It's no secret to all the people in my life that shopping for Vintage, clothing, furniture, accessories is maybe one of my all time favorite things to do in the entire world. I absolutely cannot get enough. For me the quality and the details in all things vintage far outweigh the products being made nowadays.
I love buying items from a time when the way you looked when you walked out the door really mattered. It was about presentation and looking put together. Not to mention the romance of wearing something that carries a history bigger than you; and, most of which if you really look you can get for a STEAL of a price!
Shopping Vintage can be CHEAP! And who wouldn't want quality and a bargain all in one?! YES!!
So I wanted to put in some tips of how I have found some of my greatest pieces, all of which include a 1960's mink fur swing coat I got this weekend for $40 (woo hoo)
1) I have a few places that I frequent to find things, but some of the best finds I have ever had were at estate sales or yard sales. People just want to get rid of their crap, sometimes not knowing or caring what they are getting rid of; and, if you know the right towns and the right places to look you can find some great things on the cheap. It's true, I once got a light blue Christian Dior silk gown at a garage sale for $5, and it was in PERFECT condition. I still have it to this day, it was such a killer find, I can't part with it.
2) Consignment stores are my best friend. If you're in the mood to dig around, there can be a whole lot of treasures buried in the racks. If you're thinking about your typical dusty old lady consignment shop, you really need to get with it. Now there are a lot of younger hip women who like me, want great vintage finds but don't want smelly musty old granny pieces rather clothes that will always make a statement about timeless style. And guess what? They're opening their own shops! Believe me, these contemporary consignment stores are out there, you just have to be willing to look! Think of it as an adventure. It's treasure hunting!
3) Have an open mind! Go into these places without any plans or ideas of what you are looking for and you might be surprised at what you end up with. Vintage tends to run small, so you might need to try on things that don't fit perfectly, but that's what a tailor is for! Sometimes there are stains or tears or a hem is coming undone, but getting something taken in, or re hemmed can cost you $10, and if you buy a dress for $10, it was still only a $20 dress! It may not be perfect right away, but if you work with it a little bit, can it be perfect for you later? And the best part is, it'll be one of a kind!
4) That being said, try not to be too emotional when shopping for vintage clothes. Sometimes, things just don't fit, or there's irreparable damage. Don't fight with it, you just have to leave it. I have made the mistake of falling in love with things that were WAY too small but I convinced myself that if I just didn't breath or never sat down things would be fine. And believe me, that leads to some seriously embarrassing moments (like me splitting some 1950's velvet cigarette pants right down my butt crack). There have been a few times I have left a store not buying anything cause I was too pissed off that that perfect pink dress or perfect pair of pants I loved so much just didn't fit. Just let it go and move on.
5) Nowadays stores are trying to make their stuff look vintage anyway. Sometimes you can walk into a store like Forever 21 and get some cheapy costume jewlery that looks the same as some of that really expensive costume stuff. And, if its that cheap, when it falls apart you can go get some new things anyway and won't feel so bad about it. If you mix in the new pieces in with the old no one will notice. I promise.
6) Don't forget to mix and match things. You don't want to look like you just came back from the 50's or 60's. You still want to look modern. Wear a vintage piece mixed in with your everyday clothes. Like a vintage sequin top, with a blazer, jeans and some cute ballet flats. One good vintage conversation piece can pull an entire outfit together!
Its the details like the polka dots on this velvet cocktail hat that really make the difference or the ruffles on the button down top.
2 of my favorite clutches, I take one with me when I'm just wearing jeans and a tshirt to snazz it up a bit!
It's the details! Love this 60's overnight bag ($18), that I use as a carry on. Or the braiding on this brown leather bag ($13) I found over the weekend.
Happy Hunting!
Where do you get your great finds from?
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