For her inaugural post in her official capacity as featured 365FR Guest Blogger (on the eve of A's mat leave), Sarah May from Hunt. Gather. Fashion. gives us some insight on how to thrift like an expert (she is quite talented! I've seen her in action!)
Picture it. You are shopping, alone, and you lay eyes on the most fabulous dress/shoes/bag. The color is stunning, the silhouette is perfect. You try it on and decide that, yes! you and it are one - You. Must. Have. It. Then you make your way to the cash register and, suddenly, you are hit with THAT feeling. Maybe you don’t really need it; maybe you just really want it? Now, you have one of 3 choices:
You put it on hold, walk away and think about it.
You go for it! Why not? It's a once in a lifetime opportunity!
You leave it; decide it's only lust at first sight. Perhaps if you are still thinking about it in a week and it’s still there then it just might be meant to be...
But wait! This is no ordinary day of shopping, this is vintage shopping and ALL the rules are different. How do you know? Do you pull the trigger or walk away? There are no returns, no holds and it’s the ONLY one!
Having recently found myself in this exact predicament (with the dress pictured below), I have come to the conclusion that there are 5 questions one must ask oneself in order to clarify the vintage Lust or Must? conundrum.
Keep in mind this isn’t a fail proof recipe, rather advice from a life-long, self-declared thrifting maven.
1. What is it made out of?
Look for fabric information on labels. You want to try to take home items with natural fibers like silk, leather, wool, cotton or linen. The 70’s style may be hot right now, but there is no need to resurrect that BAD polyester trend. Steer clear!
2. Where was it made?
Chances are if it was made in China, Korea, Taiwan (or another large Asian manufacturing centre) you aren’t really getting a true vintage item, but something that was mass produced. Unless the item is out-of-this-world spectacular, you should pay no more than $25-$35. Look instead for items manufactured in the USA, Canada, and European countries.
3. When will I wear/use it?
Trendy or timeless? Are you looking for something to inexpensively update your wardrobe for the season or is this an investment piece, like the perfect trench?
4. Is it Worth it? (Quality & Cost)
Examine your treasure for craftsmanship and details. Look at buttons, stitching and finishing. Do the pants have a lining? Are there stains, holes or weaknesses in the material? A lot of vintage re-sellers these days will try to get away with charging too much for crappy quality items, underestimating their savvy fashionista shoppers!
*Don’t forget to take in to account the price of possible alterations and cleaning.*
5. Why is it exceptional?
Ask yourself what about the garment (or accessory) makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Is the leather buttery soft? Is the print screaming Pucci, pick me!? What about that scalloped hem line? Remember, part of shopping vintage is finding items that are unique and special.
If, after asking yourself all the above questions you are still feeling torn, remember the power of technology. Grab that phone, call, text and tweet. Snap a pic and send it to a trusted friend, get a second opinion, and rest assured your (former) fashion emergency is not so dire after-all!
3 comments:
As someone who is dying to try vintage shopping, but knows virtually nothing about being successful at it, I absolutely adore this post! So many invaluable tips! :)
What a great guide to vintage shopping. It is a more complex experience than most initially think. This is the perfect way to say to your heart: “I, brain, am in charge. This purchase will be on my terms, you can thank me later”.
So happy to hear that you ladies liked the post and found it helpful. Believe me, it has taken a Loooong time to hone my vintage radar!
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