Vintage Clothing

Vintage clothing is a term used for garments hailing from another era. Essentially the garment must belong to another period, and especially of limited supply, a particular 18th, 19th or 20th century decade, which someone thinks as collectible. Earlier the term came into existence for clothing that belongs to 1920s or before, but now days the garments of 1970s are also considered as vintage. Many businesses in the field of vintage clothing even consider the more modern pieces to be 'vintage', provided that they are specifically representatives of the period in which they were made. As an example, the very simple slip dresses, which emerged in the early years of 1990s, as an expression of the impact of minimalism and grunge aesthetics on fashion would be considered as vintage by many sellers and buyers of vintage clothing.

Vintage clothing can be categorized on the basis of era or period of time in which it was made. Hence the different popular categories of vintage clothing are -

• Victorian - 1800s
• Edwardian - 1900-1920
• 1920s - 1930s
• Designer clothing of 1940s - 1980s
• Now (1990 and later)

Why Vintage Clothing is Gaining Popularity
Socio-culturally, increasing interest in vintage clothing is generally considered as a reaction to the widespread perception among people that fashion is swamped by cheap mass-produced ranges, and in broad sense to nostalgic sense of a loss of values and security in the society as a whole.

Some other factors that have contributed to the increasing interest in vintage clothing are - fashion trends, increase in use of internet for shopping, increased mainstream interest in thrift and consignment shopping, celebrity interest in vintage dresses, and cultural movements, such as swing dance scenes. All these factors have contributed to the large demand for vintage clothing of all types.

Vintage Clothing - As Collectors Item
Now days many people want to concentrate on collecting haute couture vintage garments. Haute Couture vintage clothing reached its peak during 1940's to the end of the 1950s. And after that it became highly sought after. A French phrase, haute couture implies excellent artistry and fashioning of garments. The top level of hand customized fashion design and clothing fabricated made by a couture design house is the purchase of high fashion model garment.

Model high fashion garments differ in way that they are made exclusively for the body stance of wearer and to personal body measurements. Exclusive, made to measure haute couture vintage clothes are virtually crafted by hand, carefully interlined, stay taped to perfection for each and every client. It is really time consuming with about 100-150 hours of manual labor for a suit and 1000 hours for an embellished evening dress, which may have even thousands of hand-sewn beads.

1920's vintage beaded garments and eveningwear are very desirable as like many other works of art. Truly, the quality of artistry in these garments and dresses is such that it is unlikely that similar items will ever be designed again as the cost and existing skill base prohibits this from happening.

One aspect of couture, which excites the buyers of vintage clothing, is the quality of materials used. The fabrics used by couture houses have always been very exclusive and stylish, which include expensive silks, fine wools, cashmeres, cottons, linens, leather, suede, or the furs. The quality fabrics used by couture houses have always stood way above the fabrics that were used for producing goods for masses. If we try to use such fabrics today, that might cost around £100 or more a meter.

Depending on the haute couture design house and the quality of garment, the cost of a vintage couture garment may run to £40,000 and sometimes often beyond that. The cost figures reflect originality and exclusivity in design, fineness in quality of materials, superlative workmanship, and personal attention.

It means that if you are buying vintage clothing of any era with the label of an haute couture designer, the high price of vintage couture clothing will astound you. The low price of a couture garment in a tattered and poor condition may also amaze you. Excellency in craftsmanship and exclusivity always command a price to match and there are people who are always ready to pay for that.

Washing Vintage Clothing
Before planning to wash your vintage clothing make sure that you know the fabrics of your garment well before you wash silk or wool and even buy cleaning products just to try methods of stain removal, washing and pressing. Be very careful while washing silks used in suits, which have ribbed or other special embossed effect weaves and generally dry clean them.

Vintage fabrics suitable to wash are linen, cotton, and some wools generally when mixed with acrylics and nylon. As a matter of fact, nylon goods or mixtures will be after 1940, acrylics after 1950 and polyester marked labels after 1960. Fabrics of the period of 1960s will be of high bulk polyester.

Rayon is best dry cleaned, as is any other vintage fabric, which typically looks as if it has a special finish like watermark moiré. While modern moiré fabrics are easy to wash, older ones may not only loose their body but may also shrink, loose color and distort beyond recognition.

Certain silks and wools are washable, but many are not. More importantly, lace will frequently lose crispness and some trims may shrink and pull along a facing edge if washed. If you have doubt don't wash them, have them dry cleaned by a specialist. As an alternative, you can simply let these hanging in fresh air to get rid of any bad smell. Sometimes, lightly pressing on the reverse of a fabric, which you have tested in an inconspicuous part, may work well. Do not hang white or creamy silks or wools in the sun as the direct sunlight may decolorize and yellowed them. Rather hang these items in a room with a bowl of white vinegar for a few days and let the vinegar absorb the smell of clothes if any.