A Guide On How To Buy Vintage Clothes

When buying vintage clothes, especially if you’re a newbie at it, would definitely need to consider a couple of factors. For starters, try to focus on a particular style that you are most attracted or interested to. For example, you might want to focus on a certain period, a type of clothing or perhaps a designer. The possibilities can be endless, and its up to you to decide on your focus.

By keeping focus, you can have an easier time buying pieces. Do a bit of research and study that particular style, especially if you plan on investing vintage clothes. Rare haute couture pieces, for example, would definitely need a professional eye in order to ensure that it is the right piece from the particular period. By keeping your focus, you can definitely have a more lasting and meaningful vintage clothes’ collection.

Take also into consideration whether you plan on actually wearing your vintage clothes or if you just simply want to collect them. Of course, size will definitely be an important consideration if you plan on actually using them. While of course trying on the clothes is important, you may want to avoid straining the older fabric. Instead, try taking the measurements of the garment first, then compare it with your own, or perhaps with clothes that you own that are of similar cut and size. If you are going to collect, then size makes little difference in choosing the clothes that you want to buy.

If you want to use them, do make sure that you get clothes which will still be sturdy enough to stand up to use. Make sure the stitches are still complete and that the fabric itself is not frail. Ensure that the clothes can be cleaned safely; to avoid further ruining the cloth, try wearing clothes such as a chemise underneath. This can prevent further damaging the cloth by constant stretching and or accidental staining.

If you simply plan on collecting the clothes, then you’ll want to place more importance on its value. Size will also not matter too much and you can simply focus on collecting pieces as you see them fit. Do purchase mannequins for storing and exhibiting your collection. Smaller-sized mannequins will probably work more for you, since clothing size standards were definitely a whole lot smaller than today.

If you want to become a serious collector, then you might want to invest on label pieces. However, a lot of vintage clothes would often be unlabeled, either because they are already lost or they simply weren’t labeled in the first place. To ensure that what you’re getting is a quality piece, look at the construction of the garment – even stitching, boned bodices, seams, handset zippers and covered buttons – these are all marks of good, quality craftsmanship.