Vintage or second-hand clothing: what's the difference?

What is the difference between vintage and secondhand clothing? Secondhand simply means that a garment has been owned or worn before. Vintage says something about age and period, but there is no universal limit that every store applies exactly the same. That's why it's important not to use the terms synonymously.

What does secondhand mean?

Secondhand clothing can be almost new or decades old. A jacket from two years ago and a shirt from the 1970s can therefore both be second-hand.

The term in itself tells nothing about brand, material, quality or age.

What does vintage mean?

Vintage is used for older clothing that clearly comes from an earlier fashion period. Shops and collectors use different age limits.

That is why we think it is more important that a date can be substantiated than that we put the word vintage on a product at any cost.

Not everything with a retro print is vintage

A modern shirt can have a 70s print, large collar or retro color scheme. That makes it vintage style, but not automatically actually old.

To better date an older garment, look at several clues at the same time.

What do you look for when dating?

• brand and size labels;
• wash and material labels;
• country of production;
• cut and proportions;
• zippers, buttons and other details;
• construction and finishing;
• any model or product codes.

None of these points need be decisive in themselves.

Can you tell exactly how old something is from a label?

Sometimes, but not always. Brands can use labels for years and use different labels at the same time for various lines or markets.

Mentioning an exact year based on a font or production country alone is therefore often too definitive.

Vintage is not automatically better quality

In the past, cheap mass-produced products and high-quality clothing coexisted. Age makes a garment interesting, but not automatically good.

Check fabric, seams, lining, closures and wear. Read recognizing quality in second-hand men's clothing.

Second-hand is not automatically modern

Conversely, a second-hand garment can be quite old without being sold as vintage, for example when the dating is uncertain.

An honest description such as 'second-hand shirt with a wide pointed collar' can then be more useful than an unproven 'years' 70' claim.

What is retro?

Retro usually refers to a style that harkens back to an older period. So a new piece of clothing can be retro.

A newly created 70s look is retro or vintage style; a demonstrably shirt from that period is vintage.

And antique?

In clothing, 'antique' is used much less in everyday fashion sales and usually for much older historical pieces. For regular second-hand men's fashion, the distinction between recently second-hand, vintage and vintage style is more relevant.

Why the difference is important for buyers

Anyone who specifically collects old clothing wants to know whether a date is reliable. Those who are mainly looking for the appearance can be just as happy with a newer second-hand piece with the same style.

By clearly distinguishing the two, you know better what you are buying.

Vintage sizing

Older clothing can fit very differently than modern clothing. A size L from another period does not have to correspond to a current L.

Therefore, work with actual dimensions. For shirts, armpit width, back length and sleeve length are much more useful than just the letter size.

Combining vintage men's clothing

You don't have to dress completely in one era. One real vintage piece with modern basics can actually be stronger.

Read our guide combining vintage men's clothing.

How EcoGents uses the terms

EcoGents sells both second-hand and vintage men's clothing. A good men's piece does not have to be old to get a second chance.

We want sufficient evidence for specific claims about period, material or origin. If we cannot prove something, we prefer to describe what we really see.

Vintage and second-hand at EcoGents

View our vintage men's clothing or search by category between jackets, waistcoats, shirts, trousers and jackets. This way you can choose based on age when relevant, but also simply based on fit, quality and style.