What Is "Good" Vintage? A Simple Guide To Finding Quality Vintage
What is good vintage? How do you know if it's good or worth the money? There's so much vintage & secondhand goods out there... it can be overwhelming. To find the answer, follow these easy steps whenever you're eyeing vintage items and find yourself hesitating on a vintage purchase.
Step 1 - To find "good" vintage items, you have to ask yourself, what am I looking for? Are you trying to fit a certain style? Do you want clothes made by a specific designer? You can bet that each and every vintage seller and collector has their own check list of things they're searching for. You need to do the same. Just like doing research in a library, you need to narrow your search field to specific key words. This can be a designer's name or something as simple as 90s slip dresses. Once you answer this, thrifting and finding vintage will become easier. Anything that doesn't quite fit in your field is not for you, so move on.
Step 2 - Now that you know what your looking for, where do you go to get it? You can do the hard work of hunting thrift stores, flea markets, or tirelessly search online. Some people love the act of searching for the perfect item at the best deal. This can be quite time consuming. If you don't have time or patience for that, that's where trusted resellers come in.
Stand alone websites like mine or places like Etsy, eBay, and social media are some of these best places to find vintage sellers. For many vintage dealers, this is their full-time job. They make relationships with auction houses, estate sales personnel, and other dealers to get things most people can't get their hands on. They have knowledge on brands, garment construction, and the market that others don't. This is why those who sell vintage do so at a higher price compared to thrift shops who get their merchandise via donation.
Whether you want to do the work yourself, or have a specialist do it, you can find what you're looking for online.
Step 3 - So you know what you're looking for, where you are looking for it, what's next? Checking if your vintage items are worth it. Ask yourself the questions below:
Is the item something you're actually going to use? I've bought many things that I thought I would use and ended up never taking the tags off. Be real with yourself. If you'll only use it once or twice in the next 5 years, don't bother. If it's something you love and every time you wear it it puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step - get it and never let it go!
Is the item well made? Will it last long? Good resellers will disclose the state of the item in their description so you know what you're getting. There are items out there that are 40 years old and look like brand new. This is a good deal. On my site, I only carry goods that are like new or have very little signs of wear. This is not the case with every seller so always check photos and descriptions well.
If you're looking at an item or listing, check the fabric tag and make sure you're ok with it's fabric content. Also check the seams, hems, and general construction of the garment for brand labels, damage, repairs, or resizing.
Check the brand label. Many sellers resell fast fashion items, I do not sell any Zara, SHEIN, Forever21, or H&M. It's up to you to decide which brands you're comfortable wearing.
Lastly, check the garment measurements! Never ever go by a garment's size label. Every decade or so, sizing standards change. Measure yourself & compare it to the measurements in the description. If there aren't any, request them.
So how do you know if a vintage item is good or worth the money? This is up to the eye of the beholder. If it's up to your quality standards, you love it, and will wear it repeatedly - it is definitely worth it. Not only are you participating in a circular fashion system and reducing waste when you buy vintage, you are being more thoughtful in your fashion choices. This is a good thing.
Searching for vintage is inherently a slower shopping process. Sometimes you find what you're looking for, sometimes you don't, and that's ok! If it's not an immediate necessity, you can wait to find the perfect item. Keep checking your favorite sellers. Better yet, contact them to help you find the perfect vintage piece at your budget. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!!