Antique, vintage and retro art: do you know the differences?
People use words 'antique', 'vintage' and 'retro' to describe old fashion, furniture, decoration or any other old objects which still are beautiful nowadays. Nonetheless, few know the difference regarding the real definition of those terms. Be modern and get to know it!
Antique, vintage, and retro are words used to describe different time perspectives, but they overlap each other in terms of practical usage or personal opinion
Actually, those three terms are just about the same, whether we figure that old is old, regardless of the date they were made. In other words, they are trends, customs, fashions, or attitudes from the past.
A little explanation in order to put the terms in the right place:
Antique: before the 1920s
Probably the objects must be musty, dusty, and moldy i.e. an item has to be at least 100 years old to be defined as an antique. The term "antique" comes from the Latin: antiquus; “old”, i.e. old collectible items. Generally, they are desirable because of their age, beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection.
Vintage: from the 1920s to early 1980s
Vintage clothing must be from the golden era of fashion and commonly associated with wine and secondhand clothing. Materials and producers in making vintage clothing are old. It usually refers to the age, construction, pattern, or style. Anything less than a quarter of a century-old is not considered vintage.
Retro: from the 1960s and 1970s
Retro is different from a vintage label with respect to appearances and material. Retro clothing has an updated and more polished look. It means that retro clothes are made with an old-style or design but with new or contemporary materials. Retro is mostly borrowed, reproduced or imitated designs. For example, sleek full-length bias-cut silk gowns were popular in the 30s.In short, by calling a piece “retro,” the seller hopes to assign sentimental or historical value to something that is simply no longer cool.
This vibe is not different in the fashion world! As a matter of fact, stylists love to relive past times with their new collections!
The so-called fashion "French retro", has shown up in the 1970s. Fancy French costumes were shown on cult movies and they spread out all over the world!
Therefore, famous brands started copying the clothes from that charming era, when the trend was the French "super-elegant" fashion!
Retro collections have become a trend!
Cars
Old cars even with their technological aspects of modernity are attractive to anyone who digs old stuff!. Retro styling done right in the automotive world can result in a car that buyers instantly feel drawn to because they remember the original from their childhood. A great call!
Fashion
The style consisting of wearing old clothes. This may also include, secondhand or recycled clothes and garments of different eras. Ex: leather handbags from the 1950s, "bell mouth" or Pantalone pants, butterfly glasses, Panama hats, Adidas Classics sneakers, mocassin shoes, short ties, chiffon scarves, etc.
Makeup
Women's retro fashion focuses more on the eyes (false eyelashes) and red lipstick. Hairstyles such as those in style, Pompadours, ponytails, and ducktails adopted by movie stars of the 40s and 50s.
Erotic
Tanning by photographic styles, such as pinups, or erotic pics of movie stars, from the 70s or earlier. Sexy photos, fashion lingerie in pastel shades, such as lingerie fashion, bras, and straps-alloy. Hairstyles with brass in women or Juvenia Quina Oil, for men.
Photography
Aged photos, in pastel tone, with touches, to give an air of old. Fancy old cameras, despite cell phone cameras, are still a good trend to practice photography.
Sports Wear
Sports uniforms of the 70s and 80s have become fashionable, mainly form companies that no longer exist. Uniforms of football, baseball, and other sports teams. Sailor uniforms - so famous in the past - are also a trend.
Music
The classic 78 RPM vinyl Long Play (LP) discs are from the 20s or 30s were played in fancy victrolas or Electrola! Spectacular!
Furniture
It's always "trés chic" to furnishing the house with curvy furniture, from the 50s, such as the English armchairs. There are other old pieces that adorn and value any vintage or retro décor!
Antique collectors may be able to distinguish "nostalgia" from "melancholy!
The terms Nostalgia and Melancholy are often used interchangeably since they share several similar features. However, their essence are quite different.
The main difference between melancholy and nostalgia is that melancholy refers to a gloomy state of mind whereas nostalgia refers to a longing for or remembering the past.
In other words, a retro or vintage piece must be an oldie. So forget the feelings impregnated on them!