Vintage Fashion

The trendiest sector of the antiques market? With dedicated fairs and specialist auctions, this area draws both collectors looking for pieces of fashion history as well as buyers looking simply for something to wear.

Clothes worn by celebrities often make the headline prices but even more affordable pieces of costume by now-forgotten designers have their place in the market. 


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Cape features more than 300 thank-yous for nurse Carey

30 October 2023

The front page of ATG No 2558 featured a Second World War nurse’s cape decorated with an array of cloth regimental badges that sold at Essex auction house Sworders in August last year.

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Arthur Swallow Fairs: quirky buys ideal for the curious

16 October 2023

The Cheshire showground event run by Arthur Swallow includes plenty of conversation starters.

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Frock me! fair on a roll

16 October 2023

The 'Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Show' on Sunday, October 22, at Kensington Hall looks set to be one of the most popular this year, says organiser Matthew Adam.

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French marshal’s baton handed on to new owner after auction

16 October 2023

Relic belonging to French military hero sells in Versailles, with one of Napoleon’s bicorn hats still to come

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Hand-embroidered pannier dress flies over expectations

04 September 2023

By the mid-18th century, as the fashion for the pannier dress reached its peak, some women wore dresses measuring 7ft (2.13m) wide.

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Fortnum & Mason fashion comes home

07 August 2023

Luxury fashion discovered in a charity shop is heading to upmarket London retailer Fortnum & Mason.

Vintage pannier dress

Extraordinary 18th century pannier dress stars in our pick of five auction highlights

04 August 2023

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes an ornate 5ft wide pannier dress that made five times estimate in Gloucestershire.

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Tempting machine that is full of socks appeal

10 July 2023

The Harrison semi-automatic pedestal knitting machine was designed c.1900 for producing rib socks.

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Great price? Of corset is

03 July 2023

Underwear soars above estimate at a Richard Winterton auction

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Nottingham's Lady Bay Vintage fair to open with 40 dealers

19 June 2023

Forty dealers spread across four venues in Nottingham a few minutes walk from each other is the enticing prospect for Mid-century buyers.

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Well-preserved 18th century costumes fit the bill

08 May 2023

A section of period costume and textiles that featured in a general sale at Thierry de Maigret (24% buyer’s premium) on March 24 produced some notable results for several well-preserved examples of 18th century costume.

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Norman Hartnell designs for a princess emerge at Richard Winterton

01 May 2023

A group of signed drawings by royal fashion designer Norman Hartnell (1901-79) was offered at Richard Winterton (22% buyer’s premium) on February 15.

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Live it up in mock Tudor

01 May 2023

A doublet and hose worn by the Earl of Abergavenny at the coronation of George IV in 1821 came to auction in Nottinghamshire.

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Dressed to impress with a tassel

01 May 2023

The dress tassels pictured here came to auction from the archives of Henry Newbery & Co.

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Beating the drum for Queen Elizabeth II

01 May 2023

This drum major’s uniform is from the era of Queen Elizabeth II, as indicated by the big, gilded-thread monogram E II R under the crown.

Freddie Mercury

Superstar Freddie Mercury's private collection to be sold at Sotheby’s this autumn

26 April 2023

From stage costumes, handwritten lyrics and guitars to Victorian paintings, a Faberge clock and Japanese art, the private collection of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury (1946-91) is to be offered in a series of auctions.

Victorian sporting jacket

Victorian ladies’ cycling gear wheels its way to Australia after wealthy donor bids at auction

03 April 2023

A Victorian ladies’ sporting jacket believed to have been used for cycling has been bought for the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia.

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Festival of Vintage returns to York Racecourse

03 April 2023

People watching as well as stall perusing is one of the big attractions of the Festival of Vintage held biannually at York Racecourse.

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Hands of history relating to US hero Lafayette

27 March 2023

The visit of ‘Revolutionary Wars’ hero Gilbert du Motler, the Marquis of Lafayette, to the US in 1824 spawned a large number of commemoratives.

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Array of traditional robes on offer

06 March 2023

Three online sales make up the Asia Week New York programme presented by Lark Mason Associates via the iGavel Auctions platform.

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