I remember as a child, I was always drawn to the French inspired sleek cuts and boyish yet feminine energy behind the clothing of the Flappers from the roaring 20’s. From the raised hemlines and dropped waistlines of the dresses, to the Robe de Style signature designs by Jeanne Lanvin and chest flattening Side Lacers, if their was an era of clothing that appealed to me the most, this was it.
As I grew older and started creating my own signature look using retro cotton prints, dress fabrics, and store-bought garments, Saturday mornings would often find me scouring antique stores, yard sales, and thrift stores in search of these same inspired fashions to accompany my mixture of modern and vintage wears. Looking back, I can still recall the discovery of my first Norman original. A smoke blue lace and satin fitted dress with side zip and off shoulder sleeves, this treasure find cost me a whopping $10 at a local mom & pop shop. The moment I saw it, it just spoke to me. When I got it home, the fit was P-E-R-F-E-C-T . In the years since it’s purchase, I can only count on one hand the number of times I actually had occasion to wear it, but treasures are like that. Too fragile to put on display for too long, yet too beautiful to give away, it has taken up permanent residence in my closet none the less.
Today, antique (before 1920) and retro or ‘vintage style’ clothing (1920-1980) has gained popularity not only among industry designers, but a sub-culture of Generation X fashionistas and eco-conscious shoppers with a flair for fashions of the past and the current state of our planet. A peek into the closets of many of our parents and grandparents will surely produce similar treasure finds of this kind too, and for this purpose as well, our article is written.
There are many reasons why some people are attracted to vintage clothing, even past an unexplained connection to the look and feel of a garment or era. One of the top reasons second to that previously mentioned, is its value. Because many of the designs were custom-made and came in limited quantities, there is a worth placed on its uniqueness. Many of the fabrics were made of the finest robust dress fabrics and fashioned in such a way as to create a durability that would allow it to be passed on to succeeding generations, while the level of skill and detailing put into the garments was usually of superior craftsmanship, distinguishing it from a manufactured good of mass production. Curators of such creations know all too well the value of these vintage wares and are willing to pay a nice price to have them displayed in museums and galleries around the world. It is with this thought in mind that we at J&O Fabric Sto decided a list of the Top 10 vintage items that catch curators eyes most should be shared. If you are in possession of beautiful one of a kind vintage pieces that are still in good condition and you no longer wish to hold on to them, maybe this list might be of use to you.
Top 10 Vintage Items on Curators Lists
1. home sewn garments that are embroidered, crocheted or knitted by hand
2. couture gowns, suits or dresses by designer labels
3. anything famously worn by A-listed celebrities
4. uniforms of major league athletes
5. vintage undergarments
6. clothing with the label of a local dress shop or haberdashery
7. formal wear worn at a historic inauguration
8. specialty shoes
9. any garment that symbolizes a region or culture ( ie Native American moccasins)
10. items emblematic of an iconic era (1970’s ponchos, 1920’s flappers etc)
Nice blog post! I too am a collector and lover of vintage clothing, dresses to be exact. Over the past five years or so, I’ve snapped up a nice stash of 1950’s shirtwaist dresses ~ perfect for gawd-awful sweltering summer days! I’m obsessed and constantly on the prowl for more pretties:)