Vintage clothing has become very trendy in the past few years, and it's easy to spot people on the street wearing everything from antique kimonos to old bowling shirts and 1960s dresses. We asked a seasoned vintage clothes buyer to give us some tips on what to snap up and what to avoid when shopping for used garments.
Dixie Feldman spends most of her Saturdays picking through the clothing racks at New York City's 26th street flea market. Feldman is a dedicated collector of unique antique items and an expert in antique clothing, paint by number drawings, Hawaiiana, Carnival chalkware and all things vintage. Here she offers a quick guide to shopping for vintage clothes:
- Find something fun and inexpensive.
For Feldman, the perfect piece of vintage clothing is something that's really inexpensive and flatters her figure. But more importantly, she looks for items that are cute, charming and whimsical and that have a touch of glamour from a bygone era.
- Try the smell test.
When looking through vintage clothing racks, Feldman likes to smell each garment. The last thing she wants is the perspiration odor of a 1950s girl following her around in the 21st century.
- Avoid stained items.
Don't be too concerned if the hem is down or there's a little rip in the item, as these things are repairable. But despite what a seller might tell you, stains are a big problem, and a reason to put the item back on the rack. In Feldman's experience, it's hard to remove a 50-year-old stain. Besides, if the stain could be removed, the seller likely would have done it already.
- Buy within your budget.
The prices on vintage clothing vary wildly, and you should always set spending limits. You might find something fun and unique for 50 cents at a flea market or garage sale, or visit a vintage shop and come across truly antique or designer clothes costing thousands of dollars. Feldman's spending limit is fifty dollars, and she been able to find many fabulous items priced under that mark.
- Be unique.
One of the greatest things about wearing vintage clothes, says Feldman, is you're very unlikely to come across someone dressed exactly like you.
For more information about vintage clothing, check out the following organizations or websites:
Vintage Trends
www.vintagetrends.com
The Costumer's Manifesto: Vintage and Antique Clothing Links
www.costumes.org/pages/vintage
Collecting Network: Vintage Clothing and Fashion
www.collectingnetwork.com/links/clothingandfashion
Forbes: The Art of Collecting Vintage Clothes
www.forbes.com/2001/08/22
Collectics: Clothing and Textile Links
www.collectics.com/links20/Clothing_and_Textiles
Rusty Zipper
www.rustyzipper.com
Next: Buying a Vintage Dress
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