What Is Considered As A Vintage Item?

Owning vintage clothing is like having a time machine to the past for some. Some collectors have shows featuring the most popular and classic items from times gone by, divided into eras or fashion trends. We have been through so many over the past eighty or ninety years, but some that stand out for all of us would be the Victorian style, bright floral shirts from the mid 1900's, flairs from the sixties and seventies and balloon dresses and ruffle skirts from the eighties.

Most vintage clothing is the result of high quality craftsmanship, and it is not uncommon for vintage clothe collectors to exclusively pursue any high fashion items. This is something which would have originally been custom made by hand for the wearer, and would have exquisite detail in the needlework and the fabric would be of the highest quality. One item of vintage clothing may have taken over a two hundreds hours to complete.

Paris has always been famous for its haute couture, or high fashion garments. Some of their gowns have countless beads hand sewn all over them! If you are searching out some vintage clothing, always note the needlework and the level of detail in the design.

Fabric And Conditions

Fabrics come in a wide array of quality. This is why you can buy one shirt for $5 which will last a month, and something more expensive and high quality may be $50 but will last years. Vintage clothing has lasted so long because the material is high quality as is the way they are sewn.

If an item is vintage and there is no damage whatsoever, it is considered to be in top or mint condition. Some have never had anyone wear them before. If there is a little sign of wear or aging, then it is considered to be in near mint condition. If it has had some average wear but has no rips or tears, it is in excellent condition, whereas very good will probably have a stain or mark. If something is merely wearable, it is probably only useful for a dress up party or one time novelty events.

Care Instructions - Read Carefully!

If you decide to wash your vintage clothing, understand that without tags and after washing, they do depreciate in value. You also must be very careful, treating them like the finest silk. Although they are fantastic quality, they simply are not made to withstand the modern day washing methods we us. If it is something you wear regularly, you will need to wash it, but don't be shocked if it does get a little ruined in the process.

Be careful when buying vintage clothing made from glazed cotton, as it usually doesn't keep its finish. Velvet fabrics are very hard to look after as it often shrinks or loses its coating. Never ever put a vintage clothing item in the clothes dryer or washing machine, as this will surely ruin it. Always pay to have anything made from rayon professionally cleaned, and be extra careful with any wool or silk garments. Lace is another thing on a lot of treasured vintage items which is extremely delicate and can lose it's shape easily.

In exceptional cases, some exclusive designer outfits are classified as vintage after a few years. The term actually means any item that represents the public's general taste at the time or the time it was from. Versace is an example of this, as some designs have been known to be classed as vintage only after three years. It is considered as amazing if a design is labeled as vintage in today's current design world.

Why are You Shopping For Vintage?

Consider what you want your vintage items for, and then you will know what quality you need. If an item is vintage and there is no damage whatsoever, it is considered to be in top or mint condition. Some have never had anyone wear them before ever. If there is a little sign of wear or aging, then it is considered to be in near mint condition. If the vintage clothing has had some average wear but has no rips or tears, it is in excellent condition; where as very good will have a stain or mark. If something is merely wearable, it is probably only useful for a dress up party or one time novelty ware. Collectors of vintage clothing would only be interested in mint to near mint, as these are the items that will retain their value most easily.

Summary:

Clothing which is classed as vintage was usually designed prior to 1980. If you own any vintage items, you must ensure you look after them properly. When shopping for unique vintage items of clothing, look carefully at detail and quality, as well as condition. If you buy vintage items that are in good condition and you look after them very well, they can only increase in value over time.