5 Most & 5 Least Valuable Retro Fashion Items

#5 - Most: Vintage Chanel Suits

Few brands have a more luxurious reputation than Chanel. The French company was established in Paris in 1910, then rose to global fame in subsequent decades. Their suits became a staple of 60s fashion, with Jacqueline Kennedy famously wearing one in Dallas when her husband was tragically shot. Now, their suits in this style rarely sell for less than four figures. Even pre-owned ones aren’t much cheaper, making these suits a clear flex of wealth. A reason they’re so expensive is that each jacket can take up 130 hours to make, with Chanel’s head seamstress supposedly overseeing the craft of every single jacket.

#5 - Least: Lokai Bracelets

Lokai is a jewelry company located in New York City, most famous for its adventurous bracelets. They were notable because they were made of random components from natural landmarks. For instance, their classic bracelet includes parts of both Mount Everest and the Dead Sea, a fact many were skeptical of. It’s intended to be symbolic of balance, representing the highest and lowest points on Earth. They also kindly donated 10% of the profits to charity, but it wasn’t enough to keep them popular for long. The bracelets peaked in popularity during the mid 2010s, and have been rarely discussed since. Lokai has apparently donated over 8 million dollars to charity, though, which is pretty impressive.

#4 - Most: Vintage Leather Jackets

You can probably get loads of leather jackets for relatively cheap online, but the vintage ones are what people are really after. Some of the most desirable come from over 70 years ago, such as those from the mid-20th century. They were first created for aviators around the 1920s, but by the 50s they were everywhere. Ones from that decade can sell for over ten thousand dollars, depending on the designer and brand. If you want a complete 1950s rebel look, try pairing a jacket with authentic vintage cowboy boots. These are equally sought after, with the most expensive selling for over $100,000.

#4 - Least: Jelly Shoes

PVC plastic is an exceptionally cheap, mass-produced material, making it an interesting choice for budget shoes. Unfortunately, as you could expect, they’re horrible to wear. They were first manufactured after the Second World War, but no one cared about them until the 80s when the company Jelly Shoes became widely known. People criticised them for having a negative environmental impact, plus they’re considered some of the most uncomfortable shoes you can get. PVC doesn’t support your arches, alongside causing sweat, which then leads to blisters and other issues. After their 80s peak, they’ve come back a few times, but rarely for longer than a summer.

#3 - Most: Levi’s 501 Jeans

It’s been over 170 years since Levi Strauss & Co were established, and now their denim jeans are known globally. Specifically, their 501 style, which has been in production since the 19th century. On their website, newer varieties sell for a few hundred dollars, which is pretty affordable compared to other entries on our list. The most expensive were the specific Levi’s worn by Kurt Cobain, which sold for over $400,000 in 2023. Some of the oldest Levi’s jeans were a pair from 1873, found abandoned in a mine in Nevada. These fetched roughly $100,000 at an auction, but given their condition, it’s unlikely anyone would be wearing them.

#3 - Least: Fake Glasses

The early 2010s are far enough in the past that many of us feel nostalgic thinking about them. One bizarre trend from that time we don’t miss was fake glasses. As the name suggests, they serve no purpose other than to look fashionable. Many would be marketed as vintage items, but they haven’t retained their value in the years since. Some could sell for up to $500, perplexing the people who needed glasses and hated having to spend so much on them. Now, the bigger trend is blue light glasses, which are intended to protect your eyes against digital screens. Science is yet to find any clear health benefit from blocking blue light, though.

#2 - Most: Vintage Hawaiian Shirts

Also known as an aloha shirt, there are no prizes for guessing where they originated. They’ve been about since at least the 1920s, but the most valuable come from around the 40s and 50s. It’s because during this era, they were made of rayon, a fiber that made the colors look especially vibrant. Unfortunately, it had a lot of other issues, like not being environmentally friendly to craft, leading to it being phased out. Such shirts can sell for over an incredible $10,000 at auctions. Newer shirts are generally made out of cheaper materials, but there are so many varieties that vintage Hawaiian shirt collecting could become a lifelong hobby.

#2 - Least: Velour Tracksuits

Tracksuits are still commonly worn, but those made of velour are a bit more niche. They first became popular in the late 70s, but we associate them more with the 2000s. Brands such as Juicy Couture were massive just after the turn of the century, making them a staple of the Y2K aesthetic. If you’re really into that style, then you may already own a few velour tracksuits. Most people aren’t, though, making them a lesser-known nostalgia item. As such, they’re not worth much at all anymore, with official Juicy Couture tracksuits selling for less than a hundred dollars.

#1 - Most: Vintage Wristwatches

It should come as no surprise that watches are one of the most valuable fashion accessories you can own. They’ve been manufactured since the 16th century, meaning now many collector's watches are selling for millions of dollars. The most expensive ever auctioned was a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, selling for 31 million dollars in 2019. This was one of the most complex watches ever crafted, pushing the limits of how many tiny mechanisms you can fit onto your wrist. Of course, not all watches cost a fortune, but if you really want to show off your wealth, a fancy watch is one of the most common ways to do it.

#1 - Least: Pandora Bracelets

This jewelry company used to be so popular that, apparently, they sold one piece every second in 2011. They still exist, but their peak is long behind them. Their customisable bracelets were all the rage in the late 2000s, but people mostly forgot about them in the 2010s. Pandora’s primary appeal was the customisability of their bracelets. The bracelets and charms were sold separately, allowing for a ton of personalisation. Pandora would also collaborate with major companies like Disney, but it wasn’t enough to maintain the momentum they used to have, and now you rarely see them.

What fashion trend are you most nostalgic for, and did we mention it today? Let us know down in the comments section!