In the 1950s, Coco Chanel introduced the revolutionary “Chanel Suit,” which allowed women to express what many saw as a newfound social freedom. Then, in the 1960s, the mini-skirt was introduced, paving the way for the ultra mini-skirt we see today. In the following decade, wide-legged disco pants were all the rage for boogieing to “Saturday Night Fever.” The ’80s transformed the way we wear spandex, and the 1990s took us down a looser path by introducing the world to the grunge era (thanks for that, 1991 ... I guess?).

What do the 2000s bring us? Well, it’s difficult to categorize the 2000s into one trend. The 2Ks have shown us a conglomerate of all five decades of fashion, and even includes some earlier ones. And we call it: vintage.

Vintage style is made up of previously worn apparel from bygone decades (or even just years). These pieces from the past only grow better with age. An older designer dud (say, a vintage Valentino gown from the 1960s, for example) can be worth double, even triple the amount of a new garment of the same type.

But what propels this seemingly paradoxical movement? Designers are looking backward in order to move forward, and new customers are quite literally buying into it. So, to ask it bluntly, what is it about vintage clothing that allows these fashion "innovators" to get away with recycling of this kind?

Uniqueness, rarity, the sense of owning something that, most likely, not too many people possess anymore. It's possible that this appeal alone is enough to push a new fashion fad forward. After all, fashion is about defining yourself as a unique individual. So despite the fact that the vintage trend barely incorporates new looks into the fashion world, it might be credible to call it a “new” fashion advancement. And present designers seem to agree.

In the Fall 2010 Louis Vuitton collection (which debuted during Paris Fashion Week), LV’s creative director, Marc Jacobs, brought audiences back to a time when voluminous, high-wasted, knee-length skirts were donned with feminine blouses, reminiscent of the ’50s sock-hop days. Also during that Fashion Week, designer Miuccia Prada for Miu Miu incorporated a ’60s theme into her designs, presenting short go-go mini-dresses that looked as if Twiggy would have been destined to wear them.

However, the question is whether the vintage fad shows a lack of creativity and originality in the designers and the consumers. Have the sartorial minds of the once innovative and visionary fashion houses led us astray with just remnants of the past to dwell on? The answer is really a matter of opinion: Some may see the vintage trend as a waste of time, while others see it as a creative way of moving forward. But even those in the anti-vintage camp should admit that vintage is anything but lazy.

Pulling together the perfect pieces from the fashion pinnacles of former decades is not an easy task. In fact, it can be even more difficult than traditional innovation. Vintage-influenced designers must foresee tomorrow’s fashions and do extensive research on past trends, then find an impeccable balance between the two. Erring even the slightest bit too much toward past or future could result in the complete failure of a look. A dowdy pair of wide-legged jeans from the ’70s can seem quite obsolete if paired with another piece of ’70s flair. But if one decides to balance it with a tight-fitting tank top tucked in to the denim, a great look can be created.

This new generation of old looks on the runway converts to not only a shift back in time for retail establishments, but also a boost in sales for many secondhand stores, which has far-reaching benefits. Buying clothing from thrift stores is now considered “cool” because thrift stores are among the only places to buy authentic vintage garb.