Vintage design refers to an item of another era that holds important and recognizable value.^[1] This style can be applied to interior design, decor, clothing and other areas. Vintage design is popular^[2] and vintage items have risen in price. Outlets of vintage design have shifted from thrift store to shabby chic stores.^[3]

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There is debate over what determines if an item is vintage. Some rely on the definition of anything old and of value. The most widely accepted definition used by antique and vintage professionals is anything older than 20 (and less than 100) years old.^[4]

The terms vintage, retro and antique are oftentimes used interchangeably and have some overlay, however the words possess different meanings. Retro refers to a style iconic of a previous era. Vintage generally refers to an item of high-quality materials and/or craftmanship, that is characteristic of a specific time period or artist, and is between 20 and 100 years old. Lastly, antique refers to an item of the previous era or at least 100 years old.^[5][1][6] A related term is antiquity, which indicates something of past eras, or simply put, ancient.^[7] The word vintage originated in Late Middle English from Old French and Latin origins.

Vintage items spark interest in many. The United States Department of Labor tells us that, "Design and fashion trends play an important part in the production of furniture. The integrated design of the article for both esthetic and functional qualities is also a major part of the process of manufacturing furniture."^[8]

The popularity of vintage design and vintage inspired items can be seen through media. In 2004 designer Nicolas Ghesquière created a line for Balenciaga which called back to older collections.^[9] Tom Ford's collection for her also uses references to the past. Vintage design can also be seen in ads which promote vintage inspired clothing.^[9]

There are several reasons for vintage design's popularity. Some claim the phenomenon is due to the rarity and classic value of the items.^[9] Others state the reason to be a mixture of peoples' nostalgia creating a positive emotional appeal toward a past era or their childhood, consumers' environmental concerns, an appreciation of past styles and craftsmanship, and other experience.^[10][11]

Vintage design contains various subcategories reflecting the vast diversity of aesthetics that make up traditional and 20th century design styles.^[2][12]

• Vintage clothing
• Cottagecore
• Retro style