What is "Vintage"?

Peri

There is a specific cutoff in furniture and cars...a certain number of years old and you can say antique, regardless of any other attribute.

What makes vintage in clothes? The dress in my other thread is 30 year old Talbots. And not kidding, I think better quality than today....not just considering Talbots, but most stores. Better material by a long shot, but I also think better construction. Based on the shopping I've been doing lately, a dress of this quality and material would be above $300. But is it vintage... or just old?

Is vintage determined by a strict number of years, or by years plus a quality rating (as in, a 30 year old ON dress might not make the category), or is it even more nebulous, adding some component of judgment about whether the style is currently desirable?

10 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Ginger

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I sell on Etsy and I know, by their definition, anything over 20 years old qualifies as vintage and can be sold in that category. That seems crazy sometimes, but I guess it's not unreasonable. That makes vintage anything that was made before most college students were born and, when I think about it, when I was in college in the 90s, I definitely considered 70s items "vintage."

10 years ago

Aida

Veteran

My understanding of vintage clothing is the same as what Etsy lists, anything over 20 years. Nothing to do with fabrication, just age.

10 years ago

deb

Veteran

I think vintage is all in the eyes of the beholder. A 20 year old would probably think your dress is vintage. But I am 61 and think it is old.

10 years ago

BethT

Active Member

Vintage is old crap that someone wants!

Just kidding,sort of. Old is just old. But vintage (or an antique) to me says there is something special about it. Something that really defines the time. Or started a trend. Sneakers from the 70's aren't vintage unless they are the first Nike's waffle trainer (eg). I have several old handheld video games, but the only one I would say was vintage is the original Mattel football game.

So for me I guess it's years (around 20 would probably do it) plus that nebulous something extra.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Age of item, plus some inherent value.....determined rather randomly , but according to current demand. I think if there is no resale market for kitchen gadgets from the 1920's, then they are old kitchen gadgets, not vintage kitchen gadgets. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it:)

10 years ago

Peri

Veteran

So by Beth T and Lisa's definition, my dress is old.

But by the other definitions it is Vintage. If it makes it to this wedding, I'm going with that! If anyone asks, I won't say, "ugh, this old thing", I will grin and say "it's vintage"!

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I think it has to be from before this post post modern era... So before the 70s...

10 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I would think Etsy's definition as the best as I would consider 70s vintage, but I bet someone 10 years younger than me would see 90s as vintage.

10 years ago

BethT

Active Member

Peri, it may not be vintage, but it could be "Vintage Talbots" kinda like when movie stars where "vintage" dresses and sometimes they really are just old dresses.

It's kinda like when people make fun of my not-smart phone. I tell them it's vintage and very hipster.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am vintage.

10 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

Hah Suz, from the bests ones!:-))

10 years ago

Anonymous

I'm vintage. My feet are just plain old.

So at what age does something become antique? I have some crystal that was purchased new in the '70s. I saw the same items in an antique store in Florida a few years ago, and shook my head in amazement. The stuff's not that old, IMO.

10 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

If I recall correctly, eBay has guidelines for both "vintage" and "antique." I don't recall vintage exactly, but I think it was 20-30 years old. Antique was, I believe, over 75 years old. Of course, eBay may have abandoned those guidelines anyway, but that's still how I think of it.

10 years ago

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