- buy quality...educate yourself on sniffing out top quality as well as spotting poor quality....always look at labels...for words like "hand-made" or "hand-woven"...for designer or brand names...for fabric content (cashmere, silk...etc...) check to see how seams are finished...how hems are sewn...how linings are made...all clues to quality...value...and durability...
- know what you can fix/what you can't...don't expect to wash or dry-clean stains out of vintage clothing...it may come out...most-likely...it won't...you are taking a chance there...on the other hand...don't reject something you love just because it's got a defect...buttons can be replaced...pockets can be relined...beads can be resewn...
- check for trouble...always examine fabrics closely for moth holes...small tears...wear at the collar or cuffs...and pulling or shredding at the seams or in the lining...check buttons and buttonholes...look for stains...especially on cuffs and lapels...instead of assuming the garment is perfect...as you would when buying something new...assume it's not...and then decide...depending on price and how often you'll wear it...whether you can live with its flaws...
- reconsider fit...when buying vintage clothing...try everything on...size standards have changed throughout the years...so you can't count on wearing a size 8 in a 1940's dress...even if you always wear a size 8 in modern clothes...if you love something that doesn't fit quite right...consider alterations...they may cost more than the item itself...but can make a thrift store special look like an expensive hand-tailored prize...side note...even if the garment is not vintage...get in the habit of trying it on...you never know if the previous owner had it altered...
- reconsider price...you have to readjust the way you think about prices at most vintage clothing stores...at expensive...top-quality ones...don't compare value to other used clothing but to what a similar piece would cost new...while $150 might seem steep for a fifty-year-old evening dress...for example...consider that you couldn't buy anything like it new...a great quality piece would easily be triple that price...and the fact that the piece would truly be a one-of-a-kind...and at thrift stores...beware of lowering your price standards too far...when most things are priced for a few dollars...an item for $20 can start to seem outrageous...remind yourself...what the item is...and how much it would cost you at the department store...
- don't skip the men's section...men tend to hang on to clothing longer...so items are apt to be older...more classic or appealingly funky...and better quality...great finds would be anything from great tweed sports coats...raincoats...and slouchy cardigans straight from "father knows best..."
although this isn't everything...these tips are a great way to get started...if you are a thrifter...please feel free to share your tips in the comments section...
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