Page 5 : Issue June 9

About the Author: Kate Ng

Enjoys singing really loudly whenever there isn't anyone home, and tries to be a fashionista (often failing successfully). Second year Mass Communication student with a huge ego.

The Meaning of Vintage......It's more than just your grandmother's blouse

There has been a lot of debate lately about what "vintage" really means. Wiki says that the term "vintage clothing" means "a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era (ie. A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic) ". In dictionaries, "vintage" usually refers to wines and denotes wines of high quality. In the same way, vintage clothing refers to clothing from a different era that are of good quality.

These days, however, people think "vintage" means something else. Visit any bazaar and you'll find people selling racks of second hand clothes that are barely 5 years old with a big sign that says "Vintage Clothing!" Some of the items for sale under that "vintage" title aren't even pre-owned or old, they just look like they're from a different century. Calf-length dresses with Peter Pan collars, tie-dye crop tops, acid wash jeans ripped at the knees, jewellery the color of rust and Doc Marten look-a-likes. Do these styles sound familiar? They're all currently making a comeback, and are being marketed as typically vintage.

There is quite a big of difference between the real meaning of vintage, and what most people think vintage is. Just because something looks "old" doesn't mean it's vintage. Purists would probably scoff at the lack of knowledge most people have about what is truly vintage.

There are ways to tell if something is vintage or not. If the item has been pre-owned for more than a generation (about 30 years) and is still in good condition to be worn or used, then it is a vintage item. People place more value in vintage branded clothing, which are usually made to be passed down from generation to generation. If your grandmother offers to give you her vintage 50-year old Chanel blouse or bag, I suggest you accept it with open arms and a huge thank you.

A lot of the young and the stylish these days seem to like looking as though they've stepped right out of the 60's or 70's. Many celebrities have gotten into the trend as well. As a matter of fact, some celebrities have been into vintage fashion for quite some time now, even before the trend started to pick up speed on the streets. Models such as Kate Moss and Agyness Deyn are particularly well-known for making this trend popular, as are other celebrities like Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung.

Fashion is a lot like karma, where what goes around comes around. It seems to have come full circle right back to a time before our own. Instead of wearing "futuristic" fashion (shiny materials and looks from a Black Eyed Peas video come to mind when I think of "futuristic" fashion), the youth are now looking to our parents' time for inspiration. Embrace the trend; it's a lot of fun looking for pieces that no one's seen before and dressing up like your mother when she was a teenager can be really interesting and inspiring!