Vintage resale · Secondhand fashion
Vintage resale: how to buy and sell vintage clothing
Vintage clothing is a growing corner of secondhand fashion: one-of-a-kind pieces, better fabrics and a lower footprint than buying new. Whether you're clearing out a parent's wardrobe or hunting for a 1990s band tee, this guide covers how to recognize real vintage, how to list it so it sells, and how to buy it safely on the FitPlug marketplace.
What counts as vintage
Most of the resale world calls clothing vintage once it's around 20 years old. Pieces from the last two decades are usually just secondhand or preloved, and anything 100 years or older is antique. "Vintage style" and "retro" describe new clothing designed to look older. Using these words accurately matters: buyers searching for vintage expect the real thing, and an honest description is your best protection against a "not as described" claim.
How to tell if clothing is really vintage
No single detail dates a garment. Look for several clues that agree with each other.
Care labels
In the US, permanent care-instruction labels became a federal requirement in the early 1970s. A garment with no care label at all may be older than that, though labels are often cut out, so treat this as one clue rather than proof.
RN numbers
Many US-made and US-sold garments carry an RN (Registered Identification Number) on the label. The Federal Trade Commission has issued RNs since the late 1950s, and you can look one up on the FTC's website to see which company it belongs to, which helps date the piece.
Union labels
Some American clothing carries a union label, such as the ILGWU's. The design of these labels changed over the decades, so collectors use them to narrow down when a piece was made.
Zippers and fastenings
Metal zippers from brands like Talon are common on older garments; plastic and nylon zippers became widespread later. Look at the zipper pull for a maker's name.
Stitching and construction
Many T-shirts made before the mid-1990s use a single line of stitching on the sleeve and bottom hems. Hand-finished seams and heavier fabrics can also point to an older piece.
Sizing
Sizes have shifted over time, so a vintage medium often fits like a modern small. Always measure rather than trusting the tag.
How to sell vintage clothing
1. Measure everything
Give chest (pit to pit), length, shoulders and sleeve for tops; waist, rise, inseam and leg opening for pants. Buyers of vintage rely on measurements far more than the size on the label.
2. Photograph the labels and the flaws
Include the brand label, care label, any RN or union label, the zipper pull and close-ups of wear. Honest photos of small holes, fading or stains build trust and prevent claims.
3. Grade the condition honestly
On FitPlug you choose new with tags, like new, good or fair. Vintage rarely qualifies as like new; describe the wear in plain words in the description.
4. Say what you know, and what you don't
If you're confident of the decade, say why ("care label and Talon zipper suggest 1970s"). If you're not, say "vintage style" or "era unknown" rather than guessing. Only make authenticity claims you can support.
5. Price from sold items, not asking prices
Look at what comparable pieces have actually sold for. Asking prices on unsold listings tell you little. Factor in your time, and remember FitPlug buyers can make offers, so leave some room.
On FitPlug, add the piece to your virtual closet first, then list it from its page. Listing is free; when it sells you print a prepaid shipping label, and you're paid once the buyer confirms it arrived, or automatically a few days after tracking shows delivery. Our guide to reselling clothes has a fuller checklist for photos and descriptions.
How to buy vintage with confidence
Ask the seller for measurements and compare them with a similar piece you already own; that tells you far more than the label size. Look for photos of the labels and any flaws, and message the seller if something isn't shown. Expect honest signs of age, such as softened fabric or light fading, and decide whether they add character or bother you. If a price feels high, make an offer.
Questions people ask
How old does clothing have to be to count as vintage?
There's no legal definition, but most sellers and collectors use about 20 years as the line. Items 100 years or older are usually called antique. Newer clothing made to look old is "vintage style" or "retro", not vintage.
Is it safe to buy vintage from people's closets on FitPlug?
Payments go through secure Stripe checkout, sellers ship with a tracked, prepaid label, and sellers aren't paid until the piece has arrived. If an item never arrives or isn't as described, you can open a claim before the seller is paid, and if it's upheld you're refunded in full.
Can I make an offer on a vintage piece?
Yes. You can make an offer on listed pieces, and on pieces sitting in other members' closets that aren't listed yet. The owner chooses whether to accept.
Where does FitPlug ship?
The FitPlug marketplace is currently available in the United States, with US sellers shipping to US buyers.
Shop or sell vintage on FitPlug
Browse secondhand and vintage pieces from real closets, or add yours and start selling.
Updated October 26, 2026. Dating clues are general guidance, not proof of age; always describe what you can see.