Independent vintage-fashion guide — not affiliated with the former Rose Colored Vintage shop or the domain's previous owner.

Independent vintage-fashion guide

See vintage clearly

Rose-tinted glasses are fine for falling in love with a slip dress. For deciding what it is, when it was made and whether it will fit, you need the label, the seams and a tape measure.

This site is a small reference library for people who buy, wear, collect or simply wonder about vintage clothing and lingerie. Each guide is written from public, checkable sources — university archives, museum conservation departments, federal labeling rules and long-running collector resources — and lists them at the bottom so you can go deeper.

The guides

The Gold Label edit: reading the labelUnion labels, care labels, RN numbers and fiber tags — and what collectors say about Victoria's Secret “Gold Label” pieces. How to date vintage clothingZipper types and placement, seam finishes, bias cuts and fiber dates. Vintage vs modern sizingWhy a 1971 size 12 is far smaller than a modern 12, with a measurement table. Caring for vintage fabricsMuseum guidance on climate, light, hanging, folding, moths and mold. GlossaryDeadstock, negligee, camiknickers, Qiana, WPL and more — with origins and dates.

Three clues that date almost anything

The union tagA red, white and blue ILGWU label points to 1974–1995; one reading “AFL-CIO” means 1955 or later (Cornell Kheel Center).
The care labelRequired in the US after the FTC's 1971 rule. No care label at all often means an earlier garment — or a removed tag.
The zipperSide-seam zippers are typical of the late 1930s to 1960s; plastic coil zippers became common from the early 1960s (Vintage Fashion Guild).

Why sizes don't match

US women's sizes were standardized by the National Bureau of Standards in 1958, made voluntary in 1970 and withdrawn in 1983. Since then, the same size number has come to describe a larger body: under the 1971 standard a size 8 had a 23½-inch waist, while the 2011 ASTM table gives 29½ inches. Always shop vintage by measurements — our sizing guide shows how.

Keeping it beautiful

Old fabric is not necessarily weak fabric, but it is unforgiving. The Smithsonian recommends a cool, dry, dark place at about 65–70°F and 40–50% relative humidity, clean storage, flat folding with padded folds, and cotton or acid-free wrapping instead of plastic. The care guide covers the details, including which garments should never go on a hanger.

About this site

The Label Room is a new, independent reference site launched in October 2026. It is not the vintage shop that once used this domain, and it sells nothing. More about the site.

Sources

  1. Cornell University Kheel Center — ILGWU Union Label Timeline
  2. Vintage Fashion Guild — Quick tips for dating vintage
  3. Wikipedia — US standard clothing size
  4. Smithsonian — How do I store antique textiles at home?

Pages checked October 2026. Label dates are guides, not proof: a garment can be older or newer than its label suggests.