What I Look for When I Shop Vintage

I love vintage shopping!

In this post I share the four important questions I ask myself before investing in secondhand pieces.

Autumn always puts me in a spendy mood – who can resist the allure of a gorgeous fall wardrobe? It’s also when the Toronto Vintage Clothing Show rolls back into town, and although I couldn’t attend this year, I still thought it would be helpful to share some of the things I look for when I’m shopping for vintage pieces. 

How does the piece fit into my wardrobe?

I categorize vintage pieces in two ways:

1) Satisfying a need
If I want to incorporate some trendy pieces that have staying power, vintage is absolutely the way to go. For example, oversized blazers are super in right now, and I know I’ll be able to find a few great options if I look at some styles from the 80s, or even browse the men’s section.

I also like shopping vintage for wardrobe staples like leather shoes, wool sweaters, sunglasses, and bags. My favourite trench coat is a beige Acquascutum number with bracelet-length sleeves – swoon!

2) Show-stopping unique finds
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum: showstoppers. These are the pieces I know I won’t get a lot of use out of, but I will get a lot of joy out of them. These are mostly dresses and accessories.

I love buying over-the-top vintage dresses because they’re so unique, and perfect for events or special occasions. They also just make me happy when I see them in my closet ☺

The WRONG reason to buy a vintage piece is if it’s just a really good deal. This general rule of thumb applies to shopping overall, but I have to try extra hard to remember it when I’m vintage shopping.  Sometimes I talk myself into it by saying “it’s vintage, so it’s really one-of-a-kind, so I might never find something like this for a price this low ever again!”…and then I buy it…and then it lives sadly in a drawer or on my shelf. 

So, before you buy – ask yourself, “Does this satisfy a need?” or “Will this piece bring me joy?”

What are the measurements?

If you’re shopping online, this is key! A lot of sellers will list the measurements, and if they don’t, you can usually reach out and ask for them. I like to look out for:

- bust
- waist
- hips
- shoulder-to-shoulder
- armpit-to-armpit

Shopping with measurements vs. looking at sizes is way better, especially when it comes to vintage because the sizing can vary so much. 

If you’re shopping in person and able to try the pieces on, take a look at the seams and materials to see if there’s room for tailoring. Sometimes if a piece is just a little too tight, there may be room to let it out! And unless it has really complicated sleeves, taking it in is usually doable too. 

What is the material?

This is a personal preference, but I like buying pieces that are made from natural fibres (wool, linen, cotton). I also check the cleaning instructions (if there are any) because those dry-cleaning bills can add up quickly!

Is there room for negotiation?

I am not great at bargaining, but there are scenarios when it’s acceptable (and even expected). If an item has a fixable flaw (like a stain that will come out, or a tear that can be sewn up), I’ll always ask for a discount. Or if I’m buying multiple pieces and paying with cash, the seller sometimes even offers a deal!

I think it’s important to be courteous and remember that a lot of work goes into curating vintage pieces, so asking for too big of a discount is just downright disrespectful. But a little friendly negotiation doesn’t hurt ☺ 

If you have any tips for shopping vintage, I’d love to hear ‘em! Leave me a comment or shoot me a message xoxo