Vintage, secondhand, retro and antique
These words get used loosely on tags, but the differences land directly on the price. Knowing what you're buying is the simplest way to avoid overpaying.
Secondhand is about ownership, not age
Secondhand means anything that belonged to someone before — last season's jacket qualifies. It makes no claim about age, so on its own it isn't a label that raises the price.
Vintage is an age band, retro is a style
By common agreement, vintage covers pieces older than roughly twenty years but under a hundred; past a hundred it's antique. Retro says nothing about age: it's new production imitating the look of an older era. Which is why a 'retro vintage' tag contradicts itself.
Condition and rarity price a garment, not age
An ordinary shirt from the 70s can be worth less than a 90s sports jacket in great shape. Three things set the value: condition, whether the era or brand is in demand, and how common the size is. Very small and very large sizes tend to sit on the rail longest.
| Term | Meaning | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Secondhand | Previously owned | Any |
| Vintage | Old piece typical of its era | Roughly 20-100 years |
| Antique | Of collectable value | 100 years or more |
| Retro | New production, old look | New |
| Deadstock | Unused old stock | Old but unworn |
Frequently asked questions
Are Y2K pieces vintage now?
The early 2000s have passed the twenty-year mark, so by the common definition they've started to count. The market stretches the definition according to demand.
What does deadstock mean?
Stock that never sold when it was made and was never worn. Because it's original and unused, it costs noticeably more than a worn piece of the same age.
Should I trust a tag that says vintage?
A tag is a sales pitch. To verify age, look at the care symbols on the inner label, the country of manufacture and the era of the brand's logo.
Why can retro sometimes cost more than vintage?
Retro is new production, so it comes in mint condition, sizes are easy to find, and demand can spike if the label is a current collaboration. Vintage varies far more in condition and rarity — an ordinary vintage piece can end up cheaper than a limited-run retro collection.
Does a reproduction piece count as vintage?
No — a reproduction is a modern remake of an old design, and it carries neither the rarity nor the original-era craftsmanship of true vintage. Look for "reprint" or "reissue" on the tag, or a manufacturing date that's suspiciously recent.
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