Vintage and second-hand are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences between the two. Something second-hand is certainly not automatically vintage. And vice versa, although most vintage items have already had an owner and are therefore also called second-hand.
What is vintage?
Vintage refers to items that are at least 20 years old and have some historical or aesthetic value. As a rule, this often concerns clothing, accessories and furniture that were made between 1920 and 1980. Vintage items are often unique and often have a higher price than second-hand items because of their historical value, quality and the time it took to make them. to make. Vintage clothing is now also available from the 2000s and 90s. These are often referred to as Y2K style, or nineties. It's strange to realize that the things we thirty-somethings wore as children are already really vintage!
A good example of nineties and Y2K style are of course the Spice Girls.. Boy, did they influence us, because everyone wanted an Adidas tracksuit or belly buttons and thick platform soles.
What is Second Hand?
Second-hand, on the other hand, refers to items that belonged to someone else, but are not necessarily old or unique. Second-hand items can be of any age, but they don't always have to be used, they can also be new.
An important difference between vintage and second-hand is often the quality. Vintage items are often of high quality and are usually made of sustainable materials. Second hand items can be of varying quality depending on how often they have been used and how well they have been maintained.
Another difference is availability. Vintage items are often harder to find than pre-owned items because they are older and more unique. However, second-hand items are often easier to find because they are sold more often.
Yet another difference is the price. Vintage items are often more expensive than pre-owned items because of their historical value and the time it took to make them.
Is vintage or second-hand clothing of better quality?
If you are looking for unique, historical items with high quality and unusual designs, vintage is the best choice. Unfortunately, vintage items often run smaller and you will often have to go to the men's department with a larger size. Finding real plus size vintage women's fashion is very difficult! Another disadvantage is that many vintage blouses excel in synthetic fabrics. That is of course much less pleasant to wear, so make sure that it contains cotton, silk or viscose, for example. These are fabrics that breathe sufficiently!
If you like cheap fashion that is also of good quality, second-hand designer clothing is a very good option. Especially if you like both quality items and 'modern' styles, second-hand clothing from high-end brands is the best choice. Because then you have an item that is very beautifully made and lasts a long time, but that fits in with the image of this time.
Short addition
In general, vintage and second-hand clothing are two different names for used items, but they have very different characteristics and differ in quality, availability and price. Nowadays there are countless (web) shops that specialize in vintage clothing and accessories.
Don't be tempted too quickly by a store with 'vintage' in the name, because many second-hand clothing stores actually use that term incorrectly. The word 'vintage' is used because it sounds nice or because it covers the load of second-hand items, but you can't actually use it for clothing or other items that are less than 20 years old!
