When Labels are a Good Thing

When it comes to labels on vintage, sometimes I say “Don’t get me started”. That's a sort of warning, because I LIKE to get started on this subject (and probably keep going for a few days).

Labels are one of many ways that help you identify vintage. 

I have already given you the link to the label resource on the Vintage Fashion Guild, but don’t limit yourself to that.  There are ways to look at labels

First, labels are becoming a thing of the past.  More and more modern-day clothing is “tagless”, especially lingerie.  The manufacturer is now being printed on the inside of the garment, instead of putting labels in (a lot of us more sensitive types tear them out anyway, because they can be irritating).  SO, if you have a garment in your hand that is being touted as vintage and if it has screened-on logo, beware!  Not vintage.  These tagless pieces started in the early 2000’s.

So I went into a retail store and took photos of really modern-day labels.

This is what they look like:

Some have satin labels with fabric information and you will see that the font is very clear.  It is also printed onto the satin in a different method than vintage labels.

Talking Tyvek

Tyvek is a type of paper that is composition and it cannot be torn.  Older Tyvek labels were put in garment with fabric I.D. information, size and RN numbers as well as other information.  Tyvek in garments started it the late 60’s/early 70’s.  The older Tyvek is rough, with somewhat faded printing like this:

From sometime in the 80’s to recent day, Tyvek is whiter, thinner and very smooth, and the printing is very clear, like what's under the Liz Claiborne label above.

Earlier labels looked more like these:

a 1940's label:

A 1950's label:

A mid-to-late 1960's label:

A 1980s label (confirmed by the Chaus company):

So now you have a start.  Whether you buy vintage or sell it, these are important things to remember. 

But really?

File this under:
“BUYER BEWARE!” 

There are too many “vintage clothing”-sellers out there that do not know vintage.  Your first “head’s up” should be a lack of a decade in the listing.  Worse is when they say “50's or 60's, I’m not sure”.  Don’t buy it.  There are ways of pin-pointing a decade and if a seller isn’t sure, the item should not be listed.  Never take a seller’s word for anything.  Make sure you have all necessary information and if it’s not there ASK FOR IT!

This is exhausting….

I’ll be back.....