The knowledge: how to shop for vintage fashion

[Story]

Posted for general edification, but sort of a 'Grant's Tomb' article for this crowd.

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 06/04/2008

The seasoned bargain-hunter and style journalist Bay Garnett shares her tips for buying second-hand clothes

DON'T BE FOOLED Essentially, 'vintage' is just another name for second-hand clothing, but it's a label that has been adopted by the fashion industry to make it sound more exclusive and aspirational, like 'vintage champagne'. In other words, expensive! Yes, antique flapper dresses from the 1920s and original Ozzie Clarke designs are beautiful, but the joy of finding something that's 'one of a kind' needn't be so costly.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2008/04/06/st_theknowledge.xml

 

[jamespowers]

I love it.
"Steer clear of anything stained rather than just a little grubby and always pay attention to the fabric. Nylon or polyester is an instant veto."
lol lol lol

 

[Nick D]

Nine times out ten you won't find anything, but the tenth might unearth a real gem of a piece.

Too true!

 

[Daniel]

I've found the more you thrift (or second-hand shop, whatever you want to call it) the better you get at it. I can now walk slowly down an aisle with items hanging on a parallel bar, and just by looking and touching the fabric alone know whether it's something worthwhile. It takes me half the time to go through a thrift store as it did three years ago, and I'm far more picky now.

I'm never afraid of dirt and dust, but I've learned to be more careful about holes and tears -- there's often a REASON people donated something to a thrift store. Second-hand clothes are one area where men have an advantage, because generally speaking men don't shop as much as women, so the pickings are better for those of us who do. I'd guess a female:male ratio of 8:1 in most thrift stores I frequent.

I look for more than clothes. Much of my kitchen equipment is top-quality and second-hand, and just last week I found a vacuum coffee pot for 1/10th of what I'd have to pay on Ebay.

All this above applies to true thrift stores, I've never been in a "vintage boutique."

 

[Dr Doran]

I've found the more you thrift (or second-hand shop, whatever you want to call it) the better you get at it. I can now walk slowly down an aisle with items hanging on a parallel bar, and just by looking and touching the fabric alone know whether it's something worthwhile. It takes me half the time to go through a thrift store as it did three years ago, and I'm far more picky now.

Yes.

 

[jamespowers]

I've found the more you thrift (or second-hand shop, whatever you want to call it) the better you get at it. I can now walk slowly down an aisle with items hanging on a parallel bar, and just by looking and touching the fabric alone know whether it's something worthwhile. It takes me half the time to go through a thrift store as it did three years ago, and I'm far more picky now.

I'm never afraid of dirt and dust, but I've learned to be more careful about holes and tears -- there's often a REASON people donated something to a thrift store. Second-hand clothes are one area where men have an advantage, because generally speaking men don't shop as much as women, so the pickings are better for those of us who do. I'd guess a female:male ratio of 8:1 in most thrift stores I frequent.

I look for more than clothes. Much of my kitchen equipment is top-quality and second-hand, and just last week I found a vacuum coffee pot for 1/10th of what I'd have to pay on Ebay.

All this above applies to true thrift stores, I've never been in a "vintage boutique."

Ah, you have developed the "hand" to tell the difference between fabircs. Very good. It helps a lot doesn't it?
I wish the pickings were a bit more plentiful here. They are there but not in "popular sizes."

 

[Dr Doran]

What I can do now, and could not do before, is run my hands through a tie rack in a vintage or thrift store and feel what needs to be further examined as against what is seventies, eighties, or nineties crap.

 

[jamespowers]

What I can do now, and could not do before, is run my hands through a tie rack in a vintage or thrift store and feel what needs to be further examined as against what is seventies, eighties, or nineties crap.

Or polyester crap. :eusa_doh:
My hands can see seventies crap so I don't have to worry.