Never before has vintage clothing for men been so popular. But why are so many stylish men supplementing – in fact sometimes entirely replacing – new fashion purchases with vintage fashion gems from decades gone by?
In this article we take a closer look at the current buzz over vintage clothing for men; digging through the racks and the bargain bins to find out why the old is suddenly new again. Along the way we’ll identify a few of the latest trends in vintage clothing that are turning heads in fashion capitals around the world, and recommend some of the best places to find quality vintage menswear.
This article is for men who are interested in dressing well, and who likely already spend a significant portion of their income on clothes, but who perhaps haven’t previously considered buying vintage clothing as an alternative to new designer items. Does that sound like you? Step right this way, sir!
Why Vintage Clothing?
Why is vintage fashion for men so popular right now?
Well, for a start, vintage clothes have been popular with women for a few years already. Particularly among Millennials. Meanwhile, men are getting more style conscious. So now they, too, want a piece of the vintage action.
Today’s vintage clothing for men doesn’t mean ugly and outdated styles, though. In fact vintage clothes can be at the cutting edge of fashion. It all depends on how you choose and style your vintage pieces.
Vintage clothing is a great way to shop for clothing and accessories and can be a fun and fashionable way to mix up your wardrobe. If you are looking for a new outfit without spending a lot, vintage clothing is a must. To be sure, vintage fashion is a lot more affordable than buying new designer clothes
Another reason for buying vintage menswear, rather than new items, is that old clothes tend to be better made than modern ones. Today even many so-called “luxury” designer brands often cut corners to increase profits, leading to inferior quality clothing. But in the past, clothes were usually made to last.
It’s also worth considering that many modern high fashion brands such as Gucci, Celine etc. have referenced vintage styles in their recent collections. This means that many stylish new clothes look a lot like old clothes. So why not just seek out the original instead of buying a more expensive imitation?
Finally, part of the appeal of buying vintage is simply that it is fun, and dressing in vintage can be very creative. Vintage clothing means items that have been out of style for decades, and sometimes these can be hard to find. In fact, for many wearer’s of vintage clothing, the “hunt” is a big part of the appeal.
With new mass-produced clothes there is a high risk that you will end up dressing in the same items as other people you meet. But vintage clothes are usually rare and unique pieces that nobody else will have. Whether it’s a t-shirt from the 1980s or a blazer from the 1950s, vintage clothing is a great way to turn heads. For this reason vintage fashion is good for men who have a strong personality and/or who want to stand out. Leaders, not sheep.
How to Find Vintage Men’s Clothing?
Stylish vintage clothing for men can be purchased from a variety of sources. Traditionally the easiest place to find vintage menswear was in dedicated brick and mortar vintage clothing stores. But today’s stylish gents have a lot more options to choose from.
In fact there are many popular apps and websites for buying and selling vintage clothing for men. E.g. eBay, Etsy, Depop, Vinted, Mercari, or even directly on social media platforms such as Instagram. For a guide to some great places to buy stylish used menswear right now, check out this article reviewing the best Instagram accounts selling vintage fashion for men.
Which Vintage Clothing is Best?
It has been said that the best vintage clothing is from the 1970s. Men’s clothes from the 1970s had a special style to them, as they were more casual, and often had a certain flare that was unique to that decade. Unlike many of today’s fast fashion items, these men’s clothing pieces were made from high-quality fabrics and designed to last a lifetime.
Remember all the fabrics of the 1970s? These included plaids, madras, and velvet, which are also popular choices for the modern man. Today, you can find vintage clothing for men that is still in good condition and can be an option for any style-conscious man. Plus, you don't have to spend a fortune when you find vintage clothing today.
Having said this, some of the very best vintage clothing for men dates from even earlier than the 1970s. Indeed, when it comes to smart tailored items, the craftsmanship of clothing from the first half of the the 20th Century is usually unbeatable. This was a time before widespread use of industrial manufacturing processes in the fashion industry. And most clothes were still handmade, making for much higher quality garments.
If you can find a suit or a shirt from back in the 1940s or ‘50s for example, it will probably be of way superior quality to most luxury fashion items available today. Think about it, if a piece of clothing has survived 70 or 80 years and is still wearable, it’s likely to still be wearable in another 10 years, too – at least if you look after it carefully.
Of course, vintage clothing that is this old is quite rare, and as a result highly sought after. So you can expect to pay quite a high price for such desirable items.
How to Style Vintage Men’s Clothing?
Buying vintage clothing for men is an affordable way to get classic wardrobe staples. There are many ways to style vintage men’s clothing. If you want to go with a classic look, go with a suit and tie. You can wear a suit and tie with a tee shirt and jeans. If you go with a more casual look, go with a button down shirt with jeans. If you want to wear a vintage shirt with a suit or jeans, make sure the shirt has a slim fit. If you want to make a statement, go with a print shirt.
What Vintage Men’s Clothing is Trending?
Trends in vintage men’s clothing are always changing. However, there are certain trends that have always been in fashion. A good rule of thumb is to buy men’s clothing that’s trending or in style. By understanding what’s trending, you will be able to purchase clothes that your man will be comfortable in for years to come. There is no one way to know what’s trending in men’s clothing. Some trends are easy to pick up on, but others require a little more digging. When you know what’s trending, you can start thinking about what to purchase. The best way to find out what’s trending is to have your eyes on what’s trending on social media. Keep your eyes open for what’s trending on social media, because it will give you a good idea of what’s trending in men’s clothing.
Vintage Clothing for Men: The Pros and Cons
There are some pros and cons to buying vintage men's clothing. First, buying vintage is a great way to get a great deal on clothes. This is because the clothing is no longer in production and the clothes are more likely to be worn than the latest model of a clothing item.
Another great thing about vintage men's clothing is that the clothing is out of the mainstream trends. They may have been popular in the past, but now they are not. This can give you a different sense of fashion. The cons of buying vintage men's clothing are that it may have been used, and if you buy it, you may have to spend time restoring it. This can leave you with a large price tag.
If you’re looking for vintage men’s clothing, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First, you need to make sure that the clothing is in good condition. It should not be torn or ripped. Second, make sure that the clothing has the desired look that you are going for. Make sure that it has the right color and fit.
Fast Fashion vs. Vintage Fashion
Fast fashion is a term that is often used to describe new designs, new ways of manufacturing, and new fabrics that are introduced to the market at a quick pace. It is a term that is used to describe a new style of fashion that is introduced on the market in record time. But in order to achieve such fast production times and minimize costs while maximizing profit, fast fashion is usually badly made and will often wear out after being worn just a few times.
In contrast, vintage fashion is a term that is often used to describe clothing that is older than twenty years old. The big difference between fast fashion and vintage fashion is that, in vintage fashion, the designs are often still stylish, but no longer on trend. It is a term that is often used as a description for clothing that is meant to have a long-lasting appeal.
What’s more, today people are more aware of the environmental issues of fast fashion. In fact, you might have heard that the fashion sector is one of the most polluting and socially damaging industries in the world. Every new item of clothing that is produced adds to this social and environmental damage. Meanwhile, every day millions of items of perfectly good clothing are put in the trash.
In short, wearing used clothing is more sustainable. Clearly then, it makes sense to reuse as many of these existing items of clothing as possible.
Vintage Clothing for Men: Conclusions
When you buy second hand clothes for men, you can find great deals that you would not be able to find anywhere else. By opting to purchase vintage clothing for men instead of the latest styles from contemporary luxury designers, you’ll be able to buy designer styles at a fraction of the cost of new clothes, while also helping the environment.
However when you buy vintage clothing, you want to make sure that you know what you are doing. You should know what you are looking for and what your budget is. You should know what the quality of the clothes is like. You should be able to find out what the condition of the clothes is like. You should be able to find out the size and measurements of the clothes. This means purchasing vintage clothing for men only from reputable dealers.
We hope that by reading this article you will now be fully equipped to seek out some stylish vintage men’s clothing for yourself. Happy hunting!
