Just a few days ago, I felt compelled to respond to @Yinkaaa’s tweet on Twitter and here’s what it looked like:

Isn’t it true? Vintage, which most of us would agree means an item that is at least 25 years old, is now being applied to brand new merchandise in department stores. Fashion brands are incorporating the word into their names even though their items aren’t authentic vintage, just vintage-inspired. And of course, vintage is now often used to describe more recent pieces that really should be called used or pre-owned.

It’s my opinion that we dealers need to protect the meaning of the word vintage. We owe it to our clients to remove any confusion about what they’re purchasing. And we have a responsibility to protect its meaning for our industry or we shouldn’t be surprised that as the meaning of vintage is diluted in the marketplace, the value of vintage pieces diminishes, too.

As for couture, this is a word that once applied only to the haute couture items created under the strict rules of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris. And the first of their requirements stated that couture must be made-to-order for a private client and include several fittings. But today, a quick Google search for “couture dress” brings back 770,00 results; a search on “couture gown” brings back 47,000 more. I’m pretty sure all these “couture” dresses for sale aren’t done for private clients with several fittings. Nope. I’m pretty sure the fashion term couture, like the fashion term vintage, has become diluted.

Of course, one of the modern uses of the term couture that I can live with is when reputable vintage dealers use it as a way to highlight items that have been constructed (usually by hand) with meticulous quality and detail. An item like today’s VPOD, for example.

This 1970s dress has no label but has been so expertly made. And it’s wide detachable belt and black satin bow pair well with the plethora of black buttons.

It’s a beautiful, well-made find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at VintageBuzz. | Discovered at TheFind.com.

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