The current vintage trend may have begun as a way to get something new for less, but there is more to it now than just the prices. Once shoppers started diving into resale and vintage, they found a lost treasure trove of fashion.

Part of the growth in vintage has to do with the category of “vintage” no longer being limited to resale. We asked on SocialStylists: What is Vintage? The choices were 1950s or earlier, 1980s or earlier, and a look not an age. Overwhelmingly our users voted that vintage is a look.

Boredom has also contributed to the rise in vintage. When the economy gets difficult, stores buy “safer” inventory because consumers are buying only what they need. This lead to designers producing more of those basics, which leads to people nodding off during the fashion shows. And shoppers get bored.

But the last hurdle for vintage to go mainstream was the vintage boutiques themselves. With all the pieces being unique, the shops can’t possibly set up displays like traditional stores. So they end up just racking every item and a shopper spends hours sifting through racks in search of that one special piece. Let’s be honest, it takes dedication to find a vintage piece worth the effort. Now we have online vintage stores that lay it out beautifully for us. The vintage paradise at etsy.com has two of my favorite vintage collectors: Small Earth and Back in Style. A couple of clicks through and you can tell that these shops choose each item thoughtfully – they make it easy because they do the rummaging and inspecting for you.

Then if you just like new over resale, there is the “new vintage.” Several online shops now have a Vintage section. My personal favorites for new vintage are Betsey Johnson and Kenley Collins. Betsey Johnson is the undisputed Queen of Vintage-inspired dresses and Kenley Collins made her mark with vintage-inspired pieces on Project Runway. The obvious benefits of new vintage are that the garments generally come in more than one size and you don’t have to inspect the garments (as much) for stains and small tears. But you will be missing the delicate details and romanticism of true vintage.

So now there is something for all of us in vintage. Economics aside, I believe that is the reason for vintage’s popularity.