How to Shop for Vintage Clothing Online
Shopping for vintage clothes online can help you score great fashion at bargain prices, but you need to know a few things before you make your first purchase. The following guide will help you learn everything you need to know!
1. Know Your Measurements
Vintage clothing stores list an items measurements, so you need to know yours before you make a purchase. Make sure to measure your hips, waist, bust and shoulders and use those numbers to determine whether an item will fit you. Many online retailers have a sizing guide available on their website to help you accurately obtain your measurements, so take advantage of that if you can.
2. Read the Fine Print
Retailers offer different sales terms, so it’s important to understand what you are committing to when you hit the “buy” button. Make sure to read all of the fine print, including return and exchange policies, shipping costs, and insurance availability. If anything doesn’t sound quite legit, trust your instincts and move on. This information can prove especially useful if you’re browsing vintage clothing on an auction site, for example.
3. Understand what You’re Getting
While there are plenty of true vintage fashion deals online, some clothing (such as
Beach Blanket Bingo Two Piece in Red from ModCloth.com) are vintage inspired, meaning they take their design elements from vintage styles but are not true vintage. While this isn’t necessarily an issue, if you have your heart set on authentic clothing from a particular era, you will want to search for true vintage clothing and not vintage inspired pieces.
4. Examine Pictures
When purchasing vintage clothing online, make sure to examine every picture of the garment you’re interested in. While there will probably be a more comprehensive description of the item listed, pictures can often tell a lot more than mere words alone. Do keep in mind, however, that colors do not often appear the same on a computer screen as they will when you actually have the garment in your hands. For reference purposes, print out the pictures and use them to compare when your item actually arrives.
5. Ask Questions
Whether you can’t find something that you really want or need additional clarification about a garment listed, don’t be afraid to ask questions of the seller. They are there to make a sale, and as such should be more than willing to assist you. Furthermore, entire collections aren’t always up for display, so if you inquire about product availability you may just find what you are looking for after all!
Shopping for vintage clothing online can seem like a daunting task, but with the right know-how and a little effort, you can score some amazing bargains on high quality fashion that will last for even more years to come.