FinnFlair

How to Get Your Money's Worth?

I have always believed that I’m able to build a relatively cheap, highly personal, practical and wearable wardrobe by going vintage. As vintage gets trendier, the prices are going up. For quite some time now I have wanted to make every single euro I spend count, so when vintage hunting, I have kept the following questions in mind:

How will the clothing look on me?

I don’t want to look silly so I want to make sure that the garment fits with my personality. Also, I want to keep in mind that I buy something for right now, not for when I lose weight, change my hair cut or buy new specs.

Will it go with other pieces in your closet?

I have learnt the hard way that even the most spectacular blouse is not a good buy if I don’t have the skirt, shoes or other accessories to go with it.

Do I really know what I’m getting?

I want to make sure that I’m aware of any pinholes, stains, rips or repairs on the piece. Imperfections are not necessarily deal breakers with vintage clothing, but I want to be aware of any issues before I make the purchase. If possible, I also want to inspect the fabric and seams to make sure the garment will not fall apart after only a few wearings.

Can I keep up with the maintenance?

Been there, done that. Pieces that are only dry clean or handwash can become a prickly issue. If I see something gorgeous that needs some special maintenance, I try to think twice to evaluate if the piece is really worth the trouble.

Is it really vintage or just butt-ugly?

Not everything labelled vintage is a wise purchase, I should be the first one to admit that. I want to be certain I enjoy a piece for itself, not because it is labelled vintage, collectible or a designer item.

Last but not least, I want to make sure I’m going to wear the garment in question frequently. Any piece of clothing is only worth its cost if it’s regularly worn so I want to be certain I’ll be getting a good return on my shopping investment.

What are your tips to get your money’s worth?

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