Vintage Fashion: Where To Shop

Your first step into the world of vintage can be pretty daunting, so knowing where to start is key. First, you need to decide whether you prefer to shop online or in store. If you are new to vintage, shopping in store is probably a good place to start, as you will need to get to grips with sizing, fabrics and pricing. London’s iconic Portobello Market, and established shops like Rokit and Beyond Retro are high up on our hit list. Online, our go-to’s include ASOS Marketplace has a great selection, as does Love Miss Daisy and Peekaboo and Mint Vintage. Both Beyond Retro and Rokit have great sites too. Either way, we advise checking the returns policy, as you can never be certain how vintage buys will look in real life.

Vintage Fashion: Celebrity Fans

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Inspiration is key when it comes to vintage fashion and luckily for us, the likes of Sienna Miller, Alexa Chung, Taylor Swift and Rita Ora are all mega fans of thrift store chic. Sienna often opts for the feminine flapper girl look, Alexa and Taylor love to channel their inner 60s girl and Rita flits between trends of the 80s and 90s. And, if you want to go all out retro, Dita Von Teese consistently pulls out all the stops to perfect her vintage 50s pin-up girl look.

Vintage Fashion: What To Buy

Before you set off on a vintage shopping spree, it’s a good to have an idea of what you are looking for. If it’s an investment piece you’re after, make sure you’ve thought about what you’d wear it with from your existing wardrobe and how you’d style it up.

The catwalks are full of references from various decades right now, so make sure you do your research and channel the most on trend era. Single out the key pieces and hunt them down. The 50s is great for summer dresses, 20s and 30s for opulent evening gowns and the 70s for cool separates and everyday pieces. Always be realistic. Vintage fashion is all about having fun, but if your purchase is just going to gather dust, there really is no point.

Vintage Fashion: How To Wear It

If you’re a vintage newbie, start subtly by adding in an accessory or two – this can be anything from a cocktail ring to a silk neck scarf or ladylike bag. Once you’ve got to grips with what suits you and what you feel comfortable with – too much vintage at once can feel a bit novelty – the world is your oyster, whether you go for a wedding guest dress that you know no-one else will have, a work appropriate skirt suit or cool pair of denim dungarees. Both your purse and wardrobe will thank you for it!

Vintage Fashion: How Much To Spend

Deciding how much of your hard-earned cash to part with can be a difficult task when it comes to vintage. As most pieces are all one-offs, buying on impulse is totes necessary (unless you want to spend the rest of the day crying into your pillow with regret). But, at the same time, it’s important to make sure your I’ve-just-found-something-amazing adrenaline high doesn’t trick you into spending too much. The golden rule? Haggle. Dealers are always open to offers, so don’t be afraid to try and knock off a few pounds. It’s likely to work in your favour, meaning you’ll walk away with an even bigger grin than you would have in the first place. Obviously, this tactic only works for shopping in stores or at markets.

Happy vintage fashion hunting guys!

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