Certain fashion trends—corsets, showy jackets, etc.—naturally arose from booth to booth as antique clothing became more and more fashionable. Nevertheless, every merchant emphasised the value of purchasing in accordance with one’s particular style as opposed to following what is popular on TikTok’s #ArchiveFashion.
“If you look at the community here at the Manhattan Vintage Show, you’ll see people selling from all decades and styles, and everyone is thriving in their particular niche!” exclaims Greg Urra of Vintage Black Label.
Nevertheless, if you’re unsure of where to begin your vintage shopping expedition, here are nine trends that are now in style, according to merchants at the Manhattan Vintage Show.
Nightgowns
Bias-cut dresses, silks, and eveningwear were the highlights of the cotton candy-colored paradise of girlie, flirtatious, frilly clothing at Toots Vintage. Notably, the proprietor of the store, Michael Phillips, views the trend as being nightgowns from the 1930s and 1940s: “That’s what I always want to have wherever I go.”
Because “that period is so hot… Think: Courtney Love and other grunge-style girls wearing elements of lingerie as eveningwear,” the store has just begun adding similar pieces from the ’90s and early ’00s to the mix.
90s Casual
According to Danielle Coleman of Sisters Vintage, vintage trends follow the same 30-year cycles as runway fashion, which explains why ’90s fashion is so hot right now.
“When I was a teenager, I was pulling from the ’70s, and my mom couldn’t believe I was wearing those sailor bell bottoms, just like she wore to school every day,” the author recalls. “Now that my oldest daughter is almost 14 years old, I see her wearing a vintage Nirvana T-shirt, ripped jeans, and Converse high-tops — that’s what’s popular ‘in vintage’ for her — and I remember wearing the same things in the 1990s.”
2000s Designers
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Y2K designers are huge right now, claims Smith. Customers particularly want Comme des Garçons and John Galliano from the 2000s. Smith claims that this method of manufacturing is no longer available. Even with contemporary designer pieces, there is still a degree of artistry and fabrication present in items manufactured in the 2000s, including 100% silks, cottons, wools, and other rich, opulent textile.
Sheer fashion
Alessandra Canario from Ally Bird Vintage, who has been going to Manhattan Vintage since she was 12 years old, says that the biggest trend she’s seen lately is sheer garments and people “having fun with layering sheer of all kinds.”
Almost any transparent garment can be used to create the appearance, from 1950s nylon blouses to Victorian-era gossamer dresses—Alessandra says the latter are especially well-liked in her store. She has also seen sheer layering with 1930s and 1940s chiffon dresses, ’70s and ’80s mesh shirts, and ’30s nightgowns and peignoirs.
Chain belts
Chain belts are the item that should be on everyone’s vintage shopping list, according to Greg Urra, the owner of Vintage Black Label, known for its costume jewellery including clip-on earrings from the ’70s and ’80s. They can be worn in a variety of ways, including “layered as necklaces, chains, or belts, and they can all hang and drape in many ways.”
Plus, they can be adjusted to fit any body shape, he continues. Depending on the fit and appearance you choose, you may wear them on your hips or your waist.
Statement coats
According to Lexie Griffith of Lexie Butterfly Vintage, a company that specialises in vintage items from the 1960s and 1970s, tapestry jackets are currently in style. She claims that customers are especially drawn to the “Penny Lane style,” which includes clothing with fur on the collars, hems, and cuffs. People are starting to realise that the coat is actually the ensemble, so you may as well wear a really unique coat since that’s what everyone will notice, claims Lexie.
In light of this, over the weekend, Lexie selected a gorgeous 1960s Country Pacer purple and black floral tapestry coat for sale from her own collection: “It seems to be the coat of the moment.” The coat also included vibrant purple fur around the hem and cuffs.
Menswear-Inspired Silhouettes
As seen in the most recent Miu Miu or Gucci collection, Sheryl Roberts of Indigo Style Vintage has seen a proliferation of oversized items purchased this season, notably jackets with a masculine influence, worn over printed midi dresses and loafers or brogues and socks: “Even though it’s just a vintage-inspired trend, they’ve made that kind of styling popular.”
Roberts has also observed a trend among her clientele towards “dad jeans.” “They’re wearing the jeans like they have a paper bag waist, and they’re really cinching it in with a belt,” she observes.
Leather Jackets
According to Michelle Radow, owner of Allegra Vintij, there has been a significant increase in demand for leather jackets, both in the ’80s bomber silhouette and the ’60s/’70s blazer-like shapes with lapels and belted waists. “Any colour: white, orange, red, green, tan, brown, black — they’re all amazing,” she claims.
The Deals on Designers’ Paige Wilkins and Mariya Korotko concur that patent leather is really popular right now.
