The term vintage applies to any clothing item, accessory or interior design style that has taken influence from the style trends of previous generations. In this context, vintage is a broad term with an almost infinite number of possible origin stories for each individual item, specific to time period and style. A rustic filing cabinet that survived WW1? Vintage. An upholstered armchair circa 1982 – Vintage. An 18th century oil painting of an unused mistress and her unruly youngest son – yup, vintage!