Vintage Clothing Buying Tips

Undeniably, there are vintage clothes that don’t look appealing at all, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everything vintage looks old, soiled, and worn out. There is an unbelievably great number of vintage pieces today that still look pretty and are wearable despite the passage of time. The question, however, is how to spot them. There’s no guarantee it is easy, but if you carefully study your options, you might bring home a vintage treasure. Here’s a list of vintage clothing buying tips to help you in your search.

1.) Locate a good store. You can use the ever helpful yellow pages or the Internet. The truth is, a lot of good vintage stores are found within the country. Sometimes you don’t even have to leave your own neighborhood to find one. But one thing you have to keep in mind is to look for a store in an area where people discard their articles that are almost good as new to dealers and consignment stores; typically these are affluent neighborhoods.

2.) Make sure there are no stains. Though there are stains that are easy to remove, there are those that are permanent such as mildew. The problem, however, is that you usually find they are irreversible only after you’ve gone home. To be on the safe side, choose the clothes with no stains at all or if your choice of piece has one, make sure its size and position won’t catch attention.

3.) Check the vintage piece for any damage. Are the buttons snugly attached? Is the design missing a recognizable number of beadings and sequins? Does the zipper work properly? Are there traces of mildew? While buttons, embellishments, and zipper can, in most cases, be replaced, any signs of mildew are permanent. Tears and holes are also sometimes present in vintage clothes, so be extra meticulous. The rule of thumb is not to get an item that is irreparable.

4.) Pay attention to the areas that are most prone to wear. Examples are elbows, knees, and collars. Take note if the fabric is overstretched or sagging. Make sure also that the fabric is not nearing deterioration since vintage clothes, which are typically made from natural materials, have the tendency to tear overtime.

5.) Mind the size. Take note that vintage clothes were made in the periods where people were smaller in sizes, so they don’t conform to modern sizing. This is the reason you might find the piece indicating your size quite smaller. Therefore, it is always wise to try the garment on. Remember: don’t go to the cashier without first going to the fitting room.

6.) Don’t be discouraged by the smell. True, there are vintage clothes that have off and soiled odor because of the length of time they have been stored somewhere. But the smell can be easily dealt with. You can have the vintage items dry cleaned or you can wash them on your own, provided you do so with the fabric’s age and material in mind.

7.) Choose the clothes you would actually wear. There are clothes in vintage stores that are temptingly attractive and one-of-a-kind. But the question is, can you wear them in day-to-day or special occasions? Or will they sit in your closet for no one knows how long? Keep in mind that all the other vintage clothing buying tips are useless if you don’t get to wear your piece.