How to Shop for Vintage Clothing

How to Shop for Vintage Clothing

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

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

BE OPEN MINDED If your funds don't extend to vintage 1920s flapper dresses and classic Balenciaga, attempt 'thrifting', or charity-shop rummaging instead. It takes a bit more effort, but the result can be far more enjoyable and affordable. And although today's environmental distress weren't such an problem 15 years ago when I first started thrifting, the turnover rate of clothes has now get so fast that there's something bracing about stepping outside of it occasionally.

MOST WANTED LIST The formula to a successful expedition is to work with a tangible piece in mind, otherwise the whole thing becomes too daunting. Chloe Sevigny is my favourite person to go thrifting with. There are some terrific thrift stores in her hometown in Connecticut, and she'd begin every trip with 'So, what are you looking for?' If you go in empty-headed , it's much harder to feel inspired.

ACCESSORIZE If you're still a bit dainty about second-hand clothes, begin with accessories. Bags, belts and scarves straightaway refresh an outfit, and are easily incorporated into your everydaywardrobe. A shop's accessories are a nice indicator of the rest of the stocks.

FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCT My most cherished find is a studded punk belt from the seventies that I found in a downtown New York charity shop, and fell in love with it right away. I didn't have a single penny on me, but I'd gone in to pick up the sales money from a magazine I createcalled Cheap Date - it wasn't very professional of me, but after a bit of bargaining they kept the money and I got the belt.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS Put together a suitcase of ideas whenever you go shopping and write your own catalog of thrifting rules - I automatically go insane on anything leopard-print or patent. Stay clear of anything stained rather than just a little grubby and always pay attention to the fabric. Nylon or polyester is an immediate veto.

PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS Look out for small details that lift a piece and make it part of a bigger style picture- a little lace edging round the cuffs, a splendid set of buttons or a fabulous loud print. The key is to picturethem out of the bargain bin and in the context of your own wardrobe.

HAVE PATIENCE Thrifting requires a different attitude from usual shopping. You must be in a more informal frame of mind. Check out church fetes or second-hand markets and get into charity stores regularly for a quick glance - pick upmarket districts if you're looking for designer labels. Nine times out of ten you won't stumble on anything, but the tenth might turn up a real gem of a piece.

To begin shopping for your favourite piece of classic clothings, please check out: www.vintagefashion4you.com