It seems as if everyone today is wearing vintage clothing. Men and women clamor to put together the most innovative and eclectic styles and label it as “vintage.” Celebrities, when asked what their favorite stores are, all claim to shop in vintage stores. Famous designers like Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson now specialize in new clothing with vintage influences. But ask someone to explain what vintage clothing is, and you receive a variety of answers. Some say it is clothing from the 1940s and 50s, some say it can be any apparel from as late as the 80s, and other say it is anything not of the current seasons. Others stumble to find a description. Therefore, the question remains… what exactly is vintage clothing?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “vintage” as something (1) “of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality” or (2) “the best and most characteristic.” So how does this apply to clothing? Kelly Markiewicz, designer of Kween Clothing, clarifies that vintage clothing is simply any article of clothing with “some sort of value, whether it is a unique piece, something that is one of a kind, or just a plain old/historic garment.” It is clothing or a style of clothing that is recycled and becomes timeless. Just like a bottle of wine, vintage clothing only gets better and more unique with time.

Distinct from the antique style, vintage clothing is generally considered to be anything from the 1920s to the 1970s, but its history lies even deeper in the past. The vintage style has existed almost as long as fashion has existed. According to research that Markiewicz has done, vintage clothing can be traced back to when Queen Victoria took the throne in England in the 1830s. It was at this time that mutton sleeves became popular. More than sixty years later, they began to resurface in fashion. The same follows with furs and laces, both which can be traced to the 1800s as well. This only began the trend. Flapper dresses, corsets, almost any item of clothing from any decade resurges in a later decade. Just think back to the 1990s and early 2000. At one point we saw a revival of the 1970s style of bell-bottoms and platforms. Later, we saw the grunge phase of the 1980s return. More recently, we see corsets and flapper dresses on red carpets and in store windows. As Markiewicz puts it, “Recycling fashions has recycled as a trend itself.” It can be a dapper suit you found at a thrift shop, a Victorian style dress that you inherited from your grandma, or even a new piece that you purchased with 1920s influences; vintage clothing is any item that has history, class, and uniqueness. Vintage is value. And it is not limited to old, pass-me-downs or cheap thrift shops. Recently, many famous designers have been inspired by vintage apparel, making designers vintage clothing, creating an even larger market for this style of clothing.

The designer vintage clothing market is bustling. Popular shopping areas such as Melrose in Hollywood and SoHo in New York are filling up with vintage boutiques. New designers are scurrying to find a place in this market. Kelly Markiewicz is one of them. Inspired by the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, teenagers of the 80’s, Betty Page, the color pink, and essentially anything that makes girls feel sexy, Markiewicz started Kween Clothing just eight months ago. Raised in her family’s own vintage clothing store, she has always carried a passion and affinity for the style. She recognized the high demand for vintage styles, but realized that supply was too low. “I always have felt that the vintage pieces I loved so much seemed to be, if at all available, so hard to find, therefore I knew something had to be done. So now I am using my talents to create a one-of-a-kind, vintage-influenced clothing.” This drive and motivation instilled within her drives her to succeed. Kween Clothing has thus far received excellent feedback and has already been picked up by the famous L.A. boutique Apartment-3. The market is more competitive than ever and as this trend continues to find success, more and more designers will catch on to vintage inspired clothing, making the market even more competitive.

In a sense, it is of no wonder that vintage clothing has become fashionable and popular. In this era of mass-produced consumption propelled by companies like Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, people strive to be individuals, searching to find their own sense of style instead of one that has been pre-determined for them by the executives of greedy corporations. We all yearn to find a way to distinguish ourselves from others and to escape the monotonous routine that mass society has created. Vintage clothing opens those doors. With such an abstract definition and blurry borders, vintage clothing can be anything you want it to be, allowing you to make your own identity. It is clothing that makes you unique, that lets you stand out. Most importantly, it is clothing that is entirely yours. No one can impersonate your style because only you can pull it off. Whether you have the riches to spend on designer vintage clothing or can simply dig through your closet or even your grandma’s closet to find those lost quality pieces, vintage clothing is for anyone who wants to embrace it. So go find those old bell-bottoms, pull out that old Clash t-shirt, strap on those 4-inch platforms, shimmy on the flapper dress, and make yourself stand out. Redefine yourself.