new slang

Vintage is having a moment. As 2022 rolls on, what has become clear, even with the return to physical fashion shows and the seasonal spectacle of new collections, is that the lust for unique vintage and second-hand pieces has grown way beyond the occasional steal. While sustainability has become the major challenge of the fashion industry today, people are looking for more responsible wardrobe choices – putting pre-loved on top of their shopping list.

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“When it comes to spotting vintage trends, it’s important to highlight the overall predominant trend: that at the moment, there is no greater trend than buying second hand in general,” say Pia Anna Kierulff and Mai-Britt Gamdrup, founders of Jerome Vintage and Rosy Vintage, two of the most exciting vintage destinations in Copenhagen. Adding: “Vintage has never been more inclusive. Regardless of age, gender, income or origin, there is a consensus that it is more fun, better for the environment, and definitely cooler than buying poorly produced clothes from any cheap high street brand.” Still, the phenomenon cannot just be pinned down to a greener ethos. With the enduring 90s trend, celebrities and street style stars alike are taking cues from the icons of the period. Whilst bringing back the pieces that defined a decade, vintage has transformed into a beloved frequenter on and off the red carpet, reliably hitting the headlines.

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After a year or two of Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Zendaya, and Dua Lipa browsing the archives of Chanel, Tom Ford for Gucci, John Galliano for Dior, and Vivienne Westwood for the popular classics, the Hollywood style set is now foraging for the most offbeat wardrobe additions that make the next talking point. This is where vintage shops in Scandinavia appear on the radar. The yields of Hailey Bieber’s treasure hunt were on full display when she was seen in a vintage leather jacket from the Swedish vintage online store Worn last Sunday.

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Fueled by major international fashion retrospectives and big screen events such as House of Gucci, Halston and Matrix Resurrections, specific eras are now having a comeback with a cult following of vintage aficionados.

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Below, Scandinavia’s top vintage sellers share the most important vintage trends we will be wearing in 2022. Take notes, fashion lovers.

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Fashion’s love affair with Jean Paul Gaultier

Maybe it is due to Jean Paul Gaultier’s unparalleled talent to intertwine fun with flashing some flesh. Fact is that Bella Hadid and Kim Kardashian cannot get enough of the 1996’s Cyber Baba mesh top and Body Morphing dress of the French designer that was reissued in the SS21 collection of the fashion house. Complimented by the recent resurgence on screen, in the form of a 1994’s red and black jacquard vest in Euphoria worn by Zendaya, and a fantastic three-piece suit pulled off by Sarah Jessica Parker in And Just Like That, Jean Paul Gaultier continues to gain traction. His genius has taken the hearts of vintage lovers in Scandinavia as well: “We actually never had much Jean Paul Gaultier in the shop but recently, we seem to have developed a thing for his designs – so at the moment you will find a lot of that in the store,” tell us Kierulff and Gamdrup of Jerome Vintage.

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Roberto Cavalli’s in-demand animal prints and sandblasted denim pieces

Y2K trends are continuing their triumph, so why not pull from the original period? Miley Cirus, Lizzo, Zendaya, and Iris Law are currently fascinated by Roberto Cavalli, mirrored in the increased demand at vintage dealers worldwide. “We’re working hard to keep up with demand for the major commercial successes of the 90s and 2000s, like Roberto Cavalli’s dresses in chinoiserie and amour tattoo motifs,” says Jesper Richardy, founder and owner of Time’s Up. The Copenhagen one-stop-shop for vintage designer and archival pieces is widely known as the darling of international stylists and stars like Naomi Campbell, Jane Birkin, and Lady Gaga.

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The good news is that certified vintage obsessives can still get their hand on a coveted Cavalli at the store. As Roberto Cavalli’s current creative director Fausto Puglisi brought back the iconic autumn/winter 2000 tiger pattern for spring/summer 2022, he is nourishing the rising interest in the originals, making them a clever investment for any Cavalli fan.

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The Miu Miu momentum

“With social media apps like Instagram and Tik Tok, fashion influencers become a bigger part of shopping decisions as we get the latest collections delivered to our phones every day. Trends are coming straight from the runway, just as we experience an increasing interest in miniskirts thanks to Miu Miu’s praised spring/summer 2022 collection,” says Stella Björt, manager and buyer at Reykjavík’s Spúútnik. Miuccia Prada’s fresh interpretation of modern workwear and her cutting-off any hem with daring energy led to the skin-baring Miu Miu set and ultra-short minis that everyone will want to wear this coming summer.

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​Boxy silhouettes play a main role in the school-kid-drenched collection as well, showing off in a collective hunt for that one perfect leather jacket. Sophia Johansson and Ivar Djurhuus, founders of Prisløs in Oslo, look at it like this: “Currently people are searching for the perfect oversized leather jacket: the jacket that has the shape, texture, and colour that you just love. It’s supposed to look oversized but not too big.” Both founders see a demand for tailor-made vintage blazers as well. The Italian fashion house just created another exceptional collection for autumn/winter 2022 with a contemporary take on the tennis look – featuring more leather jackets and miniskirts – so it is safe to say that the hype around vintage Miu Miu will accelerate as well.

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