Vintage clothing is a broad, general phrase that applies to many different clothing styles. In truth, there is vintage thrift, vintage reproductions, and vintage couture. It is important to understand and recognize the differences so that when you purchase and wear any of these, you sound as though you know what you are talking about. Knowing what you are talking about in the fashion world is especially important, so read up on the following three styles of vintage clothing.  

Vintage Thrift

Vintage thrift means you walked into a thrift store and found bell-bottom pants or jeans that are authentically older than you and only slightly younger than your grandmother. They will cost you a couple of bucks, and they have been worn by previous owners. Discount designer labels notwithstanding, vintage thrift is the cheapest way to find, purchase, and wear clothing that is over thirty years old. 

Vintage Reproductions

Vintage reproductions in clothing can be found just about anywhere, including thrift stores. These pieces are made within the last decade after actual vintage clothing, but because they are not true vintage, they are referred to as "reproductions." Platform shoes and wide bell-bottom hipster jeans made in the '90s are vintage reproductions. Vintage reproductions can be modeled after, or inspired by, any period of clothing throughout history, and are sold in department stores when on-trend. When they are no longer on-trend, owners cast them off to thrift shops, which is where you will find these reproduction pieces. 

Vintage Couture

This high couture that has been in storage for a few decades and has been reintroduced to the public anew. Hence, it is vintage, but it is also couture. It should not surprise you to walk into a vintage couture shop and see that these high fashion pieces from a different era are still as costly as ever, and sometimes even more so if the pieces were truly unique to a fashion designer's line. If you choose to buy vintage couture, you have to be very careful with its wearing and even more careful with washing it, or you could destroy the value of these pieces. Some are valued in the thousands of dollars, making these items more art collectibles than clothing, but people actually do wear vintage couture. 

Buy What You Can Afford, Wear What You Like

Pairing vintage anything with any other piece of clothing takes good fashion sense. If you are not sure how to pair the pieces you have purchased, lay them on your bed to see how they might look together. Then wear what you like. 

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