The Best Vintage Fashion Trends of 2023
We’re already in 2023, and it seems that vintage fashion is still everywhere. From Y2K aesthetics to the psychedelic retro pattern clothes of the '80s, it appears that 2023 is all about taking fashion inspiration from the past. Moreover, fashion experts predict that vintage trends show no signs of stopping and will likely continue to dominate runways and headlines.
Ready to make the old new and fill your wardrobe with the top looks from fashion history? The following looks are the leading vintage trends that 2023 has in store. We’ll discuss the following:
- Four most popular categories of vintage clothing
- Three vintage fads making a strong comeback
- Nine vintage pieces to add to your wardrobe
It's always important to keep up with the latest fashion trends, and to keep tabs on the most popular types of vintage clothing, regardless of whether you want to buy retro or vintage clothing wholesale. Let’s dive into the top five categories of vintage clothing.
Vintage T-shirts
Whether it is sports, your favorite band or a retro cartoon character from your (or your parents’) childhood, vintage tees are nostalgia at its best and a super fun way to express yourself. These never get old.
Vintage Sweatshirts
Taking inspiration from the grunge and skater culture of the 80s and 90s, vintage sweatshirts are back with a vengeance. They are the perfect blend of comfort and cool. Look for oversized fits, daring logos, and bold, block colors for an authentic throwback vibe. Pair your vintage sweatshirt with modern pieces for a fresh spin on an old classic. It’s all about creating a balance between the past and present.
Vintage Sportswear
The allure of vintage sportswear lies in its blend of nostalgia and casual chic. Think brightly-colored nylon tracksuits, retro athletic shorts, and sport logos that harken back to a time when sportswear was more than just functional; it was fashionable. A vintage sports jacket or pair of sneakers can instantly give an outfit a retro sporty flair. Whether you’re going for a jog or a casual hangout, these pieces are sure to turn heads.
Vintage Workwear
There's something inherently stylish about vintage workwear, particularly Carhartt's and Dickies' jackets and pants. With their durable fabric and practical design, these pieces have become symbols of timeless, rugged fashion. The worn-in, distressed look is a testament to their durability and gives an urban, edgy look. Pair a Carhartt jacket with a pair of slim-fit jeans or style Dickies' pants with a crisp white tee to master this trend.
Vintage Dresses or Jeans
The grace and charm of vintage dresses and jeans are truly unparalleled. For dresses, the cinched waists flared skirts, and vibrant prints of the 50s and 60s continue to inspire. Pair them with modern accessories for an eclectic blend of old and new. For jeans, look for high-waisted, flared, or straight-leg cuts reminiscent of the 70s and 80s. The appeal lies in their unique cuts and worn-in feel, providing an interesting break from the ubiquitous skinny jeans.
Now, let’s see which three vintage fads are making a strong comeback.
Retro Pattern Clothes
Bold colors and retro pattern clothes are making a comeback this year. Psychedelic prints that look like optical illusions were a big part of the '60s. Several fashion houses, including Prada, Vivetta and Loewe, recently released collections with unusual abstract shapes and loud colors. Geometric patterns, ripple prints, and grunge plaid are also taking over the runways.
Whether it's a sweater, scarf or hat, patterns can add a point of interest to your outfit. However, retro pattern clothes’ daring and striking nature is not for everyone. If you're one who usually doesn't opt for prints, then stripes and polka dots can work well for you.
Y2K
The term "Y2K fashion" describes the resurgence of fashion trends from the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is characterized by bright colors, bold prints and asymmetrical designs.
The early 2000s was a time when the internet was on the rise. Technology was rapidly evolving, and the dot-com era was in full swing. People were optimistic about the future and viewed the new millennium as a time of transformation.
As a result, the looks were experimental and fully embraced maximalism. Shiny materials, bedazzled jackets, colorful sunglasses, cropped tops, butterfly hair clips, pleated skirts and Juicy Couture tracksuits are among the most prevalent fashion items of the era.
Regencycore
Regencycore is one of the most popular vintage trends that is making a comeback. Netflix's Bridgerton has a significant influence on the trend. Searches for "regency dresses'' jumped by 84 percent, and "floral dresses' 'increased by 146 percent just three days after the show's premiere.
The style's hallmarks are floral prints, empire-waist dresses, opera-length gloves, pearl embellishments, flowing silhouettes, and bright colors. This trend is focused on opulence and volume.
If you wish to embrace this trend, reach for puffed sleeves and corsets, and accessorize with elaborate extras such as pendant necklaces, lady-like hair pieces and pearl jewelry.
Now that you know what’s in, let’s talk about what clothing and accessories you can add to your wardrobe!
Plaid Blazers
If there's one wardrobe staple that could transform your look from a wild Saturday night to a prepped-up Monday meeting, it’s a women’s plaid blazer. Double-breasted and shoulder-padded plaid jackets were a 1980s workwear essential and played a big part in the power-dressing movement that was born in the second half of the 1970s and took form in the 1980s.
Be it a graphic tee or your good old LBD and that classic combo of denim cut-offs, pairing them with a plaid blazer that’s oversized is one definite way to go bold ‘n’ beautiful!
Striped Sweaters
Are you a fan of vintage sweaters?
For almost 60 years, the Italian brand Missoni has owned zigzags and stripes in fashion history. Known for its blend of colorful kaleidoscope patterns such as abstracts, floral and chevron stripes, the designs created by the house of Missoni became extremely popular in the early 1970s.
The Chevron clothing patterns of the Italian house had a big impact on the wholesale market, in the year 2011 when Target collaborated with Missoni, arguably one of the former’s most successful collaborations.
Leather Biker Jackets
What could possibly go wrong with leather jackets? After all, it is the signature style statement of the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson! Need we say more?
Wanna look badass? Wear it with a pair of worn-out jeans and a white tee. Or even better, have it worn over a ball-gown! Want to get that rockstar look? Pair it with chunky boots and printed pants!
Wanna look like a total bomb while walking down the street? Go red. Leather biker jackets are both timeless and limitless.
Dungarees
The dungaree was made for the first time in the 17th century when it was referred to as an economical, durable, thick cotton cloth, often colored in blue and white. Dungarees are named after Dongari Kapar, a harborside village near Mumbai, India. This cloth’s name in Hindi was “dungri".
Dungri was exported to England and utilized for the manufacture of robust, cheap working clothes. During the First World War, women took over much of the factory work and began to wear a handy pair of dungarees as a standard uniform!
And then, we had Jennifer Aniston donning this retro rig, on-screen as Rachel in the much-acclaimed “Friends” TV series! Those were goals and still are!
Tie-dye clothes
What’s vintage clothing, without a mutinous back story? A true one, for that!
It is commonly believed that Tie and Dyes were first introduced in the United States by the hippies during the 1960s, who wanted to break free from the rigid social norms of the 1950s. They embraced this method as a rebellious and economical way to portray their independent and free-spirited attitude.
However, there are records that trace the origins of tie-dyeing back to ancient India, Japan, and Africa, even before the times of the hippies. When you think about tie-dyes, it triggers a rush of DIY summer camp t-shirt memories, don’t they?
Well, these patterns that are free-spirited are back in the game & keeping it going all strong!
Dad Shoes
These clunky white kicks marked by huge soles and thick uppers were the dads’ favorite in the early 90s. These comfortable sneakers, especially in white, have been trending in recent years. Searches for "dad shoes trend" went up by 850% from 2017 up to 2018 according to Google Trends.
Platform Shoes and Sandals
Platform sandals were massive in the '70s and are back taller than ever in 2022. This footwear is more comfortable than heels, making it easier to walk in while still giving your outfit the wow factor it deserves.
The trend began when celebrities like Beyonce, Olivia Rodrigo and Black Pink's Rosé were sporting platform sandals at high-profile events. But women aren't the only ones wearing platforms nowadays. Rapper Lil Nas and Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang have recently been spotted wearing sky-high shoes on the red carpet.
Tiny Sunglasses
Sunglasses come in all shapes and colors, but it’s the small oval shades that make the swagger strut! A 90s trend, these daring sunglasses were flaunted and adored by several celebrities and stars!
So, planning on getting into the ‘90s groove and making heads turn? Wear it in red. There could nothing be more radical and perky than oval red shades!
Chokers
We can’t be talking about the vintage pieces without mentioning chokers necklaces, can we?
Be it Alexandra, the Princess of Wales, who wore thick rows of pearls and velvet to cover a neck scar or the Princess of Pop, Britney Spears who always made a dominating rage with her diamond chokers, women have always cherished these darling choker necklaces!
Time and again, these chokers have ruled and still rule the accessory world!
Some Things to Know About Retro and Vintage Clothing Wholesale in Los Angeles
No matter what you’re shopping for, if you’re looking to buy vintage clothing wholesale in LA, there are a few things to know before spending too much money.
There are high minimums. Even though the items are well-loved (AKA used), buying vintage women’s clothing wholesale is not easy to acquire and needs to be purchased in bulk. Be sure you’re investing wisely in quality merchandise and can meet the high minimums.
Trends change quickly. These clothes may have been around for decades and retro as a style expression is here to stay, but trends within the retro realm are fleeting. Like most fashion trends, they’re here today and gone tomorrow. Therefore, as exciting as the vintage trends of 2023 are, it’s risky to invest in a wholesale lot unless you’re positive the styles won’t wear out!
The market is highly saturated. Especially in LA, and really everywhere, there are plenty of businesses already buying and selling vintage women’s clothing wholesale. This is important to keep in mind if you’re planning to re-sell the items you buy.
Speaking of Buying Incredible Vintage Clothing Wholesale in Los Angeles…
LA Vintage is a wholesale supplier that provides high-quality and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. Our team sorts through millions of clothes each year so we can provide you with the top vintage trends 2023 has in store. In addition, we advocate for recycled fashion in our efforts to leave a positive environmental impact.
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. According to the United Nations Environment Program, fashion accounts for up to 10 percent of global carbon dioxide output. Billions of garments are generated yearly, and most end up in landfills. This is problematic because most clothes nowadays are made from polyester - a type of plastic derived from oil. As a result, clothes have become a prime source of microplastic pollution, which is harmful to marine life.
Buying vintage is a sustainable solution. Since our establishment in 1994, we have consistently emphasized the Three “Rs” (reduce, reuse, recycle) in our business operations. So, make us our vintage clothing source and email us at info@lavintage.com to receive our guidelines and price list.
Come check out our vintage clothing warehouse! Even if you’re not in the LA area, you can head over to our online store for some serious style buys. Channel your inner fashion icon by picking out the best of these classic comebacks from our ranging selection of vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories!
Here’s to the year 2023 where vintage clothing is the new big wig in the industry! So, what are you waiting for? Get vintaged!
Want to look back at some 2021 Spring Trends with a vintage twist? Read more here.
