If you own a vintage clothing item and you are lucky enough to have the label still attached, go and take a look at it. Is it just a standard text label with no style or does it have a fancy design? If it has a fancy design, then you are lucky to have a hidden work of art.
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Note: If you click on an item and it is no longer available, don’t fret! The websites I have provided are updated daily with 1000’s of new & vintage items. Just do a quick search and see what you find.
Labels are also an excellent way to date a garment. Here is a great post by ‘Vintage Life’ on the “11 Ways to know its Vintage by Labels & Tags“. Give it a read after your done browsing this post.
Vintage Clothing Labels-Hidden Works of Art
The Vintage Examples….
The Kahala – For the liberty house Waiki. Made in Honolulu. LOVE The tropical look.
Charm – featuring a woman in a swimsuit.
1930’s Nanette Shirley Temple brand toddler dress garment label.
ABOUT THIS BRAND: Shirley Temple was 5 when she made her film debut. Her 1930s and ’40s retail dresses were designed like her movie costume dresses, in a toddler style even though she wasn’t a toddler. They were made by Nannette Manufacturing Co. of New York City, a division of Rosenau Brothers. The basic design was a skirt with soft pleats and contrasting collar. Fabrics were cotton, organdy and dotted Swiss in prints, plaids, checks and embroidery. There wasn’t much trimming, maybe a small bow, an appliqued figure or narrow lace edging. A 1936 newspaper advertised Shirley Temple dresses for $1.89 each. Dresses for older little girls were made by Cinderella, also a division of Rosenau (Source).
Playboy Clothes vintage garment label.
SWIRL’s 1950’s garment label is fantastic and very brand appropriate.
Mr Boots 1960s Vintage Garment Clothing Label.
This was a beautiful label so I added it to the collection even though it’s from an era that is a bit earlier then I usually blog about here. Vintage Lucile Dress Label-1916.
Sally Victor. Spring/summer 1960.
Fashioned by Dainty Togs Inc. 1950s clothing label.
Lumber King – 100% wool. This 1950s clothing label features a lumberjack (very appropriate).
1950s Sport Time of California Vintage Dress Label.
1940’s White Mountain Ski Wear.
Betty Jane – 1940s Girls dress vintage garment label.
Here are 2 labels from my own collection of vintage clothing. ‘Marvel’ from a 1950s house dress (seen HERE).
Flair of Miami. I love this 1950s tag, I just wish someone had not taken a marker to it.
Lastly, do you have some vintage labels that you would love to have more information on? Then makes sure you visit the ‘Vintage Fashion Guild Free Label Resource‘ page. It’s filled with loads of wonderful labels and their history.
Question Time: Do you have a favourite label on an item of clothing you own? Or did you have a favourite from above? Share in the comments below!
FURTHER READING:
- Vintage Fashion 1920s-1960s – archived posts by the Vintage Inn Blog
- Vintage Fashion Designers
Liz
What a fun and informative post. Inspired! Now I want to catalog all the labels from my vintage togs. It’s funny b/c in Girl in the Jitterbug Dress, Mrs. Peppy gives clothing labels to Violet. I don’t think I envisioned anything figurative on the labels. Drats! I should have. LOL. Thanks for sharing this cool post!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Tam AND feel inspired to start your own collection. I look forward to maybe one day seeing what goodies are hidden on your vintage gems 🙂
Liz
I love this post! Vintage clothing labels really are works of art and I love looking at them! And thank you for all the awesome vintage label resources as well!! 🙂
The vintage label resource is a total amazing time waster so make sure your not to busy when you head there 🙂
I love old labels, And when I made a quilt for my partner from his dad’s old shirts, plus other family clothing, I harvested a fair few, and included them in the quilt.
If I could post my favourite here, I would.
So, here’s a link.
http://dalyght.ca/fileshare/dons_mountie_coat.jpg
I LOVE this label!! So Canadian! Thank you so much for sharing this with me. Old labels are the best and it’s been fun to see all the goodies everyone has.
Liz
I love old labels, And when I made a quilt for my partner from his dad’s old shirts, plus other family members’ clothing, I harvested a fair few, and included them in the quilt.
If I could post my favourite here, I would.
But here’s a link.
http://dalyght.ca/fileshare/dons_mountie_coat.jpg
I LOVE this label!! So Canadian! Thank you so much for sharing this with me. Old labels are the best and it’s been fun to see all the goodies everyone has.
Liz
They just don’t make labels like they used to, do they? I absolutely love the first one, it would make the wearer feel so special. A great post! xx
Labels are most definitely NOT made like they used to, you got that right. One wash and it’s ripped already. So glad you enjoyed the post Cate 🙂
I just picked up a box full of vintage clothing labels today! Little did I know, the only problem is when I start going through them the cat comes and sits in the box, lol
hahahaha ohhhh cats 🙂 Good luck sorting them! lol!
Liz
Almost done! Like I have nothing better todo with my time, lol. Will try to take some photos of my favs and post latter.
Wonderful! Thanks Tess.
Looking for information on 1940s women’s dresses. My label says Murray Made of California.
Hi Lynn,
Check out this website: https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/ to see if your label is there. I don’t have any information personally. Sorry about that!
Good luck with your search!
Liz