The decades may be long gone, but the clothing is more popular than ever.

The employees of several vintage clothing stores report that many middle school, high school and college-aged students are looking for items from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

Lynn Lloyd, one of the owners of Ridiculous Rags, 2414 Lincoln Way, said the majority of the store’s clothing is bought secondhand.

“We shop garage sales, Salvation Armys, thrift stores,” Lloyd said. “The biggest thing right now is the authentic ’70s [clothing].”

Lloyd said some of the hot items include polyester shirts and disco dresses.

Melanie Rusk, senior in horticulture, said she shops for vintage items at secondhand stores and garage sales.

“I have some really nice disco dresses, which I really like wearing,” she said.

Rusk said she also likes vintage shoes, but they are “impossible” to find. She said she started wearing vintage clothing while she was in high school.

“Not a lot of people wore it at the time,” she said. “It looked different, and now I wear it because I have it.”

Justin Scott, a clerk at the Goodwill Store, 3718 Lincoln Way, said many customers have “quite a bit” of interest in vintage clothing.

“It usually goes out just as soon as it comes out,” he said, adding that the store separates “the classics” from the regular clothing.

Scott said “polyester anything” are popular items at the store. Business at the store also picks up when college students return to Ames, he said.

Scott said he is not sure why vintage clothing is so appealing.

“It’s pretty unique,” he said.

Beth Gardner, freshman in apparel, merchandising and design, said about half of her wardrobe is vintage.

Gardner said she looks for vintage gear around Ames, Des Moines and at the Ankeny Salvation Army.

Gardner said because of her affection for old pants, her wardrobe is “kind of a ’70s look.” She said her favorite vintage clothing item is a pair of light brown corduroys she cut up to make the legs wider.

Gardner said she started wearing vintage clothing in high school.

“It was a slow change from being your average, timid high school student,” she said.

Gardner said she likes vintage clothing because she feels it defines her personality better than most apparel.

“I like to find original things,” Gardner said.

Lloyd said the price of vintage clothing also is a plus for college students. A vintage cocktail dress can cost about $50 to $60, and a little shirtdress or other “fun” ’70s gear usually costs about $10 to $15.

Lloyd said some of the things she and her staff look for while picking up vintage clothing include if the item was hand-made, if it has a label and if it is in good overall condition.

“With recyclable clothing, condition is everything,” she said.

Lloyd said the majority of Ridiculous Rags’ clothing is from the ’70s, although items from the “swing” period are resurging in popularity. Swing items can be hard to find, but the search is worth the effort, Lloyd said.

“There’s something about wearing a one-of-a-kind item,” she said. “With vintage, the fabrics are very good … There’s a nice feel. They’ve stood up to the test of time.”