Vintage has become indispensable. Where you used to be looked at strangely if you bought second-hand clothing, it is now completely embraced. It’s good for the environment and good for your wallet. Moreover, you find the nicest things. Have you also discovered vintage shopping? We have some tips for successful shopping at vintage clothing stores.
Also read: Smart shopping: this is how you score the best bargains!
Think about which stores you go to
Unlike buying clothes from a chain such as Zara or H&M, you often need to know where the nice vintage stores are. It therefore takes a little more effort to find those nice vintage shops. So take a good look around your neighborhood. You may have walked past it before without noticing the store.
take your time
In vintage stores it is sometimes difficult to get an overview of what is there. So you probably don’t immediately see what is or isn’t your style. There is only one of everything and sometimes the sizes are mixed up. If you want to find nice clothes, it is important to take your time.
Have a sharp eye
Although some stores neatly sort everything by size and coordinate it by color, not all stores do this. So you have to have a sharp eye if you want to pick out that one gem. Therefore, go along the racks one by one and look at each piece of clothing one by one. You want to have seen everything when you leave. Many vintage stores are not very large, so this is often not quite feasible.
The sizes are also vintage
There is a big difference between second hand and vintage. To call a piece of clothing vintage, it must be at least 25 years old. Secondhand, on the other hand, could be from last week’s Zara. If that’s what you’re looking for, a good place to look is Vinted or at the thrift stores. Because vintage clothes are at least 25 years old, the sizes of the clothes are sometimes different than they are now. So don’t assume something doesn’t fit you because the label doesn’t reflect the correct size you normally wear. If it is a T-shirt or sweater, hold it in front of your body to see if it fits. For trousers it is a bit more difficult. For some people, the trick of adjusting the waist of the pants around your neck works as shown in the video below.
@eliza.co.uk
Don’t forget this rack
Almost every store has a rack where appropriate clothing hangs. You shouldn’t forget this rack. There might be some good clothing items here. After all, someone else also wanted to try it on.
Check this before you buy it
The clothing is vintage, so it is a bit more fragile than brand new clothes. Feel the fabric carefully, perhaps it is a fabric that has already reached the end of its life or there is already a hole in it somewhere. It is also always important to inspect the clothing for stains. Not only may the outside of the shirt have stains, but looking at the inside is also necessary. There may be permanent sweat spots in the shirt, which is not very hygienic.
Try everything that catches your eye
If a piece of clothing catches your eye, but you still have doubts, trying it on is always the answer. Even if it is a piece of clothing that you would not normally choose. It’s fun to do a little fashion show with yourself or the people you shop with. The priority is that you have a nice day.
