How to Tell What Decade Your Vintage Find Is From (Without Giving Away All Our Secrets)

One of the most common questions we get in the shop is: “How do you know what decade this piece is from?”

The truth is, there isn’t one magic answer — it’s a mix of detective work, experience, and more than a few tricks we’ve learned over the years. While we’re not about to give away every secret (a magician never fully reveals their act, right?), here are a few starting points that can help you make an educated guess:

1. The Label Tells a Story

Clothing tags can be like time stamps. Certain fonts, union labels, and even wording choices (“Made in U.S.A.” vs. “Made in the People’s Republic of China”) can help narrow down the window of when a garment was made.

2. Fabric Speaks Volumes

Polyester blends hit hard in the 70s, rayon saw a revival in the 90s, and some fibers practically scream their decade. Touch and texture can be as telling as sight.

3. Details Make the Decade

Shoulder pads? Hello, 1980s. Metal side zippers? Often a 1930s–40s clue. The little things — buttons, hems, stitching techniques — all add up.

4. Country of Origin Matters

The global fashion trade has shifted over the decades. Where a piece was made (and how that’s phrased on the tag) can be a surprisingly helpful hint.

Pro Tip: Zippers Can Be a Giveaway

Check the zipper brand. YKK zippers didn’t start showing up widely until the 1970s. So if you’re holding a dress that claims to be from the 1950s but it’s rocking a YKK zipper — something’s not adding up.

Why We Don’t Give It All Away

Here’s the thing: experience is the biggest teacher. After handling thousands of garments, your eye just knows. That’s part of the magic of vintage shopping — you’re not just buying a shirt, you’re buying a story. And honestly? Some secrets are better discovered in person.