How to Shop for Vintage Clothes Online
If mom jeans have come back, pretty much any fashion trend can come back into style. If you got rid of your throwback classics and don’t currently have the ‘90s in your wardrobe, you can find all of your old favorites in vintage and thrift stores.
However, finding the perfect pair of vintage Levi’s isn’t as easy as adding to cart. Sizing, fit, and availability are all challenges in shopping vintage online. The right vintage store can help your hunt, like ThisBlueBird. If you’re having trouble, here are some tips on how to successfully find items from online vintage stores.
Use Online Measurements
Vintage sizing is just a little bit different than modern sizing. With challenges like vanity sizing and lower quality materials, buying a size 6 from the ‘70s likely won’t be the same as a modern size 6. The best way to determine if an item is your size is with your measurements. Reputable online vintage stores will provide measurements for the garment’s bust, waist, hip, arm, and thigh measurements to ensure a proper fit.
Search for Quality Materials
Today’s fast fashion pieces won’t last 20 years to find themselves in thrift or vintage stores. Vintage clothing is typically made from high-quality materials, like silk, wool, or cotton. These are usually natural materials that have been used by generations of clothing brands before most clothing evolved to synthetics. Regardless, it’s always good to double check the materials of the garment to ensure durability. Plus, it’s always important to know whether or not it needs to be dry cleaned.
Sign Up for Newsletters
It’s both a blessing and a curse: there’s only one of every item. If you’ve found yourself disappointed after your dream item has already sold, signing up for newsletters might be a great way of keeping up to date with current stock. Now I’m not saying to sign up for 100s of newsletters because #InboxZero is real, but joining newsletters of your favorite online vintage stores will definitely help you find new pieces quickly.
Find Some Inspiration
Because vintage shops are filled with decades-worth of clothing, knowing what you’re looking for can be a big help when you’re shopping. Resources like Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr are great for finding clothing inspiration as well as ways to integrate vintage pieces into your wardrobe. Many vintage shops also have their own social media channels where they not only style the pieces but also showcase their new-in stock.
