The price of "vintage" clothing

[Ms T]

I can't pass a vintage/second-hand shop without having a look. Recently I've noticed that the prices are a bit and not just in London.

For example, a "pop-up" shop has opened for a couple of weeks locally. I went in today and they had some quite nice stuff but the prices were incredible. £85 for cotton, fifties sundresses! When I enquired further she dropped the price to £50, but still. Last year I was getting similar stuff for £15-25.

Similar experience in Margate. Rows of crappy nylon stuff priced at £40-50, and the proper vintage stuff (50s and 60s) more like £80, and some of it in really bad condition with big rips in the fabric.

 

[Shirl]

Thing about 'vintage' is generally that no two items are the same so sellers can just ask whatever they want.There are places asking really high prices in my town but also places asking very low prices, it's daft (but annoying when what you want is priced stupidly bloody high)

I've got a Harris Tweed suit selling on ebay and a 1930/40's day dress but I reckon I won't get much for either of them. I paid £45 for the dress a few years ago and £60 for the suit but that was buying from a shop rather than eBay. There are still bargains to be had on ebay though.

As for shit crappy nylon stuff with rips in it, who do they think wants to wear that

 

[kittyP]

I think some people have just caught on that it's popular and rather than actually having a passion for the clothing are just trying to make a quick buck
What I mean is, they are not looking at it form the POV of what the item will mean to someone any why they will want it, just, 'people like old clothes, this will do'.
You can chuck any old stuff at people generally and they will by it but with vintage clothing, antiques etc, you have got to know your market better.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

40s and 50s fashion is back in fashion, so they can charge outrageously for it as the demand's there.

Wish I'd raided my nan's wardrobe when she'd died. I'd have made a fortune now!

 

[colacubes]

Cos I've been trying to buy vintage clothes for stage outfits recently, I've really noticed this as well. Even Barnardos in Brixton seems to have got more expensive.

If you do a really good search on ebay you can still find some bargains, but it's a bit of a risky one with vintage stuff (I've been lucky so far apart from 1 item that was a size smaller than advertised).

 

[editor]

For example, a "pop-up" shop has opened for a couple of weeks locally. I went in today and they had some quite nice stuff but the prices were incredible. £85 for cotton, fifties sundresses! When I enquired further she dropped the price to £50, but still. Last year I was getting similar stuff for £15-25.

That's sadly a reflection on the rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. Those shops only charge that much because Brixton arrivistes are happy to pay such over the odds prices.

Get up to somewhere bleak and untrendy like Gilfach Bargoed* and you'll have no problem tracking down cheap second hand vintage clobber.

(*I wouldn't actually recommend the trip)

 

[killer b]

According to vintage dealers I've spoken to, its getting increasingly difficult (and expensive) to source decent stuff. Add this to an increase in popularity in recent years, its no real surprise that costs have gone up while quality had fallen.

 

[wayward bob]

I've got a Harris Tweed suit selling on ebay and a 1930/40's day dress but I reckon I won't get much for either of them. I paid £45 for the dress a few years ago and £60 for the suit but that was buying from a shop rather than eBay.

size/link?

 

[wayward bob]

everything is getting more expensive. why are people surprised that a limited commodity in increasingly high demand is becoming proportionally more expensive?

 

[wayward bob]

thing is the tailoring etc. on *good* vintage is still miles ahead of the equivalently priced new stuff.

 

[Shirl]

size/link?

I'm rubbish at links but if you put in vintage harris tweed ladies jacket and skirt suit
and vintage day dress original 1940's that should find them. Size 10ish

 

[wayward bob]

i looooove the suit dress isn't really me but cute buttons

you have a new watcher

 

[wayward bob]

what makes you think it's 60s? the label? style is more 40s to my eye.

 

[Ms T]

That's sadly a reflection on the rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. Those shops only charge that much because Brixton arrivistes are happy to pay such over the odds prices.

Get up to somewhere bleak and untrendy like Gilfach Bargoed* and you'll have no problem tracking down cheap second hand vintage clobber.

(*I wouldn't actually recommend the trip)

It's actually in Herne Hill.

 

[Shirl]

what makes you think it's 60s? the label? style is more 40s to my eye.

I thought it looked 40's too but I bought it as 60's and didn't bother dating the label. I wore it with a 40's hat both times I wore It.

 

[Shirl]

i dress isn't really me but cute buttons

The dress isn't me either, I bought it because I needed it for a 50's themed party I hate bloody themed parties!

 

[editor]

It's actually in Herne Hill.

Well within the range of a single speed racer.

 

[wayward bob]

i'd add 40s? to your title shirl, might make it more visible? i'm really not an expert but it says 40s to me

 

[wayward bob]

buttons say 60s: do they look like they've been replaced?

 

[Ms T]

The dress isn't me either, I bought it because I needed it for a 50's themed party I hate bloody themed parties!

I really like the dress but it wouldn't fit me.

 

[wayward bob]

re: the dress: definitely original wartime from your description the blousy back and handsewn/bound gives it away. In which case it's in awesome nick and you should big up the brightness of the fabric some more in the listing. does it have fading/marks anywhere? if not it's in excellent condition and you should say so

 

[Shirl]

re: the dress: definitely original wartime from your description the blousy back and handsewn/bound gives it away. In which case it's in awesome nick and you should big up the brightness of the fabric some more in the listing. does it have fading/marks anywhere? if not it's in excellent condition and you should say so

I cant alter the listing now it's had a bid but you could ask me those questions on there

I'm as rubbish at eBay as I am at posting links

 

[Shirl]

I really like the dress but it wouldn't fit me.

Doesn't fit me properly either. To be honest though, although the colours are bright it made me feel dull when I wore it, it's a bit frumpy.

 

[wayward bob]

40s is often frumpy unless you choose very carefully. similar with skirt lengths on 50s - hemming to the knee works all kinds of wonders

 

[Ms T]

You really have to do the hair/make-up etc as well to make some of it look good. I find the length of 40s and 50s stuff perfect for me - new stuff is often too short.

 

[wayward bob]

the hair/makeup definitely makes it all less frumpy

 

[boohoo]

I can't pass a vintage/second-hand shop without having a look. Recently I've noticed that the prices are a bit and not just in London.

For example, a "pop-up" shop has opened for a couple of weeks locally. I went in today and they had some quite nice stuff but the prices were incredible. £85 for cotton, fifties sundresses! When I enquired further she dropped the price to £50, but still. Last year I was getting similar stuff for £15-25.

Similar experience in Margate. Rows of crappy nylon stuff priced at £40-50, and the proper vintage stuff (50s and 60s) more like £80, and some of it in really bad condition with big rips in the fabric.

Was told about 5 years ago by someone who worked at Beyond retro that stocks were getting low. Add to that the fact that a certain amount of 80s and 90s fashion is not that well made so hasn't hung around to create a new retro.

day time antiques programmes have also encouraged people to put value on their trash so where you might have found cheap treasures, you now pay more because something similar was on bargain hunt or the equivalent.

 

[trashpony]

I used to buy all my 50s dresses at jumble sales for 50p. New York was quite good for cheap stuff too but the price has rocketed in recent years. I don't mind paying a lot if it's in good nick but often it isn't.

I've sold/given away most of my stuff - it was all a size 10

 

[bluestreak]

it's been a decade since you could easily find bargains. it's a damn shame, cos i might be less inclined to dress like a sack of shite if i could afford some nice old design classics.

 

[boohoo]

I used to buy all my 50s dresses at jumble sales for 50p. New York was quite good for cheap stuff too but the price has rocketed in recent years. I don't mind paying a lot if it's in good nick but often it isn't.

I've sold/given away most of my stuff - it was all a size 10

Ah, I know the feeling - the 20p amazing dress, 10p sparkling gloves. I have kept some bits and pieces.