How to Find Vintage Clothing

Vintage hunting has recently become pretty toilsome, thanks to the ever growing interest in vintage items and the rise of internet trading. Fortunately there are some tried and tested tips on how to find astonishing vintage clothing. All you need is a little time, patience and some background research.

1. Be prepared

There are a few things you should know before you you start looking for vintage clothing. First, you should take your measurements; your height, waist, hips, inseam and bust will do. Knowing your measurements is important because sizing standards have changed. Even if you are the perfect size 8 by today’s standards, you may find that vintage clothing marked that size are either too large or too small for you, depending on the era. Accurate measurements come especially handy if you are vintage hunting online and unable to try on the clothes.

Second, think about the current content of your wardrobe. Would those vintage pieces come for everyday use? Or are you looking to make a statement at the next big bash? Perhaps you are tired of looking like everyone else or having trouble finding clothes that look good on you? Whatever your reason for vintage hunting is, you should know what you are looking for. It is easy to get carried away when shopping, so be prepared and make a list of the types of clothing you want to focus on.

2. Know where to go

The vintage hunter has many options. If you want to be able to inspect and try on pieces before buying them, you may want to focus on second hand shops or vintage boutiques near you. Give Google or the local Yellow Pages a go and find out your options. One of the advances of these stores is that the clothes are usually in very good condition and the sales staff is well-informed and clued-up.

Remember that thrift stores and consignment shops can house spectacular clothing and are often cheaper than more trendy vintage stores. Usually, thrift stores and consignment shops don’t accept pieces of clothing that are unclean or in very poor condition so you can find some treasures at really good prices.

If you are shopping online it is wise to understand the function of the sites you usually visit. Some sites are online vintage stores and others serve only to unite sellers and buyers. Try to find a store with a fair return policy. Make sure that the seller provides detailed descriptions of the merchandise, close up photos of any flaws and accurate measurements of every garment. If you don’t see the item of your dreams, ask for it. Or is someone of your favourite bloggers wearing outfits you adore? Keep your eyes and ears open and ask for tips.

3. Successful online shopping

It’s always good to search regularly; for example, eBay allows you to list auction or fixed price items for one, three, five, seven and ten days periods. Many sellers use long periods, so try to do the searches at least every three days or so.

Another good tip is to find misspellings because this way you can find high quality designer pieces that have an error in the title. Not every person offering vintage clothing is an experienced vintage dealer. Often people are just cleaning out their wardrobes and don’t have experience with either selling online or vintage clothes. Get creative! Sometimes it is easier to find a high quality vintage piece searching for a designer’s name or searching on fabrics. Special fabrics, such as cashmere, silk, velvet or mink are the favourite fabrics for many famous designers.

If you find the vintage piece of your dreams, don’t enter your highest bid too early. It is wiser to wait until the final minutes of the auction because you may end up getting the item for much less than if you bid in the first few minutes of the auction.

After being successful a few times purchasing online, it is wise to keep a list of your favourite sellers. If it is possible to sign up to be emailed when your favourite seller adds new pieces of vintage clothing, use this option. If you are looking for good opportunities, browse through vintage pieces by lowest price first. On the other hand, if you need to purchase high quality vintage piece, browse by highest price first. If you have lots of free time in your hands, browse the newly listed vintage items every day. This is a way to make sure that you never loose a great piece of vintage clothing.

All these tips will give you the chance to find all kinds of vintage clothing. Remember that you can build a special vintage wardrobe without spending a fortune. Happy hunting!

FinnFlair