(Fashion)

Vintage Shopping: Everything You Need To Know

If you’re familiar with our glamorous Editor-in-Chief, you know she’s no rookie when it comes to tracking down gorgeous vintage pieces. Naturally we’re also huge fans of vintage shopping (who can resist a luxe find for less?) and have picked up a few key tips for how to do it successfully over the years—trust us, it takes practice. Since a change in temperature begs for a wardrobe revamp, we’ve decided to share our secrets with you so you can indulge in some retail therapy, sans the guilt. While there are countless second-hand stores to scour for designer duds, we’re big fans of Fashion Project: Not only will you discover some serious treasures, the site also donates a percentage of proceeds from each sale to a variety of charities. Done and done.

The Smart Way To Shop Vintage

Statement Accessory

Bold, colorful accessories are fun to wear but because they aren't everyday pieces, you may not want to spend an arm and a leg on them, which makes consignment a great option. Tip: When making a vintage purchase, keep an eye out for patent-leather pieces because they stand the test of time.

Classic Shirt

When shopping for shirts and other tailored pieces, make sure the fabric is in top-notch condition and that the silhouette is flattering and still modern enough to look good.

Cardigan Sweater

Vintage knits should be studied closely to make sure they aren't faded, showing signs of pilling or losing their shape.

Evening Clutch

Examine the edges of a bag to make sure they aren't worn or weathered. A treated leather clutch makes an ideal vintage find because it disguises wear-and-tear in a way classic leather won't.

Party Dress

Consignment is key when purchasing your next party dress because let's face it: You'll probably dance in this one at a few soirees before shimmying to the next good-time event ensemble.

Oversized Sunnies

Why spend a fortune on funky frames when you can get the real deal—for less—at a vintage store? Exactly.

Printed Blouse

A printed blouse is an A+ example of a vintage gem. It never goes out of style, is easy to wear and can be dressed up or down. That always gets a good grade from us.

Day Bag

When searching for a cool new day bag, keep in mind what's currently trending. What goes around comes around when it comes to fashion, so don't be surprised to find a few retro caryalls that still work well today.