You’ve seen it in magazines, you’ve seen it on fashion blogs, and on home-makeover TV shows. The Duchess of Sussex wore a vintage Dior gown to a christening, and Kim Kardashian also wears vintage regularly (The Guardian, Apr 2019). Vintage seems to be a trend that is here to stay, but why do people buy it, and what is so special about it? Read on to find out more…
- Uniqueness and Individuality
Perhaps the main reason people buy vintage is to find those unique items, whether it’s a dress, or piece of furniture for their home, that few others will have. The items they choose will be carefully selected to say a lot about them as a person, showing their unique style, from the items they have found to where they found them. In today’s Instagram age it is all the more important to stand out from the crowd building your personal brand, and buying vintage helps to ensure originality. - Nostalgia
Vintage objects help us connect with our past. They can bring back instant memories, or make us feel close to the person that owned it, whether they are still alive or not. They tell the story of who we are, our lives, and how we live it past or present. Trends tend to change too, depending on the latest generation of designers that look back for inspiration. Usually this is 20-30 years into the past, or the era before we were born, when our parents were young, so now the 80s and 90s are popular for home items and even early 00s items for fashion. - Sustainability
Vintage is a sustainable way of shopping. We can recycle, reuse and re-purpose items from the past, as usually they were well made and can withstand it. Also, no new environmental resources would have been used in making them, so buying vintage is a great way to do your bit for the environment. - Investment
If you get it right when buying, and invest in something that is rare and sought after, its fairly likely that the price will increase. Items that keep their value are good quality items by quality makers, and items that define a certain era – e.g. Art Deco Clarice Cliff ceramics or Mid Century Eames Chairs. - Community Spirit
It is great fun shopping for vintage; the traders and other buyers you come across are all like-minded, being part of a fabulous community! Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, or share stories. Small traders and fellow vintage enthusiasts will be more than happy to oblige. It’s a great way to support your local small businesses, and make some new friends too!
This post is written by Rachel Toy, owner of Rachel’s Vintage & Retro. I am a vintage enthusiast writing about a Vintage Lifestyle, focusing on the Vintage Home. I also sell a wide variety of vintage household items from kitchenalia, to homewares such as linens, mid century glass, brewerania, furniture and collectable toys on my Etsy Shop.
