Tips for Shopping Vintage – Verseau Vintage
March 17, 2010
Affordable, eco-friendly fashion can be so hard to come by. And that’s where vintage comes in! Your local vintage shop can be a treasure trove – with a surprising number of wonderful finds.
Etsy is stocked to the brim with wonderful vintage shops as well.
Today I thought I’d share some finds from Verseau Vintage on Etsy as well as some tips for shopping for Vintage online or locally.
1). The Search
When shopping at a local store it’s best to go in with an open mind. Who knows what you might find?! The thrill of the hunt is the best part – you’ll be surprised with what you come home with.
Etsy is different – because you can shop by color or type of item it’s a great way to narrow things down. Want a red dress or black shoes, great! Just filter for “vintage” in Etsy as you’re searching and things will be narrowed down for you.
2). Sizing
One thing to consider when shopping vintage is that over the decades, different sizes have had different measurements, above and beyond the difference in sizes you’ll find from designer to designer today. So whenever you can be sure to try things on! Not able to find the perfect fit? Not to worry – since you’re getting such a great deal, consider having things that don’t fit altered. If you’re shopping online consider buying things that seem to be just a little bit larger than what you’d otherwise wear so that alterations are still a possibility for you.
3). Damaged Goods
Give everything you’re planning to purchase a good look to ensure that there are no stains or other signs of wear that can’t be easily mended. When shopping online carefully read the product descriptions – the shop owner should note anything that is wrong with the item. Most items also have close-up views which allow you to get a better look at the item.
Click here to shop Verseau Vintage.
Are you a big fan of vintage shopping? We’d love it if you shared your tips in the comments below.
~Posted by: Amy
I love vintage shopping! My biggest tip is to pick items where the colors/pattern really speaks to you. You’re so right that a lot of things can be altered, so as long as you love the over all look it’ll usually be a great find.
I also use to avoid vintage shoes because I wasn’t sure how I felt about other people’s shoes… plus I worried about size variations, but I’ve realized that a lot of the truly vintage shoes were made so much better than most of the affordable shoes these days so they’re actually more comfortable!
Amy, thank you for sharing your favorites from my shop!
The search is definitely my favorite part. Unlike shopping at a mall or chain store, you never know what you are going to walk out with at a charity shop or estate sale. Don’t search in the usual spots. Check out the men’s section for sweaters, belts and trousers or the costume and lingerie section for dresses. You won’t believe how many fabulous vintage cashmere cardigans and 50s dresses I’ve discovered this way!
When I’m searching for something specific I always check on Etsy first.
A lot of the sellers (myself included) clean and mend the clothes before putting it out their shops. This can save you so much time.
If you are buying vintage shoes online, always compare the measurements to to a pair that you already own. And it also helps to get to know your local cobbler!