding beautiful, one-of-a-kind items at often surprisingly low prices is smart and chic.

You can cultivate a relationship

Unlike many thrift stores where employees may cycle in and out, a good consignment shop owner will value your patronage and want to cultivate it. That means that once you start shopping and find some gems, the owner will get a sense of your taste and style. In some shops, especially in smaller communities, shop owners will start a file on regular patrons like you and keep a look out for items you’re searching for, like that cool mod 60’s dress, designer 80's jeans, or sumptuously beaded clutch.

As you can see, consignment shops in many ways offer the best of both worlds. High-quality fashion at vintage store prices, what’s not to love? So find your local shop and take a peek. You’ll likely find these boutiques can add tremendous bloom to your bouquet of vintage fashion resources.

Antique, Vintage, Retro, or Collectable─What the Difference?

As you start to explore items with a past─such as furniture, linens, clothing, jewelry, hats, and fabric, you’ll hear multiple terms used to describe them. Are they collectables, antiques, retro pieces, or vintage gems? And indeed, what do these terms really mean? You should know, as prices are often predicated on how these beautifully time-worn items are categorized. Generally speaking, an antique is an object of notable age, usually 100 years of age or more, valued for its beauty as well as its historical significance.

Vintage is a term that has long applied to wine, referring to the year or the place in which wine was produced. The term was also adapted to apply to second-hand goods in numerous categories. While there is some flexibility in the definition, clothing, furnishings, jewelry and other items from the 1920s to the 1990s could be considered vintage. Most vintage clothing─whether commercially produced or handmade─has been previously worn, but you can occasionally find well-preserved, “like new” vintage apparel, accessories, shoes and more.

Where does the term “retro” fit in? This word is defined as involving, relating to, or being reminiscent of things past; retrospective. Retro or "vintage style" usually refers to clothing that imitates the style of a previous era. Much of modern or contemporary fashion borrows heavily from styles of past eras, especially timeless silhouettes like cardigan sets, pencil skirts, classic pumps, and Jackie O sheath dresses, among countless other examples.

The word collectible is another frequently used descriptor with a rather broad application. It usually refers to objects with a real or perceived value that are less than a hundred years old. This distinguishes collectibles from antiques, which again, would generally be categorized as being over a hundred years old. The term collectable can apply to items of varying quality and craftsmanship, so it’s important to develop a discerning eye, which you'll find happens naturally if you continue questing.

While opinions may vary on these definitions, they provide a working foundation to better understand your options if you appreciate treasures with a past, or that evoke feelings of a by-gone era. Acquiring a working knowledge of these terms can help you organize future purchases based on your budget and personal interest. Makes sense, does it not? Bonne chasse!

Sparking a Love of Vintage

If you ask an antique collector, vintage fashion lover, or the owner of a second-hand store why they enjoy items with a past, you will invariably get many different answers. What sparked your love of vintage items? It could have been an Audrey Hepburn movie, discovering the allure of shabby chic, inheriting a wonderful piece of old furniture, or stumbling across a wedding photo of your mother. Suddenly, you realize that in our prefabricated, mass produced, strip-mall, fast food culture, we may be missing out on some of the richness of past eras.

Vintage items can help us capture a hint of those splendid by-gone points in time, and celebrate what we find most enriching about them. That will of course mean different things for different people; indeed, vintage is a very general term. For example, when it comes to fashion, it’s a general rule that clothing produced before the 1920s is referred to as antique clothing, whereas apparel from the 1920s through the 80s could be considered vintage.

The beauty of items with a past is that there’s really something for everyone. Certain aspects appeal to some of us more than others. You may gravitate towards the elegance of Victorian-era gowns, beaded handbags, antique quilts, or rare vintage books. There are so many eras to explore, and the best part is, you don’t have to be an expert. Simply visit an antique store, upscale flea market, or consignment store and see what starts to capture your attention. You'll be surprised how one thing can lead to another.

My journey began when I needed a new desk and wanted something second-hand to save money. I realized that some of the older, slightly distressed (meaning character enhancing cracks, chips or other minor signs of natural aging) pieces I saw were so interesting that I became intrigued. The desk I got suggested other creative possibilities, and once I started looking up vintage furniture and home décor images and discovered that I could modify the shabby chic concept to suit my own taste, I was off and running. Stay tuned for the next part of this story…