Is it really "vintage"?

Dress vintage gifted from the amazing kathy (my crooked hem? She changed her name)
Belt Target
Shoes Dansko Berks Cambridge
Headthing Forever 21

I decided a year ago to stop dressing for others and to dress only for myself. So many many times I am not confident or sure n my outfit. Today was one of them. Then I was made fun of and my ego went splat. The two people were making fun of me at the counter of Dunkin They didn't think I heard. I called them out and said while smiling "talking about me were we?"
She was all no ma'am and complimented my necklace. grumble. I.heard.you

Today I shall be discussing improper word usage. Now I have been known to misuse a word, I know and admit to that. I also know that I routinely look up words to make sure I have the definition correct before I throw those $.25 words around in conversation. One word that is misused often that I find irksome is VINTAGE. Now I know everyone's idea of vintage is a as vast as their idea of art. Something that is oh, say 10 years old? I think we can all agree that is not vintage. I think we can agree 20-25 (I lean to 25+) years old is more a proper definition of vintage. Oh and just because you bought it at a thrift store does NOT mean it is vintage. Take this dress for example. It was gifted to me by someone who bought it in a thrift store some years ago. While I don't know the exact age on it, it is pretty fair to say on close inspection it is at least 20 years old. The tags in it, the fabric and the age on the lace makes it fair to say its PROBABLY from the 50's-60's but I can't say for sure so I will leave it at vintage and not put an era on it. (That bugs me too. Saying IT IS from the 60's when its clearly not. How about "60's feel"? that's safer to say)

I have come across more than a dozen items on various blogs and stores claiming things are vintage when I KNOW they aren't. One in particular was a Target dress from this year. I did casually mention this to the person this time. Usually I let it go and give them a good ol' eyeroll. But this time it was a store and misleading people intentional or not is not best business practice. They very well might not of known. But this is my point. If you don't know DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DO. I will respect nothing more than an honest "I don't know" Its a good idea for all aspects of your life. Saying "I don't know" followed shortly by "but I can find out" or "my best guess is".

As I said I am not faultless in misusing words, but come on clothing lovers lets stop the overuse of the word vintage. Lets make a gentlemen's ( and woman's for you pc folk) agreement that 25 is a good cutoff. So prior to 1984 ok?


Is there a word that irks you when people use it wrong?


I think my friend Steve said it best.
" OMG that's nearly SIX MONTHS OLD! Definitely vintage. DON'T TOUCH IT IT'LL CRUMBLE INTO DUST"