Vintage vs. Second-Hand

Ok, so this might be common knowledge for some and quite confusing for others: What’s the real difference between calling your top vintage or second-hand?

What Makes Something Vintage?

According to our understanding (and plenty of online debates), for a piece to be considered vintage, it needs to be at least 20 years old. Vintage refers to the age of the item, not its usage. This means a garment can be vintage even if it’s never been worn. 

For example, when my fashionista aunt does a closet clean out, I often get super cool pieces from the early 2000s—some worn on multiple occasions and others still with the tags on. Both are considered vintage, regardless of whether they were used or not.

Two standout features of vintage clothing are its appearance and style. Most pieces from past decades are known for their premium-quality fabrics, sharp patterns, and impeccable finishing. Style-wise, they either stand apart due to their timelessness or their unique, era-specific designs, which denotes the authenticity of that time.

If a garment is over 100 years old, it’s considered antique. Somehow, my grandma kept these incredible hand-embroidered “enaguas” (skirts) from my great-great-grandmother, and here I am —over 100 years later—wearing them on a casual summer day in 2024, taking a picture in the office bathroom. *picture at the bottom*

Personal Note

I consider myself a vintage fanatic—over half of my wardrobe is vintage. One of the things I love most is that each piece had a previous life before. Whether worn by loved ones or complete strangers, these garments get a new chance now to be styled in new ways; instead of collecting dust in a forgotten storage room. 

Another reason I’m hooked on vintage is the uniqueness. No one else will have the same item as me, and they’re far removed from today’s fast-changing micro-trends. This gives me the freedom to do a little mix and match with them; using contemporary accessories and garments, nurturing my own personal style. 

Some of the vintage treasures found in the last closet-hunting at my aunt’s.

 So, What About Second-Hand?

An item is considered second-hand if it was previously owned and worn by someone else, regardless of when it was made. It could’ve been produced last year or five years ago—if it had a previous owner, it’s second-hand. 

For example, if your sister bought a top, wore it twice, and then gave it to you, it’s second-hand. Simple as that. Also, if the item is over 20 years old, it’s not just second-hand—it’s also vintage.

Personal Note 

I rely a lot on second-hand clothing. Yet again thanks to my relatives and friends, I now have basic pieces I wear all the time, which belonged to them but were not used anymore. 

This is the case of some high waisted capri denim shorts from Zara that a friend had tucked in a trash bag full of clothes ready to be donated, until I tried them on. Three summers later, they’re still my go-to, and I always get compliments on them.

As you know..someone’s trash is another's treasure.

When I need basics, the easiest option would be to run to the nearest Zara, but since I prioritize more circular options, I’ve turned to the Vinted app.

It’s super handy for finding specific items—like a white tank top—without buying new. Unlike browsing second-hand stores where it’s hit or miss, Vinted lets you filter exactly what you’re looking for, whether that tank top is from Zara or a random Italian brand. 

In the first picture I am wearing second-hand white tops from my cousin and some vintage pants found in a street market in Berlin, with my Nokia bag of course. In the middle picture I am wearing some vibrant vintage pants from my aunt and in the third one, the antique skirt I was talking about before.

To conclude, aside from now knowing the difference between vintage and second-hand, choosing these options when looking for newness is always a great idea. Not only are you giving a garment a second life and supporting circular fashion, but you're also conserving valuable resources on our planet.

According to Oxfam, buying a cotton t-shirt second-hand saves the equivalent of 5.400 standard 500ml water bottles - enough to meet the drinking needs of 1.600 people in just one day.

What about a pair of jeans? Well if you thrift them, you are saving 16.000 bottles of water, enough to meet the drinking needs of 4.750 people for a day.

Quite a bigger impact than you thought, right?

 ~ Eva Burone