At what price, vintage?

I appreciate vintage clothing for its authenticity, style and durable construction. It is an eco-conscious choice and it seems like today's clothing in a similar price-range is disposable and destroyed after a dozen washes (I'm looking at you XXI and H&M). Obviously, vintage clothes in good condition are more rare than a garment that is manufactured today.

So how do you price it? A quick search on etsy.com will yield a range of prices for the same clothing / brand. When it comes to pricing a vintage item, there are many factors to consider, such as:

• Brand. A strong brand like Christian Dior will fetch a good price. However, a brand such as Pierre Cardin (who worked at Dior) has damaged his brand over the years by extensive licensing and is therefore less valuable (more on this later). No brand makes the item a more difficult sell; for myself, an object's provenance is calculated into the price.
  
• Age. Older is usually better. There is a trend toward 1940s, 1950s and 1960s clothing because of shows like Mad Men. The 1970s is more common (polyester lasts forever) and less desirable (polyester has a bad rep, see post "Polyester is King.")
  
• Condition. This one is obvious.
  
• Retail price of item. This takes research and guesswork. For fashion houses that still exist, you can compare to similar clothing (good for high end or luxury brands). Or look at old ads and adjust for inflation.
  
• Market price for similar garments. Related to retail price, and probably the most important. Why pay twice as much for the same thing?
  
• Style. Can someone wear it without feeling like they're in costume? Is it a current fashion trend?
  
• Rarity.
  
• Reproductions. How much will someone pay for the real thing versus a reproduction?
  

You think that Montgomery Ward shirt is cool? Or maybe that Sears Men's Store tie? Price it anyway you want, but the bottom line is, an item is worth what someone will pay for it.

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It's elementary, my dear Watson: The Modern Dandy

Sherlock Holmes - fashion icon? For hipsters and stylish gentlemen who favor three piece suits, houndstooth and magnifying glasses. An interesting article in the New York Times observes a modern men's fashion trend toward Victorian dandyism - possibly influenced by costumes in such films as "There Will Be Blood", "The Prestige" with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman and the upcoming "Sherlock Holmes" starring Robert Downey, Jr, Jude Law and Rachel McAdams. The look includes "tweedy vests, woolen trousers, henley undershirts, dark wool ties, scratchy cotton shirts." You can read the full article here.



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