We know you’ve heard of all these phrases but do you know the difference between retro, vintage, and antique?
What Is Retro?
Just because something is retro does not mean it is old. Retro means to be in the “style” of something from the past. So, something produced in the present can be retro as it resembles something from a previous time period. Typically, retro mimics styles of the recent past. This means there is not a particular year that is considered retro. Although, many may say decades ranging from the 1950s-1990s are inspiring retro styles of today.
What Is Vintage?
Vintage can refer to an item that is less than 100 years old and is atleast a few decades old. Vintage can include something like a vinyl record from the 1970s to a leather jacket from the 1950s.
What is Antique?
Antiques are around 100 years old. They have some age to them and have collectible value. Antique items can include anything from an old camera to a toy from the 1800s. In recent years, an infatuation with antiquing has driven the popularity for older items.
Retro Vs. Vintage
Something that is retro can resemble a vintage item. For instance, vinyl records are once again growing in popularity even though they were first introduced decades ago. So, a record from the 1960s would be vintage while a record from today may be considered retro.
Vintage fashion and styles are also on the rise, so a newly produced pair of GoGo boots would be a modern take on a vintage item—retro.
Vintage Vs. Antique
Antique and vintage can be fairly close in age depending on your vintage item. If your vintage item veers closer to the age of 100, then it is approaching antique status. While antique items are around that 100 year mark in age, vintage items can range from about 20 years to 100 years in which it becomes an antique. So, something that is 50 years old would be considered vintage and not antique.
Antique Vs. Retro
The difference between these two is more stark than the ones listed above. Retro items are often newly produced and look like vintage items. Whereas, antique things are quite old in nature—100 years. Since antique items are old, they have more collectible value than recently produced retro items.
What Items Classify As Being Retro, Vintage, or Antique
There is a wide array of items that can be called vintage, antique, and retro. Some items include:
- Cars
- Toys
- Furniture
- Art & Sculptures
- Home Decor
- Books (Comic Books)
- Appliances
- Dishes (Tupperware + Sterling Serving Dishes)
- Clothing
- Purses
- Jewelry
- Currency
- Vinyl Records
There are many other items that would fall into these categories depending on when they were created, so this is not an exhaustive list.
Where to Buy Retro, Vintage, and Antique Items
It is fairly easy to find retro, vintage, and antique items. Depending on the antique items you are searching for, you may have some difficulty. Since antiques are older, not many held up over the years which gives them more rarity and value. If you are looking for antiques or vintage items, flea markets, yard sales, and antique malls are great places to check out. Since retro items are often new items made to look old, you can find them online and in stores. Just be careful that you don’t get fooled into purchasing a retro item you believe is vintage. You may end up paying more than the item is worth if this occurs.