Buying vintage – getting stylish on a budget

Posted on 23 August, 2016

The joy that comes from buying vintage often comes about from the knowledge that your purchase is cheap and sustainable (it is recycling after all!) and that you may just walk away with a hidden treasure!

In this age of mass-produced and overpriced fashion, there can be oodles of satisfaction in buying a unique gem from an era gone by. Vintage pieces are generally of better quality than today’s fast fashion items hence why they have lasted over the decades.

However, quality alone will not guarantee you a fashion-forward look. Here are a few tricks and tips to buying and wearing vintage that will keep you looking up to date and save you (even more) money!

It sounds obvious, but shop for your size and shape. It is thrilling to find a special vintage piece after painstakingly rifling through the racks but consider whether it will fit and suit you NOW or it whether it will just be another staple in the collection in the bottom of your wardrobe.

Look for damage

You may have found a killer piece but pay special attention to the quality. Can buttons be replaced, holes be patched easily? Is the zipper intact? Are there any stains? The care and cost involved in fixing these may not be worth the effort in the end so check garments carefully.

Look for labels

Make sure you can see care instructions easily – is it worth the upkeep? If the item is dry-clean only for example, you may decide to leave it in the ‘too-hard basket’.

The other beauty of checking the labels is that you may find a hidden designer gem! They will usually will be priced higher than most other similar items as the volunteers are generally pretty savvy – so that is your first clue! I recently heard of an original, mint Louis Vuitton bag selling at an op-shop for $200 which is a big-ticket price for an op-shop but hugely below cost for a designer piece!

Vintage jewellery

When buying vintage jewellery, check clasps and string for sturdiness. Before buying earrings with clasp backs, make sure you can withstand the pressure on your ears for a long time. Also be sure to check for designer markings or hallmarks as an indication that the pieces are gold or silver.

Know your trends

Fashion trends generally emulate the styles of previous eras so knowledge of the current trends can help keep you staying style-savvy when vintage shopping. We’ve recently seen the Mad Men-esque 50’s style frocks making a come-back along with the boho and glam styles of the 70’s.

If you are aware of the key trend pieces, it will help you to pin-point these while op-shopping. But buyer beware! Avoid dressing head-to-toe in vintage from a particular era, or you may end up looking more ‘halloween costume’ than ‘Kate Moss!’

Enjoy it!

Most of all – have FUN! Vintage shopping is generally inexpensive, making spending just that little bit more justifiable. Best of all, you can create a look that’s entirely unique, without the hefty price-tag!

Some of our favourite places to buy vintage

The Bargain Hunter in Monaro Street, Queanbeyan is a fave of HerCanberra’s fashionable friend, Matthew. He says it’s “well laid out, has different sections (‘Just arrived’, ‘Touch of Class’, ‘As Is’), is spacious and there’s plenty of room to move around the floor.”

Producer of Fashfest, Steve Wright also loves The Bargain Hunter in Queanbeyan and says he’s “rather excited about Vinnies and Salvos in Jamison and Belconnen”. The Green Shed also ranks highly with the Fashfest crew. 

As for the HerCanberra Team? We love all of the above, but also adore Material Pleasures in Fyshwick, Designer Op Shop in Braddon, Three Sixty Fashion Market (the next one is coming up on 25 September), Fash ‘n’ Treasure and Yellow Canary Clothing.

Find more op shops at opshop.org