How to Care for Vintage Clothing

Vintage clothing has usually already had a life before it reaches you. It has been worn, washed, stored, loved, and somehow, made it all the way here.

That's part of what makes it special.

It also means that vintage clothing can sometimes need a little more consideration than something bought new. Not because it needs to be kept safely tucked away, but because we want it to keep being worn for many years to come.

Read the garment first

Before doing anything, have a look at the garment itself.

Check the fabric, seams, fastenings and lining. Look for a care label if there is one, but remember that older clothes don't always have them. A garment from the middle of the 20th century might not come with much instruction at all.

This is where getting to know your clothes helps.

Silk, wool, velvet, lace and older synthetics all behave very differently. Something delicate that has lasted for decades may not appreciate being treated like a modern cotton T-shirt.

When you're unsure, gentler is usually better.

Washing vintage clothing

The first question isn't always how should I wash this?

Sometimes it's does it actually need washing?

Over-washing can be hard on clothes, particularly older ones. If something has only been worn briefly and doesn't need a full wash, airing it out or spot washing can sometimes be enough.

When something does need cleaning, check the fabric and construction before deciding how to do it.

Hand washing can be a good option for some washable vintage pieces, using cool water and a gentle detergent. Avoid vigorous rubbing, wringing or twisting, which can put unnecessary strain on old fibres and seams. 

And if something is particularly delicate, valuable or difficult to identify, professional cleaning may be the better option.

If you're ever unsure, don't guess.

Don't be afraid of a little imperfection

One of the nicest things about vintage is that it doesn't always look brand new.

There might be a tiny mark, a slightly softened fabric or evidence that someone wore the garment before you. That's not necessarily something that needs correcting.

Of course, stains, damage and structural problems are worth addressing when they can be. But there's a difference between caring for something and trying to erase every sign that it has lived.

A perfectly preserved garment is lovely.

A well-loved one can be even better.

Store vintage properly

How you store something can make a huge difference to how long it lasts.

Give garments enough space rather than crushing them into an overfilled wardrobe. For delicate pieces, folding can sometimes be better than hanging, particularly if the fabric is heavy or prone to stretching.

Keep clothes somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight.

And don't forget about the things you don't see. Moths, damp and prolonged exposure to sunlight can all cause problems over time.

A little attention now is much easier than trying to repair something later.

Give delicate things a break

You don't have to wear your favourite vintage piece once and then put it away forever.

But if something is particularly delicate, giving it a little time between wears can help.

This is especially true for older fabrics and garments that have already had decades of use. Let them air, check for any loose buttons or seams, and put them away properly rather than dropping them on the bedroom floor.

(Although, admittedly, we are all guilty of the floordrobe sometimes.)

Repair rather than replace

Small repairs are part of owning older clothes.

A loose button, a small seam coming undone or a hem that needs attention doesn't necessarily mean the end of a garment. Often, these are simple things that can be repaired and then forgotten about.

For something more complicated, finding a good tailor or alterations specialist can make all the difference.

There's something quite satisfying about repairing an old garment rather than replacing it. You're not only keeping the piece itself; you're allowing all the work that went into making it to continue to be useful.

Wear it

Perhaps the most important part of caring for vintage clothing is also the simplest:

Wear it.

We don't think beautiful clothes are better off being kept perfectly safe in the back of a wardrobe.

If you love the colour, wear it.

If you love the shape, wear it.

If you bought it because you couldn't stop thinking about it, definitely wear it.

Vintage clothing doesn't need to be preserved from life. It needs to be part of it.

Every time you wear something, you add a little more of your own story to it. Eventually, a dress that once belonged to another decade becomes the dress you wore on holiday, the skirt you always reach for, or the coat your friends recognise immediately.

That's what we love about vintage.

It has already lasted this long.

With a little care, there's no reason it shouldn't last a lot longer.