When we think of the phrase “vintage style” it would be easy to think of flowery dresses, sepia-toned Instagram pictures and shabby chic doilies adorning every surface. There is, however, a new breed of vintage, a new undertone in the ‘vintage world’ of both fashion and interior design: The Industrial Vintage Look.
This look is a lot more masculine and a lot rawer, using classic steel and chrome styling mixed with leather and denim to really create that straight-out-of-the-factory look that everyone seems to be going crazy for in 2020.
What age is something considered vintage?
The ‘when’ of when something becomes vintage is pretty difficult to decipher. In very general terms, an item is considered vintage if it is over 20 years old, but antique if it is over 100 years old. When it comes to interior and home styling though, the true vintage of something is not so much in the actual age of the product, but in the look and feel.
There has been a huge explosion in companies producing very modern versions of everyday products, with a very vintage twist on them. Everything from Smeg’s famous vintage retro-style kitchen appliances, to vintage caravan styling with Barefoot, to UK based vintage-styled Mutt Motorcycles. Creating “the look” both at home and out of the home has never been easier and more affordable.
Interior design trends
For the last 20 years or so, the need for interior design to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional has become even more prevalent in our everyday lives. With websites such as Pinterest making a whole business around the beautiful design, and Google making it easier than ever to search for your ideal look, styling has become less of a fashionable buzzword, and more of an everyday achievement for most.
When it comes to vintage trends, there are a few major different themes. In brief, these are:
Art Deco – Taking inspiration from the jazz-era of the roaring 20s, the art deco style combines bright golds with rich greens and functionality with style and opulence. The Art Deco look has always been popular, but we’re seeing a resurgence in recent years in both fashion and interior design and architecture.
Rustic Farmhouse – This is a classic style blending a hint of industrial with the clean fresh look of contemporary styling. You’ll find plenty of raw wood and repurposed pallets, but the overall feel will be soft and welcoming.
Industrial – This look is gaining in popularity, especially in trendy inner-city restaurants and bars. Lots of raw materials such as chrome and steel coming together with unfinished surfaces of brock and cement. Rugged and made for work is the theme, this is a more masculine style than something like the shabby chic look.
Shabby Chic – Shabby Chic can almost be called the look that started it all. Heavily influenced by the ditsy flower patterns and the worn-in look of a country cottage, the shabby chic look is very feminine, very white, and very floral.
