So what’s the difference between retro, vintage, antique (and vintage reproduction, pinup, and rockabilly since we’re at it)?
These terms are nuanced but important to understand if you’re interested in vintage style because the meaning of the words do matter!
Here it is, the one most important key to understanding the difference: Age.
Essentially, the year that something was made will define the difference between retro, vintage, and antique. Let’s take a deep dive into these terms because its really important for understanding design elements and styles of specific eras, as well as determining whether or not something you buy is true vintage.
Let’s work backwards:
- Antique: Something that is at least 100 years old. If an item is between the ages of 20-99 years old, it’s considered vintage, but anything over that is considered antique.
- Vintage: An item that is at least 20 years old. To be considered an actual, true vintage item it must have been made at least 20 years ago. Sometimes people use the term “true vintage” to distinguish it as such. As it’s 2021, things from the 1990s can actually be defined as vintage (which is really shocking considering I remember the 90s and I’m too young to be vintage!).
- Retro: “Imitative of a style or fashion from the recent past” (google dictionary). “Retro” indicates that something is new and made to imitate something in the past. This term is often used when someone emulates a look or style of years past but the era isn’t necessarily definable. From my very official instagram research it also seems that if someone imitates a 60s, 70s, or 80s style the kids these days deem this as retro.
Here are some other useful subcategories of “Retro”:
- Vintage Inspired: This is basically another term for retro and can be used interchangeably. However, its a bit more nuanced and used more to specifically indicate that vintage style and fashion of a certain era is being imitated. Whereas “retro” encompasses anything that feels like the past, “vintage inspired” is used by vintage fashion or design enthusiasts to indicate they were trying to imitate a certain era but are not necessarily wearing true vintage.
- Vintage reproduction: Items that are made to replicate the style of a certain era, including very specific style and design features. Whereas “retro” refers to the concept of something imitating the past, “vintage reproduction” means that something from the past was intentionally recreated and replicated.
To follow this rabbit trail even deeper, there are a few more terms to discuss:
- Pinup: The term pinup refers to a genre of modeling that gained popularity in the 1940s, had a resurgence in the 1950s, and is still popular today. Models, historically female, were photographed and the images printed on large posters and used in advertising and calendars. In World War II the posters were distributed to soldiers to boost morale, and these soldiers “pinned up” the posters. Aircraft crewmen painted these pinup girls on the side of their planes for good luck. For this reason pinup will always be associated with the 1940s and the WWII era. This style of modeling had a resurgence in the 1950s with the rise of Bettie Paige and remains popular with vintage fashion enthusiasts today. Other terms associated with it are “cheesecake” or even burlesque (which is an artistic style of exotic dancing which pays homage to the 1930s through the 1960s). Pinup style is often associated with modern vintage inspired clothing, such as bright colors, circle skirts, polka dots and bold patterns. The modern pinup look is most heavily inspired by the 1950s. That was just a very brief history of pinup. If you want a deep dive, here’s an excellent article on ArtNet that goes into depth about the long history of the art of pin up.
- Rockabilly: This word specifically refers to Rockabilly music and the style of its fans, who dress inspired by the 1950s and modern pinup look, but with a punk rock twist. Though to be fair, I think Rockabilly music and style came first, so modern pinup style is actually inspired by Rockabilly. Male identifying individuals who dress in this style have slicked back hair with a pompadour, dark wash blue jeans with large rolled up cuffs, Chucks (Converse All Stars), and a button down shirt. Female identifying rockabellas dress in similar blue jeans and Chucks, victory roll hairdos, hair scarves, and bold motifs like sugar skulls.
So now that you know these terms, I want to point out that there’s no right or wrong way to show your love for vintage. If you’re participating in an era specific event like a WWII reenactment then of course you want to dress as era appropriate as possible. But for everyday, fashion and style is a personal choice and form of self expression.
*If you want some tips on incorporating vintage style into your everyday life, click here.
I believe that fashion is a communication tool. You present to others a version of yourself that you want to be known: your personality, your passions, your interests. You get to decide how you use that communication tool however you dress and present yourself, it is totally up to you. Whether you dress in modern pinup style wearing clothes purchased on amazon or wearing head to toe true vintage purchased from a small local retailer, there’s no right or wrong way to show your love for vintage style (love of the past or style that is at least 20 years old) and communicate that to the world.
If you found this helpful I’d love to know, please comment below!
Shine your light bright!