No matter what the fashion trend of the year is, vintage never seems to fade in style. Whether it is the buttons of a cardigan, the zipper of a dress, or the rhinestone of a necklace, vintage holds the mysteries and tales of the past.
With the increasing popularity of companies like Modcloth and ShopRuche, it is undeniable that vintage always has and always will be a key player in the fashion world.
Why the frenzy over seemingly used articles of clothing and accessories from different decades?
Certain eras represent the past in the most unique of ways. As years keep passing, new trends are born and old ones are either forgotten about or become timeless. People, especially consumers, tend to favor certain classic pieces compared to others.  
Kourtney Busch, of Frederick, enjoys web-based businesses that add a modern twist to vintage clothing.
“The prices are a little beyond my budget though. Sometimes vintage items can be too expensive,” Busch said. “But I can be quite obsessed with mostly vintage tops, I love the way they fit and that they aren’t just your average cotton tee shirt.”
Britney Hult, a vintage shopper in Frederick, Md., said that her favorite vintage item is furniture. “I like it because it’s rustic and almost tells a story with its look and what it’s been through, she said. “Trends may come and go, but vintage will always stay classic. That’s what makes it so unstoppable in the fashion scope.”
Hult also said, “I usually try to plan what I am looking for in advance and my expectations have yet to be contradicted. The shops in Frederick have such a variety of products that it can be so hard to choose from.”
Many stores in downtown Frederick offer just that. From dresses to hats to furniture, there is an endless amount of vintage that awaits the touch and the wear of a new owner.
So, why buy vintage?
Jennifer Stillrich, owner of Venus on the Half Shell, located at 101 E. Patrick St., said, “It is one-of-a-kind; you are wearing something that no one else has. It’s always an adventure looking through racks of clothes or batches of jewelry to find the right item.”
Venus on the Half Shell defines what vintage is as soon as the shopper walks in. The mannequins are tastefully displayed with the most unique and most wanted items in the store. This time of year, they are decorated with simple yet colorful dresses for the spring season. Everything in the shop is timeless: the hardwood floors, the furniture and the numerous pieces of clothing waiting to be admired.
Stillrich was quite busy helping customers in her shop, especially a young shopper looking for a prom dress. Instead of purchasing a brand new gown for the prom season, this young woman looked ecstatic in her previously owned and unique 1960s party dress.

Venus on the Half Shell is one of many distinctive vintage stores in the downtown area of Frederick. There are also antique shops complete with treasures from the past that are displayed for shoppers to see and to purchase. Not only can people wear one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry, they can also own rare decorations to display in their homes.
Tiara Day, located at 153 N. Market St., is another enchanting women’s vintage shop in downtown Frederick. The atmosphere of the shop is one of grandeur and glamour with its glass cases filled with jewelry and racks of adorable vintage clothes.

The corner view of Tiara Day located in downtown Frederick.

Maria Peck, an employee at Tiara Day, said that the top three selling items of the store are: 1950s dresses, vintage hats, and vintage jewelry.
According to Peck, vintage hats became very popular after the royal wedding of Kate and William, and shoppers also buy them to wear to local derbies. She said that vintage jewelry has become especially popular with soon-to-be brides.
“We really sell the 1940s and 1950s pieces the most in our store. They seem to be the most purchased and asked about products here due to the trends and classic designs of those eras.” Peck said.
Vintage items from numerous eras help to attract more and more shoppers in the downtown Frederick area. Peck also said that Frederick’s vintage and antique shops have something for everyone.

The windows outside of Retro-Metro give a peek of this eclectic store.

Not too far away from Venus on the Half Shell and Tiara Day, Retro-Metro also offers a variety of eclectic and sensational products for shoppers of all ages to enjoy. This store, located at 213 N. Market St., Frederick, Md., mixes the old with the new by selling items from previous decades along with items that are popular now. It may not be the simple and elegant version of vintage, but it is the fun and vibrant side that intrigues future and existing customers.
What interests people in working and visiting this trendy shop?
“The inventory of the store attracted me at first and made me want to have a job here,” Victoria an employee at Retro-Metro said.
What makes the inventory so intriguing is that most of the items tell stories from the past, and provide future stories to the next owner.That is, after all, one of the greatest characteristics that vintage has to offer for consumers.
It seems that there is a never-ending supply of some of the most memorable pieces from the past such as jewelry and dresses throughout the Frederick, Md. area.
While in downtown Frederick, stop by and discover the wonder of these vintage shops where the past not only meets the present, but also the future.