How to Shop for Vintage Clothing

Above All…

“Have patience,” says Artise. Many people “get turned off because it’s so much stuff. Start with an hour at a time.” If you do, you might just find a perfect sheer flowy dress like Alexa Chung’s. For more tips and tricks, our favorite book on the topic is Melody Fortier’s The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping ($19, amazon.com). You can also learn about different labels and more at the Vintage Fashion Guild’s website.

After all, as Fortier says, the standard used to be that “yarns and knitwear should not pill, silks should not wrinkle when crushed, and linens should drape nicely and not feel stiff and wiry.” Nowadays, that’s called couture.