A vintage dress or vintage clothing is a second-hand or old stock dress which was created from the previous decades. Technically, these are dresses which were made from 1920’s to 1980’s. Some important clothing in the 90’s can also be classified as vintage dresses. Vintage dresses can also be called antique dresses or retro dresses.

There are two kinds of vintage dresses:

The vintage haute couture and the ready-to-wear vintage or prêt-a-porter vintage. A vintage haute couture dress is a special piece of clothing specifically made by a fashion boutique to its client. This kind of dress is highly prized because of its uniqueness and good quality. On the other hand, the ready-to-wear vintage dress is a retro type of clothing that is mass-produced. You can find this kind of dress in thrift shops.

Fashion has undergone many evolutions throughout the years, and each decade represents a unique characteristic or trademark in fashion history. For instance, 1960’s was the decade where mini dresses are the rave. 1970’s was the disco era and flared pants, ethnic dresses and skirts of all lengths are the “in” things. Even the detail of each dress is unique because the materials used and the person’s taste in clothing changes with time.

Vintage dresses are the trend nowadays from casual to formal wear. A lot of celebrities mix and match vintage pieces with modern clothing. The Olsen twins, Nicole Richie, Cameron Diaz and Sienna Miller are just some of the famous personalities who are fans of vintage dresses. There are also celebrities who wear vintage gowns to red carpet events.

Now, you can see on the pages of fashion magazines that the trend is bringing back the looks of the past by wearing vintage-inspired dresses. These dresses are actually new but have the traits of clothing styles during the past eras.

Things to consider when it comes to vintage clothing:

• Match vintage pieces with modern clothing so that you will not look like you’re outdated and overdoing the vintage thing.

• Select vintage pieces which are still wearable.

• The best way to clean a vintage dress is through handwashing using mild soap. If you must dry clean your dress, remove the buttons first or cover them with aluminum foil for protection.

• Check if there are stains on the dress. If so, ask the seller if the stain has been around since they obtained the dress. Long-standing stains tend to be permanent.

• Also check if there are any damages or loose stitching in the dress.

• If you are planning to purchase a vintage dress through online auction, do not hesitate to ask about the details of the dress. You can also ask for more photos of the dress.

Other dress:

1. Evening Dress
2. Wedding Dress
3. White Dress
4. Maxi Dress
5. Maternity Dress