Ermahgerd, it’s August! Yesterday, Debbie and Camilla took me out for the afternoon for an early birthday celebration because I’ll be gone over the weekend of my actual birthday. I left work at 12 and picked up Camilla, and then we drove out to Slättarps Gård, which was a lovely location out in the middle of absolute nowhere. There was a café/restaurant, outdoor seating in a garden bower, an art gallery, a florist, and a little boutique. We had a delicious lunch, sitting in the shade of the trees, with beautiful weather, blue skies, warm and breezy summer weather. They gave me a gorgeously simple silver Sägen bracelet. Then we explored the little stores and all 3 of us ended up buying jewelry in the gallery. Then in the flower shop, I found a feather hummingbird for my Christmas tree, and a bunch of peacock feathers (including white ones!) to put in a vase in one of our tall skinny windows. The best part was just hanging out for several hours: talking, laughing, and being together.
The card that they gave me said Congratulations! You’re not old, you’re vintage! and it sparked a discussion about how old you have to be to be considered vintage. Debbie said cars are considered classic when they are only 20 years old. The Internet says at least 20 years old, but not more than 40. One website had this to say:
There is no universally agreed upon definition for how old something must be to be considered a “classic”, as the term is somewhat subjective. However, some general guidelines often used:
- Literature, films, or music are often considered “classic” if they are at least 50-100 years old and have stood the test of time, maintaining popularity and critical acclaim over multiple generations.
- Classic cars are typically defined as vehicles that are at least 25-30 years old, with a distinctive and iconic design from a bygone era.
- In the culinary world, classic recipes or dishes are often ones that have been around for decades or even centuries, becoming timeless staples of a cuisine.
- In the fine arts, paintings, sculptures, or architectural works may be considered classics if they were created centuries ago by renowned masters and continue to be highly revered.
The key factor is that a “classic” has endured and become recognized as an outstanding example within its medium or genre, having influenced later works and withstood changing trends and tastes over an extended period of time. The specific age threshold can vary depending on the context, but generally the longer something has maintained its significance, the more likely it is to be considered a true classic.
Hmmm. Interesting. In regards to cars, one website had this info: Usually, the classic car moniker applies to vehicles over 20 years old. Antique cars are over 45 years old, and vintage cars are built between 1919 and 1930.
I was told by an antiques dealer years ago in Chicago, that items aren’t considered antique until they are at least 100 years old. This was also interesting, as I was Googling around: Retro comes from the French word retro, meaning to move backward. The world’s first use of this term was in 1972, encompassing colorful new technology and fashion until the 1990s. Any item fifteen years old can be considered a retro item. However, you can still call an item created today that evokes the vibrant styles of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and early 90s retro.
So retro seems to be similar to classic: at least 15-20 years old but not older than 40-45.
Vintage, on the other hand, are items that are much younger than antiques. These pieces are typically defined as being at least 20 years old but less than 100 years old. The term “true vintage” is a sub-category for items that are at least 50 years old.
Some of the definitions also refer to style, not just age, and of course, no one really agrees on anything specific, and the definitions can vary depending on what kind of thing you are talking about.
Cars, furniture, music, art, people…
Classic, retro, vintage, antique…
All of these terms are better than “old”! And don’t even get me started on geriatric, over-the-hill, elderly, venerable, or ancient!
I’d rather be referred to as true vintage than antique, I guess. Best of all would be timeless, haha!
*Cindy Joseph
Mood: relaxed
Music: Lissie—Cuckoo