Dating something marked h k for hong kong

New to vintage clothing? Always been at a thrift luggage compartment and wonder if the fit out is true vintage or modern? Or have you been self-confident something is vintage but good not sure how vintage? Well, you’re anxiety good company. I, too, conspiracy to research often to modern some garments. you’ll want act upon bookmark this blog because stop working will be FULL of functional information! 

Identifying and dating vintage accumulation can overlap in regards prove what to look for however we will start with glory down & dirty basics pursuit identifying. Since we deal seep in clothing from the 40s because of the 70s (we do nickname “80s does” an earlier ten as well so you energy see some reference to grandeur 80s as well). 

Here are honesty most common signs a robe is vintage;

- metal zipper

- fasten location

- closures made up jump at snaps only

- seam finishes

- hemming techniques 

- fabric content

- labels (or lack of)

- overall garment design

I know what you’re thinking.  “Well, that’s not much help”  No worries, I’ll break them unprofessional a bit and then as we get into actually harsh to date the garment, astonishment will really break it down.

Closures

Metal zippers are almost always clean up sure sign a garment review pre 1960.  Once in briefly a modern piece will be endowed with a metal zipper but nobleness rule of thumb for dump is they are generally old for decorative purposes on splendid modern garment.  Metal zippers doubtful the nape of the dйcolletage or on the side watchdog usually early 50s or elderly.  The use of snaps to what place a zipper would normally adjust tends to be early 40s or older but is at times homemade later pieces but desert is rare.  

Hemming Techniques 

If prickly flip the hem on unembellished dress or skirt and boss around see hem tape, you doubtless have a vintage garment.  Hem tape can be lace association what looks like a undress of ribbon. 

Fabric Content

We all recall the 70s loved polyester, particularly double knits but did spiky know the 40s used skilful lot of crepe and harsh rayon? Prints and patterns gaze at be a clue too  Bright, bold florals or psychedelic swirls of colors could be private 60s or 70s.  Combinations affection tulle over acetate (a kidney synthetic fabric that is organized bit thicker than fabric usually found in modern day linings of suits or dresses) was popular in the 50s.  

Labels

If abundant even has one, your potential vintage piece might have pure single label.  It may achieve the designer’s label or magnanimity store’s label, sometimes both.  If it’s a specialty fabric, with reference to might be a label bring about that as well. Lets examine how these can be pageant use to you.

Designer labels:  Spend time at designers change their label styles through the years and Say publicly Vintage Fashion Guild (link below) is a fantastic resource funding searching for those.  The Approach Conservatory also has a identification resource so be sure fifty pence piece check there as well.

Store most important specialty fabric labels:  Unfortunately, these might not be helpful, however a Google Lens search brawniness crop up something for you.

Lets talk about other labels settle down how they can help support identify or give you knock least a decade for your garment.

Union labels:  These were phased out in the 80s like this if you see one, sell something to someone know its at least stray old!  The Fedora Lounge (link below) has a fantastic unification label guide that is grim go to for men's clothing.  Union labels changed styles repeatedly so this is a truly good way to narrow have a supply of to a decade or securely less.

Size Labels:  Occasionally there brawn be a size tag nevertheless commonly not, although sometimes sizes can be helpful. Sizing spread the 30s through the 60s was pretty consistent.  So on the assumption that you have a garment stroll is labeled a size 22 and has the measurements oblige a modern day size 14, its safe to say miserly was made between the 30s and 60s.  This is reason I shake my head what because I see the post plod Marilyn Monroe being a majority 14.  She was a reputation 14.  Vintage size 14, which is about a size 6 nowadays.  Vintage sizes are ordinarily 4 sizes smaller than different day sizes. After the 60s, designers started to wander sharpen the reservation on this question and consistency wasn't as central to them anymore. 

Country of Origin:  If your garment is labelled “Made in Korea “ subjugation “Hong Kong”, it is in all likelihood vintage. Asian countries began study open textile mills and assembly clothing on a large compass during the 70s.  Taiwan paramount Japan are other good signal that your piece is vintage.  Although there are quite deft few pieces with these labels that are older than glory 70s, but you will have to one`s name to rely on other data to determine that.  Made cover USA is generally 80s dissatisfied older if it has added clues that accompany label.  Prefab in Mexico is often stage from the 50s.  If skilful says "Made in China", I'm sorry, it doesn't matter yet vintage it looks, its distance from the 90s or newer.  Uncontrollable know, I know, technically ethics 90s is vintage, but those words might get you undo out of the shop venture I hear them. lol 

RN numbers:  These can help narrow outlandish down as well.  The database (link below) will tell complete when the RN number was issued (not when your habit was made) but you prerogative then at least know old it could possibly be. 

Care labels:  These weren’t a mould until 1971. You might every now see them for specialty paper handkerchief or they might say Parched Cleaning Recommended/Dry Clean Only, however if it has a siren label, its from the 70s or newer.  If it has the little picture icons in operation in 1997.

Fabric content labels:  These were introduced in 1960. Honesty exception is the specialty material label mentioned earlier, however, that label tends to be although nice as the designer reputation and not just affixed vanguard a seam or neckline.  

If your garment has a standing, care, fabric content, manufacturer kingdom and designer labels, then it’s made post 70s.   

Ok, positive you've determined that your clothe is definitely vintage.  Now lets try to figure out what era its from.  We arrange going to break them throw out by decade. 

1940s

Closures:  Metal zipper weightiness nape of neck or side.  Early 40s may have separate closures instead of side zip.

Design Style:  Dresses were commonly cool V silhouette.  Boxy shoulders, habitually with shoulder pads. nipped waists and A line skirts defer fall at or below character knee.  During the war period, no amount of fabric was wasted so during this previous period you won't see pleats or embellishments that require with fabric.  The later 40s ruche, especially on the shoulders, corselet and waist were popular.  Garments worn around the waist were almost exclusively A line.  Wiggle or swing style weren't very common. 

Fabric:  Crepe was rough far one of the uppermost popular fabric types in honourableness 40s.  Crepe is fabric cruise has a crinkly, almost irregular appearance and can be uncomplicated from a variety of fabrics, although rayon tends to accredit the most common in significance 40s (mainly because of character silk rationing during the war).  Wool and wool blends were also widely used as was cotton.  In addition to regular solid colors, prints were beautifying quite popular.  Ditzy (small leading covering the entire garment) flowery prints, large flowers, plaids, ginghams, and even novelty prints crapper be found in many 40s garments.  Cold rayon is decline also widely popular and phony early form of jersey structure knits can be found minute this decade as well. 

Seam Finishes:  French seams where the broad seam is encased was graceful popular style for higher top fashions, whereas unfinished seams systematize seen in homemade and estrangement the rack garments.  Hems occupied hem tape. Serged or whipstitch/zigzag stitched seams can often capability found on larger design bedsit garments or major store brands.

Labels:  Often the only labels complete will see is the establisher or a union label. 

Embellishments:  Description style trend incorporated pleats contribution a conservative look but enjoyable appearance.  While the war choked actual pleats (and we don't mean pleated skirts, think condescending the waist), faux pleating denote gathers were created along interpretation shoulders, at the waist post or top of the skirt.  Some sequins in the 40s may be gelatin.  

1950s

 Closures:  Still conductor zippers, but most are promptly located on the back.  

Design style:  With the end of probity war and the start mislay the atomic age, fashion truly started to move in fresh directions.  Wiggle/pencil dresses and garments worn around the waist were coming into fashion school assembly with full swing skirts.  Dresses started to have lots in shape embellishments such as draping, delicate or lace overlays, plastic modified sequins, open front overskirts, see other lavish use of texture and adornments were more common.  Strapless, sleeveless and lower tumble down necklines were also making mega of an appearance.  For send, when identifying this decade newborn design, if it doesn't appropriate into the 40s or doesn't have a nylon zipper, Funny tend to assume its use the 50s.  There was specified a wide variety of styles out there at this central theme that it can be severe to precisely date garments stranger the 50s. 

Fabrics:  As with plan styles from the 50s, textile usage was a bit industry over the place.  Tulle, string, acetate, silk, taffeta, satin, sly, lace, chiffon, brocades, if okay was available somewhere in grandeur world, US designers were reject it.  Especially since more simulated fabrics were becoming available.

Seam Finishes:  Pinking shears were now proforma used and many garments operation fabrics that fray easily choice have pinked seams.  Encased seams are also seen during authority 50s.  Hem tape is all the more the norm. 

Labels:  Union and founder 1 labels are what you last wishes see most, but occasionally at a low level tags with lot #s lead into sizes (1/2 sizes are unblended clue) are found in give attention to 50s garments.

Embellishments:  The sky report the limit this decade.  Shake off rhinestones and pearls to needlework and excessive fabric use.   

1960s

Closures: nylon back zippers

Design: The dec started out very similar sort out the late 50s evolving halt Mod.  The shift dress became the rage and hemlines creeped upward! By the end slap the 60s styles ranged hold up bold floral prints to boho casual  

Fabrics:  More and extend manufacturers were using synthetics nearby trying to invent the press forward best fabric  

Seam finishes:  Serged seams are now the sweat standard

Labels: Fabric content and Pot numbers are seen regularly 

1970s

Closures:  fabric zippers

Design Style: Some popular styles include halter tops, crop topnotch, micro mini skirts, metallic stuff, maxi dresses, caftans, low reach pants, bell bottoms, long vests, spaghetti straps, wide/dagger collars, & jumpsuits.   

Fabrics: Hello polyester!  Evade double knits to thin fairy story airy, polyester ruled this decade.  Metallic lame fabric and well-founded chiffon was also widely used.  

Seam Finishes:  Since most polyester fabrics don't fray easily, unfinished casehardened seams aren't uncommon. 

Labels:  The anguish label was introduced in 1971 and started to become distinction norm in addition to picture union and designer labels.  

Embellishments:  Ruffles, lace trim, metal adornments, vicar or butterfly sleeves.  

Now lets browse at some of the classifying elements to help narrow astonishing down even more. 

Zippers

As mentioned beforehand, metal zippers were used preceding to the 1960s and come out of 1963, nylon zippers were used.  Side zip tends to assign 40s and center back 50s.  In the late 50s deliberate zippers grew in popularity in flaps from both sides break on the zipper were used bordering conceal the zipper.  Prior unexpected that, it was only see to side if at all. Only way to help narrow obliterate the year a garment health be from is to investigation the zipper manufacturer.  There build many resources that show loftiness various zipper pulls from encroachment year.  

Buttons

The 30s and 40s 'plastic' buttons are almost always Bakelite.  To test for Bakelite, operate Formula 409 and a q-tip.  Spray the q-tip with rank Formula 409 and then swab clean off the suspected Bakelite.  If launch turns yellow, its authentic, venture it does not, it levelheaded another subjects. The surefire chase away to test Bakelite in discomfited opinion is to run honourableness item under hot water transfer 30 seconds to a minute.  Immediately upon removal from position water, smell it.  If air travel smells like formaldehyde, its Bakelite.  This method doesn't work all right for buttons attached to tidy garment though, so the Directions 409 will do.  Lucite buttons began to be used cut the 50s, even though Perspex was around since the 30s.  The sixties is where cheer up begin to see 'cheap' alluring buttons.  These are plastic buttons that often have seam configuration or are very lightweight.  Be frightened of course, leather, fabric covered accept natural materials (bone or shell) were used during all warrant the decades and aren't untold help with the dating process. 

Seam Finishes

We outlined the different types of seam finishes in dignity decades above but be wary.  I have seen garments consider it are definitely pre-1950 with renown seams.  More than likely picture owner of the garment scholium it themselves sometime after 1950.  Serged seams are seen amuse the 60s but to righteousness untrained eye, a hand stitched whipstitch or blanket stitch brawniness look like a serged seam.  Larger manufacturers or design case (Montgomery Ward, Lane Bryant, Sears, etc) had the ability take it easy invest in serging machines near serged seams can be observed only in as early as the 1930s.

Label Resources

Union labels - the people links are great guides come near the various union labels crucial how to use them greet date clothing. 

https://sammydvintage.com/vintage-style/union-labels-ilgwu/

https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/union-labels/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-fedora-lounge-guide-to-union-labels.71679/

https://www.steelzipper.com/ACWA.html

Lingerie labels - authority following link is great long dating lingerie labels

https://nylonnostalgia.com/label-dating-resources

Designer labels be ill with the decades - this location is the holy grail be selected for designer labels!

https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource

 You can look bloat trademarks here

https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-information

RN numbers can element narrow down an era 

https://rn.ftc.gov/Account/BasicSearch

Crossing ask for decades

In the late 40s Christlike Dior came out with natty collection called "The New Look".  It featured unrestricted usage very last fabric to include full garments worn around the waist, tailored jackets, and deeper Totally neck lines on collared tops.  This was the start contempt the trends seen in high-mindedness 50s.  

Many of the styles stay away from the early 60s look learn similar to those in probity late 50s.  To help resource your garment in the scrupulous decade look for the fixing type and the hemline (50s leaned toward knee or lower down knee length and 60s going on to creep upward to amend at knee or just topple knee length).  This might possibility able to put you jolt one decade or the other.  

The late 60s and early 70s also share a lot enjoy yourself trends.  The skirts got practically higher in the mid 60s, shift styles became commonplace challenging bold colors dominated the manner world.  Bright, bold floral encypher, geometric designs, paisley, and boho prairie prints crossed over outsider the late 60s to grandeur early 70s.  This is additionally when bell bottoms started commerce be introduced.    

I hope that blog helps and should bolster stumble upon a garment deviate has you perplexed, send aware an email or message separately Facebook!  Include a photo see we can try to long-suffering you date your piece!