Where do you see the future of vintage going

pauline

pauline

Registered Guest
When I look back at the industries I was involved in 20 years ago they change so much, I was wondering where you see vintage going in the future.

Personally I have now been priced out of vintage for the moment and I know a few other who feel the some.

This happened to me 30 years ago with coin collecting ,then the prices dropped a decade or so later unfortunately I lost interest by then,

So how do you see the future for vintage fashions?

A great new forum BTW.
 
You know, it is funny you say that!

I was just thinking of how much prices have dropped just the last few years. Dresses I couldnt get for under $150.00 I can find for $80 and definitely around the $100 mark.

I think as long as the socialites and hollywood push the look a(nd boy is it in hollywood right now) our prices will continue to fall. Why? So many new sellers on the scene and competition with reproduction clothing. Not many young girls (or boys) have the passion that we do. They want new, washable and designer. They want the look only and could care less about the history. But, I think collecting never dies. If you have good selling ethics there will always be a market. I can see many of us leaving eBay (and many have) and going to individual stores. With the right reputation a store can get fair prices.

These are all just my opinions of course!

Once you reach a final opinion, I think this would be a great thing for you to blog a time or two, if you blog that is?
 
There are a few passionate young people out there! :)

Being only 25, I consider myself to be one of them!

I just love vintage, it has quality, style and a certain familiarity that I associate with beloved older members of my family!

I have to say I really like vintage reproduction brands like Stop Staring! and Rock Steady, but their pieces really cannot compare to real vintage when it comes to unique style!

I can certainly see vintage only growing in popularity, especially with recent trends and TV shows like Mad Men and Pan Am.

:clapping:
 
I started collecting in 1977 when many vintage clothing dealers were complaining they couldn't sell Victorian and 20s dresses like they used to sell to Hippies and instead it was all nylon tulle party dresses, spike heels, vintage jeans and leather jackets to punk kids... The market changes constantly. There are many things that have gone down in price - mostly unlabelled vintage, and things like Edwardian white lace insert dresses (they were $200.00 30 years ago, now you are lucky to sell one for half that price.) It is certainly label driven at the moment, but contemporary fashion relies on seasonal trends and brand names for selling product rather than a changing silhouette (I am SO tired of microminis but they don't seem to be going away) and the rush to the next vintage 'thing' (peasant blouses, early 60s tweed jackets, flower pins, faux fur shrugs, ponchos...) is making vintage too difficult for dealers to keep up (I think we have all been left with end of season trend buys in our stock.) I'm rambling now.... but my point was that if you stay away from designer names and trends there are still good bargains in vintage.
 
I agree with the others: there are some great buys in vintage now because prices have gone down - and I also agree that there will always be collectors, and those of us who don't want cheap mass produced clothes, those of us who appreciate style and quality and beauty and elegance.

Fashions come and go, but vintage has something to offer everyone and is constantly inspiring. I believe there will always be a market, and unlike new fashion, our stock is limited and reducing as clothes get worn and damaged, so reduced supply will keep values at a reasonable level too.
 
I am not a trade member but have been in the antiques business a long time. I approach the clothing like all other categories. Quality. Learned from a very old dealer with combined years of 120 yr. family selling history 2 things.
1. If it is quality and catches your eye sooner or later it will someone elses.
2. One cannot sell from an empty cart.
She always also said it was a 20 yr. cycle.
Storage and upkeep is always an issue but education and exposure to exquisite beautiful vintage is needed.
I would like to see a show for vintage clothing like the American Restoration show does for cars and such.
Would love to see beaded dresses and such step by step shown being restored.
If the young ones have never seen or held quality how do they know what they are missing?
Show why a dress should be preserved for history.
Sandy
Timing and holding things is important also. Seen dealers come and go. One has to be passionate about all of it.
 
All I can say is when I look around my local vintage shops all I see are prices that I cannot afford any more, maybe online is different, I never buy online at all .

I have not bought any vintage clothing for well over a year now.
and it makes me feel sad that i lost a hobby I enjoyed so much.
 
Pauline, you haven't lost a hobby; vintage is everywhere, you might need to look at different sources - perhaps car boot sales, garage sales, flea markets? How about vintage fairs and markets? Antique fairs and auctions too.

Vintage clothing shops will always showcase the best quality but the prices need to reflect the work we do to bring it to you, clean and mend it etc - if you're prepared to do more work you can find vintage at every price point. Don't give up! There are so many wonderful clothes out there.
 
Years ago it was not a matter of finding a flea market or collector fair etc locally it was more which one do we go too as each week end there were several to choose from.
They dried up totally now I think it's the rents that pushed them out of town to far now for me to personally travel.

I when to a local vintage fashion fair three time until that was moved to a Sunday which is personally difficult, it's hard to explaining why I am going their.
Then I cannot try on any thing at these venues either and as i a a size 20 in vintage things are scares at the best of times.
I understand that shops have over heads been in retail all my life I understand the costing, apart from that our family have inside knowledge of the antique trade,
Popularity of something can also be it's down fall you just have to look at brown furniture today to see that.

It could be just where I live that's really odd I only know about 1 person locally who's into vintage and she a a trade member here BTW compared to talking dailly to collectore all over the world
I just do not undersand it any more.
 
I don't see it as a hobby.... I supplement my wardrobe with vintage pieces tonadd interest in my outfit..... Personally I buy specific things for my wardrobe and finding them is hard or expensive.... But I always find something. It is not like shopping retail....
 
That's where I am different for a lot of ladies becuse vintage is just a hobby for me and there a point when I think I can spend the money better.
where some ladies might say vintage is far better value than new clothes for several good and. valid reasons
 
Well I don't see things changing for you. the fashion world seems to have embraced vintage. A fashionista not only has the designer must haves but they have a good amount of vintage in it too...

it's not finding a costume...But that great unique blazer to add zip to an outfit or that you find the older clothing fits you better then modern clothing.....
 
Well I do as I have already stoped buying vintage clothes becuse I cannot afford them any more .
I also seen a lot of so call "vintage" photo shoots done really they are using vintage inspired clothes they not just the same as the real stuff and you can tell a mile off .
 
Well in my shoots I blend the vintage and modern. I also have sold many items to stylists and design houses. Blending vintage with designer pieces is expectedbwhen styling for many publications.....

I am not talking about vintage photoshoots but straight up fashion shoots.... in my photography work I am told by agents and magazines Its good to have vintage in my styling but I must integrate it with designer items..... this is what I am working at now..... magazine have to feature high end designer clothing to stay in business..... But they mix it up to put a unique twist to picture....I don't see this fading.....
 
I have been in this business for years now as a collector and seller and I haven't seen it this bad ever. Stock is drying up here in the UK, rising fuel prices (now at £1.40 a litre which is about £6.30 a gallon which equals to about $8.50 a gallon in US dollars, EIGHT DOLLARS 50 CENTS A GALLON IS WHAT WE PAY HERE IN THE UK! CRAZY!!!!) prevents many antique dealers from driving around looking for stock or adds to the cost of the stock so therefore, we have to raise our prices.
 
Can I just say I not havng a go at vintage dealers for the increase in price, I do understand why! Ihave seen several retail sectors over the years experiance simular things.
 
Not saying that..The topic is future of Vintage.... gas prices play alot into it... Into shipping costs and the actual search for product.
 
Yes the topic is the future of vintage and I am not having a go at vintage dealers for prices

yumyumvintage I have stopped buying vintage clothesbecuse I cannot afford them any more I also know some others collectors who are doing the same.
If customers stop buying becuse of price it means you income falls.
 
Not really. If I undersell my stock continually I don't make money. Rather have a few good sales then alot of small sales with some being returned.

Like we are big corporations... LoL!!!!!!! Most of us are just paying bills. To me it supplements two other careers.... It's not a big money making business.... So sorry I don't feel bad for you. I would suggest you by vintage knock offs...

Most of our sales are not made of quantity sold...... But from a few good sales. Most of our items are rare and hard to find and that has value.

I am a step from driving forty minutes to wall street and parking myself there.....

Can't feel bad for you..... Thanks for sharing......


I think you should stop buying too.....
 
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