The Difference Between Vintage & Retro Clothing
The termretrorefers to garments that are reminiscent of vintage styles, but have been manufactured in modern times. Unlike vintage clothing, the labelretrodoes not refer to the specific time period the garment was manufactured in but instead refers to the style of the garment itself. In 2020, any garment produced after 2000 but based on an earlier trend is considered retro.
For an example of retro clothing in mainstream fashion, look no further than today’s booming streetwear industry. It’s currently popular for streetwear brands to revive 1980’s and 1990’s activewear trends like wind-breakers, athleisure sweatsuits, and early sneaker styles. Fun fact: Nike’s popular Air Force 1 style sneaker was originally released in 1982.
Vintage Clothing Sizes vs. Modern Sizes
If you plan on collecting a vintage wardrobe of your own, it’s crucial to understand the difference between vintage and modern sizing. Over the course of the 20th century, the shape of both women’s bodies and the size of their clothing sizing underwent numerous transformations. Oftentimes, fashion-lovers new to vintage shopping are stumped by sizing problems and fit issues.
The first rule of vintage shopping is to throw your attachment to clothing sizes out the window. The only thing that should matter about your new vintage treasure is how well it fits, not the size on the tag. Just as today’s sizing is often inaccurate and unpredictable, the same can be said about vintage garments. While two vintage dresses may be on the same size rack, they very well may have two entirely different fits.
As a general rule of thumb, your “vintage size” is 4 sizes larger than the size you wear today. For example, a woman who shops for a size 10 today would look for a size 14 when vintage shopping. This change in sizing over the past 20 years is largely due to what’s calledvanity sizing.As the general public gained weight and their sizes should have increased, designers started adjusting sizing to make shoppers feel better about their changing bodies. As wild as it sounds, it’s true.
You may also find that some vintage garments do not have any sort of tags or sizing information. This is likely because they were hand-made by a home sewer. Before modern manufacturing and fast fashion, most women sewed clothing for themselves and their families. During eras past, it was also more common to get your clothes tailored for a custom fit.
