13 Vintage Clothing Items That Could Fund Your Retirement

Remember those olden-days clothes? Some old styles are now becoming collectable and of high value. The 1950’s through 1970’s vintage styles are now selling for high dollars. Let’s search your old closets and attics for a potential retirement fund.

1. Original Levi’s 501s (Pre-1970s)

From the 1950’s Levi Strauss & Co. jeans are selling for $8,000 up to $150,000! The Big E label jeans are the most sought. Many unworn jeans sell for crazy amounts of money, and even worn jeans can sell for thousands.

2. Nike “Moon Shoes” (1972)

Shoes from the 1972 Olympic trial Nike Moon Shoes are some of the most valuable sneakers. One pair sold for $437,000! Just like the jeans, the older the shoe the more valuable it is.

3. Band T-Shirts (1960s-70s)

Concert shirts from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones sell for thousands of dollars. A Grateful Dead shirt from 1967 sold for $17,640!! Even shirts from unknown bands are selling for hundreds.

4. Aloha Shirts (1950s)

Genuine Kamehameha and Shaheen shirts from the 1950s can sell for as much as $10,000, and as little as $2,000. The most significant factors determining their worth are features such as hand-painted artwork, mother-of-pearl buttons, and labels in the shirt stating the shirts were made in Hawaii. These shirts are extremely collectible, but the demand skyrockets when the shirt has an extraordinary pattern or a historical relevance.

5. Vintage Motorcycle Jackets

From the 1950s, original Schott Perfecto motorcycle jackets can sell for as much as $10,000. These jackets were popularized by Marlon Brando in the film “The Wild One.” These jackets are extremely covetted by collections of memorabilia. If a jacket has a fascinating story or belonged to a historical figure, the value increases tremendously.

6. Designer Handbags (1960s)

Vintage bags from the 1960s made by Hermès, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton range from $5,000 to $50,000, and sometimes even more. The bags that are valued the most are the ones in pristine condition and come with the original documents. Early editions of the iconic Hermès Kelly bag are in high demand by collectors.

7. Air Jordan 1s (1985)

First generation Air Jordan 1s that were made in 1985 are the most valuable sneakers to this day. These shoes can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A pair of game worn shoes by Michael Jordan sold in 2020 for 560,000 dollars. Even unopened pairs of the first ever Air Jordan 1s sell for 20,000 to 30,000 dollars.

8. Military Jackets (1940s-60s)

Authentic military jackets can, depending on the history documented and jacket unit elite unit, sell for thousands. A-2 leather flight jackets from WWII can sell for 3,000 to 10,000 dollars. Infantry jackets from Vietnam with patches are documented and sell for a great deal.

9. Mod Dresses (1960s)

Dresses worn by Mary Quant or Biba from London’s mod scene can go for anywhere between $2,000 to $15,000. These dresses are some of the most sought after by museums and collectors, and they are some of the most iconic pieces of the era. The priciest dresses have original tags, and their designs are more innovative than the competition.

10. Letterman Jackets (1950s)

If you get lucky enough to find an authentic 1950s letterman jacket, you could be looking at a resale price of $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the uniqueness of the patches, school, and if the jacket has the rare features of leather sleeves and chenille letters, then documented connections to famous athletes or events.

11. Space Age Fashion (1960s)

Originally designed André Courrèges, Pierre Cardin or Paco Rabanne pieces can range from $3,000 to $20,000 because of the unique and futuristic design, spells of excitement during the space race, dresses made with metal discs and vinyl mini skirts are extremely valuable to both fashion museums and collectors of high-end pieces.

12. Designer Sunglasses (1950s-60s)

Depending on the design, original Ray-Ban or cat-eye frames from the 1950s can range from $500 to $5,000, especially if they fall into the ‘rare’ category, meaning they were worn by a famous person. Additionally, early designer frames made by Christian Dior or Emilio Pucci fetch the highest prices.

13. Designer Evening Wear (1950s)

Evening gowns made by Christian Dior, Balenciaga, or Chanel from the 1950s are worth $10,000 to $50,000 especially if they have an intricate design, detailed beadwork, and the material is high quality with documented provenance. Conversely, dresses worn at famous events, or by celebrities are particularly valuable.