What does VINTAGE mean?
We hear about a lot of vintage things around us lately. There is a vintage decorating style, vintage toys, vintage cooking, vintage clothing… What does exactly this term mean? Why can it be applied to so many things and still has a unique character? Let’s try to figure it out.
Cambridge English Dictionary defines the term as: “of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing, especially from the past” Very common use of this word refers also to a wine. The one that is a good vintage, includes grapes that come from one year. Thus, it also refers to a good, but old product.
Is there any particular span of time that is considered when calling something vintage? Not really, but if the term is connected with nostalgic, we can say that many things associated with our memories from the childhood or the youngster age is what we consider Vintage. So the time span may be 10 or more years. But it really depends, since sometimes we consider using the traditional cultural ornaments in modern home decor or clothing, Vintage. And they are not out of date yet. They are still present in our cultural life and among certain group of people who live in such culture. One good example can be folk ornaments.
When Vintage products are created they sometimes refer to old-fashioned things, like for ex. stylish floral prints. They make them alive and trendy again, thanks to rearranging them so that they look in a modern way. Vintage may include dark or bright compositions, florals and ornaments, they even have some abstract referrals.
People started to refer to this term in XIX century. Mainly it was used in clothing industry, but also when it comes to furniture, jewellery or musical instruments. It’s worth to mention, that to become vintage a product should be durable, so that it still looks pretty and valuable after long period. Now, when we use electronic way to save some data, it’s easier to save patterns and design for longer. That is a significant change in industries that rely on printing products (wallpapers, cloths, home decorations, school articles). They can now refer to certain thing every time they need, not worrying about degradation of material that wears certain design.
Another interesting Vintage trend is to refer to certain time in culture. Baroque is one of top trendy source of inspirations lately. It’s a unique way to highlight wealth and opulence makes an impression when used in modern interiors. Such set of colors as black&white or dark&gold or referrals to old paintings and sculpture build a very special and beautiful branch of vintage products.
Vintage is for sure something unique and beautiful. When you decide to use vintage products in your life they will change your sense of style and upgrade your life. They can be easily combined with other styles and yet keep they great character.
