Vintage clothing

Vintage clothing is usually clothes that were made in the period between 1920 and around the 60s, with retro clothing falling from around the late 60s to the 80s and 90s.

Vintage clothing is a great way to get something that is individual, brilliantly made and one of a kind for cheaper than a designer or specially made garment.

Vintage pieces are often classically and beautifully made using cuts, fabrics and construction methods that are no longer used with the invention of modern technology and cost cutting measures. We are talking hand-finished seams, real pearl buttons and hand dyed silk here people!

When it comes to retro clothing again it’s all about finding an individual look – whether that be a 70s suede jacket or an 80s puff ball dress. Often these items are cheaper but still really one-of-a-kind pieces and can be worth just as much as vintage collector’s pieces.

Size matters

The biggest pitfall when wanting to buy vintage clothing is sizing. However, a good vintage store will re-tag all the garments with their modern equivalent size. But if you are shopping at a second-hand store or the like, this won't be done for you. There are a couple of things to remember:

1 In vintage eras there was no such thing as stretch. While today’s clothing such as fitted

dresses and suit pants usually contain a little elastane to give stretch and a snug fit, vintage

clothing typically does not. As a result, things that “look” like they are your size may be in fact

smaller than they appear.

2 Size labels are merely a suggestion. As a rule, vintage garments (especially those made

around the 50s and 60s) can jump down one or two sizes. So a 50s size 10 is more like a

modern size 8, a 12 like a 10 and so on. That said, it wasn’t until much later that women’s

sizing became standardised, so often one company’s idea of a size 10 would be another’s size

14.

So as a rule always, always try on garments. Or take down your measurements along your bust

line, across the shoulders, true waist and hips and write this down. This way if you are somewhere you can’t try on something you will be sure of the fit.

Tips and Tricks

When shopping for vintage it’s a good idea to thoroughly check everything out. The most important is the fabric itself – if there is pulling, tearing or wearing it may not be worth the effort.

Think about the fact that you want something to look as new as possible so that you can get the most wear out of it. Check the inside seams for seam allowances (to allow things to be let in or out) and check the allowances on zips as well, just in case these need replacing.