Retro, Vintage, or Kitsch?

There are a few fashion terms that are being used interchangeably that need a better definition before we can decide whether we have more than one fashion trend. I like to use Dictionary.com for definitions, so each of the following definitions comes from there.

Retro

of or designating the style of an earlier time: retro clothes .

Vintage

representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars; vintage movies .

Kitsch

something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.

It is interesting to note that retro connotes "like the style of a past era" and vintage connotes "of the past era". Therefore, retro items are not actually from a past era, but are reproductions, while vintage items are actually authentic. Generally, vintage items are considered to be 50 or more years old, and antique 100 years old, but the way people use these terms are not exact. However, if you are looking for authentic vintage items, make sure the seller you are buying it from is not selling retro items or reproductions. Kitsch does not seem to connote any time reference and can be from any era.

I believe that we have more than one fashion trend that are related and simultaneous. The retro fashion trend is for people who want the look of a past era, but either don't care or don't want to buy used or old clothing, furniture or accessories. The vintage fashion trend is for authentic items from the previous era. This trend may or not be mixed in with the newer trend towards eco-chic green fashion that has been picked up by many artists. The eco-chic green trend encourages people to recycle, and reuse their existing items potentially making them into new or improved items.

With people disappointed in the current economy, it is no surprise that they are turning to retro style like the retro bowling shirt to the right. Charlie Sheen has made retro bowling shirts highly popular with his character, Charlie Harper, on the television show, Two and a Half Men. This retro look is seen as sexy, hot, and from a time when people had less financial cares than we do now. However, the shirts are brand new, even though they are a reproduction of a style from the 50's, 60's and 70's.

It is possible to find vintage bowling shirts similar in style to the retro bowling shirt pictured here in vintage clothing shops. Vintage shops specialize in providing customers with authentic vintage clothing, furniture, and accessories and the good vintage shops learn about the eras that their merchandise comes from. Some vintage items are extremely collectible and rare, and therefore become way more expensive than they were when they were new. This can be true of clothing, jewelry, and household items. True vintage collectors only want the authentic items for their collection.