Vintage Clothing is vastly popular today with celebrities such as Dita Vin Teese, Julia Roberts and Katy Perry bringing vintage style into the modern spotlight.

Dita von Teese

How to do Vintage are on a quest to understand Vintage Clothing and its value. So just what is Vintage Clothing?

Is it just second hand clothes from your local Charity Shop or is it the antique dress from your great Aunt originally designed by Emilio Pucci?

In a nutshell, Vintage clothing has been described as any second-hand garment from a previous era and generally speaking, any clothing prior to the 1920’s is often described as ‘Antique’, whilst any clothing from the 1920’s to 1980’s is described as ‘Vintage.’

What about retro clothing? Retro is normally a term used to describe clothes that imitate a previous era.

So this lovely Emilio Pucci 1960’s Marilyn dress, currently on Posh Vintage, would be described as ‘Vintage.’

Emilio Pucci Silk Marilyn Dress Blue

Whereas this lovely Queen of Heartz Lizzette dress would be described as ‘Vintage Style’ or ‘Retro.’ Of course, we love them both!

Queen of Hearts Lizette Dress

Vintage Clothing is often second hand, but you can find the odd gem that has never been worn and still has the price tags, or which is in very good condition. Depending on who designed these pieces, or where they are from, Vintage Clothing and Antique Clothing can be an interesting financial investment.

Unlike some modern fashion, Vintage clothing can often be made of very good quality materials with generous seams, making it easy to make alterations for a unique and custom fit. This is often popular with women who find it hard to find clothing that fits and shows off their shape.

Vintage Clothing and Accessories by the following designers are particularly sought after – especially when they are representative of the designer or the era: Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Cristobal Balenciaga, Emilio Pucci, Biba, Pierre Cardin and Mary Quant. Even some of the more well known designer names are now vintage collectables: Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint-Laurent, Vivienne Westwood, Hubert de Givenchy, Zandra Rhodes, Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani.

We love Vintage Clothing and Retro style here at How to do Vintage and we’ll be researching the best shops, and techniques on how to find and look after your Vintage Clothing.