Why are you shopping: Value or purely style? To wear or to collect? Before you step into a thrift/second hand/vintage store, you have to know what kind of shopping trip this will be: ask yourself if you are shopping for value or purely style. Why is this important? If you are shopping as a collector for items that retain value over time, alterations might be a problem. Many vintage items have been previously altered and this diminishes their value. However, if you are just shopping to add to your wardrobe, use the don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover rule. In this case, don’t judge a garment by it’s price! You might be surprised how many amazing things can be found in the dollar bin.
There are certain precious items (a lace dress from the 1930’s or white leather gloves) that physically degrade so it isn’t an issue of loosing value over time. Those types of items, you buy to collect but you wear on rare occasions. Collecting clothing is NOT like collecting stamps. No matter how great of a collector’s item is in front of my advice is that you DO NOT buy it unless you can think of at least one occasion that you would love to wear that item.
Who do you shop with? Who you shop with should depend on what kind of shopping you plan to do. Decide: alone or with a friend? Are you going to a Goodwill, planning to dig through bin after bin until you find the perfect silk harem pants? Don’t bring a friend unless that friend shares your passion for vintage. There is nothing worse than being in an amazing store with a bored friend who want to leave. Bring someone who loves to dig!
Sometimes, we come upon items we think we MUST have and yet can’t quite afford. If you are going to make the purchase that will make you count your pennies for the next month, put the item on hold and come back with a close friend. An acquaintance might not be comfortable telling you the truth about how you look. Bring someone who is so close to you so that they will be honest even if it isn’t what you want to hear.
Maintain, Maintain, Maintain -The nature of vintage items is to be precious. Even the item is just a Liz Claiborne dress from the 1980’s there is still a huge chance that you will never be able to buy that type/cut/material all in one place ever again. Therefore, we value vintage and second hand items much more than the price they are actually worth. If that Liz Claiborne dress cost you $7 (especially if it cost $7!) in fashionista terms it is priceless. Thus, you must be prepared to invest some cash into your thrifted finds: alter, clean and reinforce or refurbish your items. I really can’t stress enough how important this is!
By reinforcing leather piping or straps or by altering to your shape you are adding years to the life of that item. And when you consider the time and effort it took to find some of your vintage items, don’t you want to have those items for a long, long time? The better you maintain your vintage, the longer it will last.
Do you hunt for accessories? Everyone has one of those days when they can’t find a single thing that looks good on them. Don’t walk out upset and empty handed! Head for the accessory counter. Maybe this time, the baubles available at vintage stores can make your day.
Looking to gift a picky person something special? Pins, necklaces and leather goods might be a good place to check for presents if you have a difficult time finding the perfect gift elsewhere. Think of the wealth of gifts that can be found at a vintage store: furs, hats, amazing scarves or gloves are treasures that often make great gifts.
Find a Friend! No question is a stupid question: this is a good rule to follow in a vintage store. You never know who works there. If you encounter a teen that doesn’t know much or someone that can’t be bothered to talk to you, move on. But if you find a knowledgeable sales clerk at a vintage store, consider yourself LUCKY and ask questions. I recommend returning to that store regularly to shop and even asking that sales clerk to keep their eye out for the type of garment you are searching for. Leave your phone number and ask them to keep you informed of new stock or special pieces. Even though I go to Salvation Army and other second hand stores, I adore Ahab Bowen and Dolly Phyton
Don’t forget the fleas! Hunting for vintage often requires a pretty hefty time commitment. Make a day of it and go on a flea market crawl! If you live in NYC, check out Brooklyn Flea, a Sunday flea market run by Etsy. Natalya once took me there and the goods were amazing. From beautiful furniture to a vendor that specialized in really amazing, super old vintage Coach bags.
Wearing: vintage Mongolian fur jacket, vintage necklaces, J-brand jean, AA tee, F21 bag and YSL tribute pumps
Thanks for reading everyone! I hope that helps and if you have any other questions, just leave them in the comments and they will be addressed as soon I can do it. Hope you all are having a good week. xoxo Nini
