Get ready to learn the DOs and DON’Ts of Vintage Shopping!

It seems there are those people who know how to do vintage style shopping, and those who don’t – some end up with a musty sweater that looks like they found it in granny’s attic, whilst others make you want to wear that old piece in your wardrobe. So, how is it done? How can you find a unique vintage treasure that fits like a glove, doesn’t stink of mothballs and mildew, and doesn’t make you look like you’re on your way to a fancy dress party?

Here are our 10 Top Tips for vintage shopping to ensure you find only the most covetable of vintage treasures, whether you’re searching in markets or online.


Get ready with these tips: REMEMBER THE VINTAGE STYLE SPIRIT


DO: Look for classics

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

A Chanel bag of any kind or Louis Vuitton luggage will never go out of style. Like, NEVER. So it’s always a good idea to go with something classic. But also do a search for vintage clothing stores with pieces that are now much-coveted collectibles – think Christian Lacroix jewelry, for example, …and if you find something, hang on to it – these things will go up in value.

DON’T: Buy what was too trendy back in the day

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

80’s power shoulders will certainly make a quick comeback at some point, but they’re hardly a wardrobe staple. They weren’t then, and they won’t be anytime soon. Stick to items that don’t scream ‘dead decade’ – instead, look for styles that tend to recur again and again: oversized coats, military jackets, animal prints, pussy bow blouses, etc.

DO: Be specific about your goals

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

Source: Miss 70’s- The Fashion Cuisine

Are you after something with a 50’s New Look cut or a retro outfit style?? As vintage stores tend to be a mishmash of styles and epochs, knowing what you have in mind will help stave off shopping fatigue. If you’re searching online, make sure you type in specific keywords: for example, are you looking for a specific style, print or material? If so, rather than searching for a ’70’s blouse, type in something like ‘vintage style bow silk blouse’ or ‘mutton chop sleeve vintage blouse’ or ‘psychedelic vintage blouse’ or whatever you want to look for.

DON’T: Be afraid to ask for something

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

Vintage Store– Market Supply Co. in Chicago

Unlike big retail chains, many vintage shops are manned by their owners – and the shop owner is likely to know exactly where to find what you’re looking for. In fact, they may even have something hidden in a back room that you’d never have seen otherwise and that will give you that unique vintage piece you were looking for. Ask, ask!

DO: Have your usual wardrobe in mind

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

What could you mix and match with your vintage style treasure? Classics like bags go with just about anything. But ensure that before you buy those satin knee-high boots or those high waisted hot pants, you know what you’d wear them within your closet.

DON’T: Forget about aftercare

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

Is this a delicate piece that requires special cleaning or maintenance? You may want to check before buying. It’s hardly sustainable and maybe not worthy if you have to dry clean it every month.

DO: Be careful!

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

There are plenty of fakes out there, and whilst most of them can be quite obvious due to their questionable quality, stitching or spelling (Pravda bag, like, WHAT?) just be aware you may not be buying the real deal unless you shop somewhere super reputable. Be careful with these vintage industrial style stores that you don’t know. If you’re thinking of buying a vintage designer bag, for example, make sure you do some research first!

DON’T: Expect to bag a bargain

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

Most people who are selling genuine vintage treasures are aware of their value – you won’t find many designer labels cheaply – in fact, some are even priced above new pieces in shops, due to their rarity. But half the fun of vintage shopping is trying to spot that one Chanel bag someone has foolishly priced at £50, right?

DO: Know where to shop in stores/online

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

No longer do you need to trawl through rack after rack of clothing–many shops online now carry great vintage clothing and accessories. However, if you really want to have the true experience of vintage shopping, we highly recommend you to go to vintage stores and don’t buy online. The fun of buying old clothes, is actually, doing the by the traditional way.

Don’t be put off by flaws

10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping (2) 10 Excellent Tips For Vintage Style Shopping

Source: Oversized- Style Inspo

T-shirt too long? Buttons all wrong? Don’t reject an otherwise awesome vintage piece – you can always change those things by taking the item to a tailor, or just making a few alterations yourself.


Get ready with these tips: VINTAGE STORES AND PORTO: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS


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