Vintage clothing dating research dating coustumes

The placement of the zip can also help – 1930s-1940s dressers usually had a zip in the side seam, whereas dresses from the 50s onwards favoured a placement at the centre back.Labels The label can be full of clues as to an item’s age, making it your go-to when dating vintage.Close examination of sleeves and collars can provide valuable information.

Enter a photo type into its search engine and you will see many examples that may turn out to be similar to the photograph you are researching. Both the men in my photo are young, but one appears to be older than the other, and he has arm slung around his younger brother's shoulders. The elder is wearing a watch chain and a pinky ring. Michael was seven years older than Peter, who was seven years older than Timothy.

Two young men stare out at me from a small old photograph. A variety of websites offer tips and tools, and they have the great advantage of being able to provide visual aids.

On the back, in my grandmother's handwriting, is written "Grandpa King's brothers." At least I've got some information to work with, but I'm eager to learn more: When was the picture taken? Which two of my great-grandfather's brothers are these? Type of photograph To learn more about my mystery photo, I checked examples of photos in the collections of Andrew J. Both websites detail the history of photography, including samples of various types of photography, such as daguerreotype, cabinet card and tintype.

Style When dating vintage, the style of the sleeve can often be a telltale sign based on principles of what was fashionable in each decade.

Look also at the length of the skirt – the timeline below briefly illustrates skirt styles and lengths from the 1930s to early 60s.