Last year, the fashion industry noted an interesting if not all-that-uncommon detail: vintage clothing was widely embraced. Even the Met Gala was vintage-themed. Elsewhere in culture in the past few years, the general craving seemed to be a return to nostalgic comfort food in the wake of the COVID pandemic. We saw reunion get-togethers (one would hardly call them “shows”) of hit TV programs from the ’90s. The past few years have seen an older Frasier Crane and even another Night Court, despite much of the cast having passed away. The call for nostalgia has even reached the world of luxury, with vintage products that transcend both time and trend.
The Appeal of Vintage Luxury
Some items just never go out of style. It really is as simple as that. Our fondness for classics like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is not only due to its literary merit but something more superficial: the excesses and styles of the Jazz Age are endlessly appealing. So, too, are the suit-and-fedora fashions of the 50s and 60s popularized on Mad Men. There was particular artistry to the handcrafted and tailored clothing – and because they were stitched together from the finest threads, they’ve lasted longer. While vintage replica lines like The House of Foxy and Lady V London specialize in bringing back the styles of the past, there are still ways of getting the real deal.
There are other factors than just the stylistic benefits of vintage luxury. Particularly in Canada, Gen Z is more likely to buy sustainably. Climate change ranks the highest among Gen Z’s concerns, and news that the American fashion industry discards more than 34 billion pounds of textiles each year, thanks in large to fast fashion, was not taken lightly. Not only do the vintage products last longer, they require no new materials to produce. Comfort has also made vintage more favourable. While there’s no rule that says you have to be uncomfortable to look stylish, the natural fibers in older clothing are generally less constrictive than newer material.
Thrifting has become a favourite resource for quality fabrics, leading to some chains, such as Renaissance, to open pricier boutique outlets. (This has led to a bit of a rift in the thrifting community, some of whom consider the gentrification of the pastime uncouth.)
Beyond lucking out at the thrift shop, though, high-end retailers are putting used, vintage clothing at the fore. What Goes Around Comes Around, a used luxury-vintage clothing retailer since 1993, opened an ambitious new Beverly Hills location in 2016.
Social media, too, has helped to alter trends in fashion, with an emphasis on thrift. Influencers on YouTube and TikTok turned their passion for vintage clothing into entire internet personas. Vintage clothing also tells a story–it comes from a di- event time and was worn by other people, perhaps during world-changing events. @mamalovesyouvintage, a Toronto-based boutique run by a mother and daughter, takes its 23,000 followers through 20th century fashion history.
Vintage Items
Vintage luxury, of course, goes well beyond clothing. As the Instagram and TikTok accounts suggest, part of the allure involves completing the lifestyle, at least on the exterior. If one were to truly be a man of the late 60s, for instance, this ensemble would include a timepiece.
Before phones and other devices became more convenient, watches were a status symbol, and vintage watches suggest a certain level of sophistication. The level of detail only spoke to the horologist’s skill.
One need only look to an icon of the era: Paul Newman, the race car enthusiast actor and cohort of “King of Cool”, Steve McQueen. Newman’s own watch, a gorgeous Rolex Cosmography Daytona, sold for $17.8 million at auction.
The look, however, is never complete without the car. While the new Stealth Wealth generation may prefer a more discretionary vehicle, someone aiming for vintage luxury with money to spare might go for a 1961 Jaguar E-Type, or what Enzo Ferrari once called the “most beautiful car in the world”. Restoring such a vehicle requires a particular passion for automobiles, but blended with a love for the era and financial resources, it can be an incredibly satisfying if demanding, hobby.
Fast fashion trends fall out of style quickly. Beyond the shallow aspects of vintage luxury, there is at the heart of the movement a genuine appreciation for finely crafted products.
It’s also worth keeping your vintage luxury materials well-kept, as they will only appreciate in value.
Kenny Hedges | Contributing Writer
