How Expensive Is Vintage Clothing Typically
December 27, 2025
As the value of vintage pieces rises, their prices follow. In this article, you’ll see how expensive is vintage clothing typically and what makes them cost so much.
A diverse group of friends excitedly browsing through racks of colourful vintage clothing in a thrift shop
Wardrobe Cost Planning: How Expensive Is Vintage Clothing Typically?
Gone are those days when vintage clothes were just ‘old clothes’ that cost little to nothing. Today, a vintage piece is a more valuable piece compared to its regular modern counterpart. Vintage sellers have picked up on the preference for vintage clothing, and their prices have increased.
But that’s not the only reason behind the cost of vintage. So, before you ask ‘how expensive is vintage clothing typically?’, you have to know the significant factors that determine the cost:
● History
Vintage garments with a memorable history tend to cost more than regular vintage. For instance, a 90s dress[1] worn by a famous actress or used in a popular movie will be priced higher by vintage sellers.
Since these clothes have sentimental value, buyers are usually willing to pay any price just to have them. So, if the history of such vintage clothing is insignificant to you, you might be wasting your money on it by paying extra.
● Age
The value of vintage clothing comes from how long they’ve been around. This explains why a vintage day dress from the 50s will cost more than one from the 80s or 90s. The older a vintage garment is, the higher its cost tends to be, partly due to the time-consuming nature of preserving such items over the years
A diverse group of shoppers excitedly browsing through racks of colourful clothing in a vintage thrift store
● How expensive is vintage clothing typically – Location
The area from which you buy your vintage clothing also plays a major role in its price. Generally, vintage stores located in trendy fashion areas or upscale districts will charge higher for vintage items because people in those areas can afford to pay more. Also, people in upscale areas demand more rare pieces- and that’s what these stores are stocked with.
On the other hand, shops in a working-class area or rural district don’t charge so high. This explains why you might spend £200 on a 50s vintage dress at a vintage boutique in Camden and find the same dress for £160 at a neighbourhood thrift store.
Also, if you’re buying a vintage garment that was shipped from an international location, you can expect a higher cost. The types, styles, and fabrics that are common in an area aren’t always as expensive as those that have to be shipped. So, if you stay in London[2] and you want a pair of vintage pants that are only common in Canada or the US, you’ll have to pay more than a Canadian or American buyer due to your location.
● Brand
When you price vintage clothing in a vintage store, you might be surprised to see similar vintage outfits with very different price tags. The reason for this difference might be a difference in brands. Simply put, vintage garments from high-end or famous brands[3] attract higher prices than those from lesser-known brands.
Like in modern clothes shopping, buyers generally prefer clothes from known brands because they believe they are high quality and will be more recognized. For example, vintage clothes from brands or designers like Mr. Freedom or Mary Quant will cost more than other unbranded vintage. While a popular brand doesn’t always imply higher quality, the fact remains that they always cost more, whether it’s fast fashion or not.
● Demand
Market demand is another major factor that can increase or decrease the price of a vintage piece. The vintage market is saturated with vintage fashion enthusiasts and collectors who often seek after certain styles or fabrics. These sought-after vintage clothes have become relatively expensive due to scarcity caused by a high market demand. People are always willing to pay any amount for such clothes.
On the other hand, if you’re opting for a vintage piece that is quite common and not in high demand, you can expect a relatively low price at thrift stores. Also, reproductions of older vintage pieces tend to cost less since they are more common and aren’t as rare as the original ones.
The exterior of a charming vintage clothing shop in a historic UK town, with mannequins displaying retro outfits in the window
● How expensive is vintage clothing typically – Condition
One of the biggest factors determining how much you buy vintage clothing is the condition of the garments. It’s a no-brainer that a vintage dress with no stains and minimum wear and tear will cost more than another vintage dress with damaged buttons and other damage. However, most people who sell vintage clothing rarely get them in good condition. This makes the process of transforming vintage clothes into clean, wearable clothes with minimum signs of wear and tear time-consuming.
Vintage sellers often have to clean vintage clothing items[4] to make them more presentable. Although they may dry clean these clothes, many of them, especially the older ones, have specific cleaning requirements. While some might have to be soaked for hours, others might have to be washed with a particular kind of soap.
Sellers often outsource to dry cleaners who specialize in washing vintage clothing, a time-consuming task that ensures the garments are handled properly
Aside from cleaning, vintage sellers might also need to refix buttons, zippers, and other embellishments on vintage clothes. This time-consuming process may result in another cost as the services of a seamstress might be employed.
The extra costs undertaken before vintage clothes are ready to be hung on the rack in the store will definitely be added to their cost. Hence, the longer the process required to bring the vintage clothes to good condition, the higher it will cost. However, if you’re buying a vintage jumpsuit that the seller didn’t have to clean or mend, you can expect a relatively lower price.
Furthermore, vintage garments in bad condition always cost less since you’ll have to clean and recycle them yourself. So, you’ll have to choose between fixing your vintage clothes yourself and paying a bit higher for an already fixed option.
How Expensive Is Vintage Clothing Typically? Other Overhead Costs Also Play a Role!
For vintage sellers, it doesn’t just end at cleaning and mending vintage wear. There are other overhead costs they have to undertake as sellers. These ‘extra’ costs, combined with the time-consuming nature of sourcing and maintaining vintage items, always play a large role in the final price of vintage clothing, even if sellers get the vintage pieces at wholesale prices. Vintage sellers who sell online have to buy equipment like a computer, a good camera, and other things. This equipment adds value to vintage clothing and makes them look more appealing to potential buyers. They might also have to pay for online advertisements.
Those with physical vintage shops or boutiques also have to factor in rent, taxes, and other costs.
The higher costs online stores face explain why vintage shopping on websites tends to be more expensive. Also, vintage stores online eradicate the stress of walking around for hours in search of vintage outfits, hence the higher cost of vintage clothing.
So, How Expensive Is Vintage Clothing Typically?
The factors mentioned above affect the price of vintage garments, so giving an exact price range might not be practical. You might spend anywhere from £20 to £400 in the UK on a vintage garment.
The bottom line, however, is that vintage clothing is generally not cheap. You might buy a vintage denim skirt for £50, while a regular new denim skirt might cost about £35.
Conclusion
Having answered the question, ‘How expensive is vintage clothing typically?’, you might the wondering if it’s worth it.
The fact that vintage is expensive doesn’t mean you should stop spreading vintage love by rocking vintage pieces. Why? The quality will always speak for itself!
References
i. https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/is-90s-fashion-truly-vintage/
ii. https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/recycled-vintage-clothing-stores-east-london/
iii.https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/what-are-the-best-websites-to-buy-american-designer-vintage-clothing/
iv. https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/recycle-clothes-london/
