I've recently been working to expand my knowledge of Vintage clothing and wanted to share. My interest was piqued after learning that even some of the lower end vintage items are often of better quality than a lot of today's clothes (unless you can afford Couture). They just don't make 'em like they used to, ha!
But seriously, think about it, the whole reason we have vintage is because those garments were made using quality materials and intricate construction techniques that have allowed them to sustain over the years. I have a hard time believing that my fast fashion purchases will be in one piece in 20 years.
The greatest difficulty when shopping vintage is determining which decade an item is from. If you can't date an item, you won't really know it's worth. Clothing manufacturers have never been required to include a date on garment tags, so you have to do some digging. Labels, fabrics, and garment shapes (big shoulder pads=hello 80s!) can provide clues.
One of the best resources is Vintage Fashion Guild. They have some fantastic tips on dating items and have a directory of Labels that can help narrow things down. Check out their Quick Tips for Dating Vintage to get started.
Another good intro to Vintage is Melody Fortier's book "The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping." She discusses how fabric, fit, and styles have changed in the last century and includes a Retail Price Guide. It's the perfect size for slipping into your handbag for your next shopping expedition!
xoxo,
Rebecca
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| Vintage Evan-Picone Blazer dated to the 1970s |
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| Vintage Pendleton Blazer dated to the 1980s |
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