It is very difficult to accurately rank the value of vintage garments, as their worth can depend on a variety of factors such as rarity, brand, composition, condition, and current demand or trends. However, here is a list of 10 types of vintage garments that are often considered highly valuable:
1. Vintage Chanel suits
These suits are known for their timeless style, high-quality construction and material composition, and can be worth thousands of dollars.
Find Vintage Chanel clothing listed by price high-to-low on Vestiaire Collective.
2. Vintage designer dresses
Vintage dresses by designers like Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Vionnet are often highly sought after by collectors. If you have one of these hanging in your, your mothers or grandmothers wardrobe, and don't want to keep it, you should definitely do some research on the selling price of similar dresses.
3. Vintage Levi's jeans
Vintage Levi's 501 jeans are especially highly prized by denim collectors due to their timeless style, and can be worth hundreds or up to thousands of dollars! Generally, the older and rarer the edition of the model is, the more it is worth. But the value also fluctuates corresponding to current trends. When super skinny jeans was all the rage you could find vintage Levi's 501s for a bargain!
Check out Vogues 10 things you didnt know about Levi’s 501s.
4. Vintage military clothing
Military jackets, coats, and other garments can be valuable due to their historical significance and rugged, utilitarian design. Keep in mind that the age and provenance (the history of the garment, like traces and proof of who have owned it and how/when/where it was used) plays a great part in the valuation of vintage military clothing. The standard military jacket, for example, may or may not be worth anything more than the sentimental value for its owner.
Broadway & Sons has a nice collection of vintage military garments that could serve as a price comparison for similar items (not taking provenance into account).
5. Vintage wedding dresses
Some vintage wedding dresses, particularly those from the 1920s to 1950s, can be worth a significant amount due to their sentimental value and rarity. When the style, brand, material composition and condition align with current trends, even more modern dresses can fetch a hefty price. Check out our other posts on vintage and second hand wedding dresses:
6. Vintage fur coats
Vintage fur coats can be valuable due to the high quality of the materials and the craftsmanship involved in their construction. Especially from heritage fur makers and fashion houses like Fendi. However, today the wearing of fur can be quite polarizing, making second hand and vintage fur coats both increasingly sought after and unpopular in different social groups.
Find Vintage fur coats listed by price high-to-low on Vestiaire Collective.
7. Vintage Hawaiian shirts
These colorful, kitschy shirts from the 1940s to 1960s are popular with collectors and can be worth hundreds of dollars in the right pattern and condition.
8. Vintage cowboy boots
High-quality vintage cowboy boots from well-known makers like Lucchese and Tony Lama, can be worth hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
9. Vintage leather jackets
Vintage leather jackets, specifically ones from heritage leather goods brands like Schott, or designers like Fendi, MaxMara, Chanel and Dior can be highly sought after and can fetch a big price. As always, the age and condition of the leather jacket makes a big difference in what it is considered to be worth.
Find Vintage leather jackets listed by price-high-to-low on Vestiaire Collective.
10. Vintage sports jerseys
Vintage sports jerseys, particularly those from rare or obscure teams or players, can be valuable to collectors. If you managed to get the player to sign them you might very well be sitting on a vintage gem!