The reason men's vintage is hard to find!

[Dalexs]

Well, there you have it!
One more reason to deligently watch the obits, followed by yard sale notices.

(hey, someone had to say it!)

[Wild Root]

Well, that’s really cool to see a man that still is wearing a pair of slacks he had since the early 50’s! I would have been asking him if he had any more things from his past!

The fact that most men kept what they had is one of the reasons that men’s vintage is hard to find. But, the main reason is that men had les clothes period! In an average home, a man would have two or three pairs of shoes, a few pairs of slacks, one or two suits, hand full of ties and one or two hats. When those wore out, then he would get badgered by his wife to buy some new clothes. Wile the wife would buy a dress when ever she had a reason too, also shoes, gloves and hat to match! The reason why women’s vintage is easier to find is because there was more of it made. Now, since men’s clothes were made in lower numbers, and sold in lower numbers that’s another reason why it’s harder to find. Also the fact that lots of it was thrown out by some that got new things that were more up to the trends. Some men wanted to keep it but their smart wives thought: Oh, he don’t need this tacky thing any more so, out it goes! Thrift shops were full of these clothes at one point in the 60’s and 70’s! Now, mostly guys like me and other collectors have snatched up all the good stuff. Some may surface now and a gain, but, not much any more.

Any questions?

Root.

[Quigley Brown]

Finding vintage has become less frequent for me, too. I live near two thrift shops and visit them once a week but have come up dry for several months. There is also one retail vintage clothing store that caters to the hip and trendy, but their prices are rediculous. I recently cleaned my closet out and invited one of their buyers over. I was a bit stunned at what they paid me. Shirts that I purchased for a couple of dollars they paid me several times that. A short time later I paid the store a visit and found some of the shirts I sold them and saw that they were trying to sell them for over ten times what I bought them for! Is it like this in California, too?

[Wild Root]

Yes and no. I will go into AAARDVARK’S and see some gab shirts hanging on the racks for over three years. They have a wall of some really cool Hawaiians from the 40’s that are priced at $300. to $500! They have been there for a long time. Ever since there was a rush of people from Japan buying 30’s to 50’s vintage to take back and mark it up really high over there, it has been very bad. Seeing that the Japanese no longer buy every thing that old any more it’s funny that the price is still high. I can find some cool stuff for about $10. to $25. bucks (shirts that his) but they are stained, or have some flaws in them. So, I’ll talk them down and get it for less.

Suits are not very e-z to find any more! There was a time that I could find a vintage suit in my size once a week if I wanted. Now, good luck.

I know it’s out there, but the problem is that no one really wants it any more since the big swing craze isn’t dressing the part any more. The film industry has taken lots of it too! They hoard it like misers! They will let it go once and a wile, but they rather it just sit and rot in a warehouse some where. Vintage is like gas prices, once it goes up, it never comes down.

Root.

[flat-top]

I've got almost all of the money I've made my whole life invested in vintage clothes.........I'm serious...I've got problems! Anyway, I'll pay good money for something if I NEED to have it, but I know what a BS price is and what a realistic price is. Whenever I go to the Viva Las Vegas weekender, the vendors have anything you could want, but the prices are sky-high based on the event. I really have to watch myself there, because with vintage, it's obviously first come first serve, so I have to be sure not to blow all my dough on the first day! And my friend Brian who lives in LA is a dealer, and he gets Japanese clients once a month, and from what I saw, his mark-up is SEVERE! flat-top

[Wild Root]

Say, do you happen to know Zac Vargas? Had a shop on Melrose in Hollywood years ago in the back of a recordshop. Then moved to another shop just south of the 5. He now closed his shop for some reason. But, I know he sells at the Vagas thing. Has lots of cool knit shirts with pictures on them and the sweetest Hollywood coats. Any way, I know about the prices! I am cheep and will trade with a dealer for something. I'm a big guy and when they have something in my size, they don't mind takeing some things of mine in trade. But, I'm planing on going to the Vintage Expo on the 24th in Santa Monica. So, I hope to find a good suit there this time. And not for an arm and a leg.

Root.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Originally posted by flat-top
I've got almost all of the money I've made my whole life invested in vintage clothes.........I'm serious...I've got problems! Anyway, I'll pay good money for something if I NEED to have it, but I know what a BS price is and what a realistic price is. Whenever I go to the Viva Las Vegas weekender, the vendors have anything you could want, but the prices are sky-high based on the event. I really have to watch myself there, because with vintage, it's obviously first come first serve, so I have to be sure not to blow all my dough on the first day! And my friend Brian who lives in LA is a dealer, and he gets Japanese clients once a month, and from what I saw, his mark-up is SEVERE! flat-top

I live in Las Vegas and have never heard of this show. Is there a web site for it? If not, when and where in town is it held? Thanks.
Dusty

[Retro Grouch]

Originally posted by Wild Root
Yes and no. I will go into AAARDVARK’S and see some gab shirts hanging on the racks for over three years. They have a wall of some really cool Hawaiians from the 40’s that are priced at $300. to $500! They have been there for a long time.

Would this be the shop in the Haight Ashbury area? If so, I've been in that shop and was quite impressed with the shirts on the wall. The prices were impressive, also.

The shops in the Denver area are filled with clothes from then '60s and' 70s but not much else.

Tom

[Wild Root]

No, I'm referring to the AAARDVARK'S shop in Pasadena California.

There are AAARVARK's in most major cities of CA. There's one in SanFran, Hollywood, Venis Beach, Canoga Park, Pasadena, and there is one in Japan. AAAARDVARK'S is a glorified thrift shop and they can have some cool stuff for cheap, but the really cool stuff isn't. I call it their dust collecting collection seeing that no body would pay $500. for one vintage Hawaiian shirt. LOL LOL

Take care,

Root.

[flat-top]

Viva Las Vegas is a Rockabilly (and some doo-wop and jump blues) weekender. It takes place at the Gold Coast casino every Easter weekend. Even if you don't like the music and don't want to pay for admittance into the ballrooms, I believe you can still have access to the vintage flea market. I go every year and come back home to NY a poor man! the site is www.vivalasvegas.net flat-top

[Dusty Rhodes]

Originally posted by flat-top
Viva Las Vegas is a Rockabilly (and some doo-wop and jump blues) weekender. It takes place at the Gold Coast casino every Easter weekend. Even if you don't like the music and don't want to pay for admittance into the ballrooms, I believe you can still have access to the vintage flea market. I go every year and come back home to NY a poor man! the site is www.vivalasvegas.net flat-top

Thanks so much Flat Top. I moved here in May so I missed this years, but certianly not next!
Dusty

[Brad A. Cox]

Why is it hard for a man to find true to gender clothes these days? Most guys dress like girls anymore. Back in the day it didn't matter what your sexual preference was you still dressed swank with style. These days a guy and his gal can trade clothes and no one would know the difference. I have a weird problem with a guy wearing his wifes thong. Vintage clothes are the real thing baby.

[ITG]

Originally Posted by Brad A. Cox

Why is it hard for a man to find true to gender clothes these days? Most guys dress like girls anymore. Back in the day it didn't matter what your sexual preference was you still dressed swank with style. These days a guy and his gal can trade clothes and no one would know the difference. I have a weird problem with a guy wearing his wifes thong. Vintage clothes are the real thing baby.

Hmmmm, I guess I don't see men wearing too many women's clothes here in Texas although I can't comment on whether or not a husband is wearing his wife's thong, but I can say that there are probably more women here that wear men's style clothing than vice versa...I know I'm guilty when I wear my Indygear....LOL!