• Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for bids.

• Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for bids.

• Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for bids.

It’s eco-friendly.

 It’s thrifty

Hip Fashion at an Affordable Price

All Good Reasons to Buy Vintage Clothing!

Is it Designer and Vintage?

Many designers hid their labels in the linings and up near the sleeves.  If you are buying online, insist on a photo of the label.  There are knockoffs of many designer gowns and you don’t want to pay more money for a fake label.  You may still want the gown because good style is good style.  Know your recipient’s taste.  If they love a certain fashion era, look for items from that era. Also, look for a union card attached to the inside seam. A union tag is proof that the piece was produced and supported by a clothing union, which existed in the U.S. before the overseas boom of clothing production beginning in the 1980s. They’re usually square and about 1/2-inch-by-1/2-inch; red, white, and blue; and state the name of the union, like “The Ladies Garment Workers Union” and “Made in U.S.A.” If you find a union tag, you’re definitely scoring a vintage piece, which by definition is at least 20 years old.

Will it Fit?

Size matters if the item will be worn. Plan to buy what fits with a bit of ease…don’t strain these older textiles! Standards for sizing changed through the years and a size 6 today and a size 6 in the 1960s are not the same.  It is important to know the measurements of the person you are buying for.  Compare the measurements of the garment at bust, waist and hip.   If buying in person, you often have the luxury of trying the item on. If buying online, look at the measurements listed. Remember that fashions from different eras had differing amounts of ease built in.  For example, items from the 50s and 60s were closer fitting than many garments of today. When matching measurements for older garments, be sure to add a bit for ease or you’ll find your recipient unable to wear the garment comfortably without putting strain on the fabric.

Is it in Great Condition?

With vintage clothing, more so than other vintage collectibles, CONDITION is Everything.  If you’re going to wear it, you want to know that you won’t damage it it by simply putting it on. So here’s what to look for:

• Fabric  Check the fabric carefully for separations and or tears.  Older fabric can get “dry rot” which separates the woven fibers causing splits and tears.  This can’t be fixed or repaired…only replaced.  Avoid fabric that has separations.  Check areas of the garment for signs of excessive wear.  Areas like the underside of arms, collars, cuffs and across the seat are likely to have thinned fabric due to wear.  This is weakened fabric and not likely to last very long.  For thicker fabrics, look for pilling in these areas.  For woolens, check for indications of moth eaten areas.  These conditions are all to be avoided.
• Stains  Check for perspiration stains under arms and around the neckline.  These stains can be very hard to remove. Other stains to look for are oxidized stains (light to dark brown or yellow in color), mildew (small dark grey to black stains) and rust.  All of these stains can be very difficult or impossible to remove.
• Odor Musty odors could indicate mold, look over the garment for small dark grey to black stains. Mold stains are difficult to remove unless the garment can be bleached. Strong body odors in vintage garments that can’t be washed may not be removable; let your nose be your guide.  The odor of smoke does come out with washing and airing, so unless your garment isn’t cleanable, this can be removed by gentle washing and or dry cleaning.
• Hardware  Check all of the fasteners and applied pieces.  Make sure the zipper works, that the buttons fit the buttonholes firmly, that snaps stay snapped, that the Velcro isn’t full of fuzz and not working properly, and the hooks and eyes fit snugly.  If there are embellishments added to the garment like sequins or beading, look it over carefully to be sure that the sequins/beads are all there and still sewn on firmly.

Sources:

Fashion-era.com

drycleaningtips.com

Vintage Clothing Buying Guides on eBay

Thrift Store Tips

Vintage Fashion Guild

Condition,Condition,condition

Vintage by definition means that an item is used and from another era. So, one needs to pay close attention to the seller’s description of condition. Any flaws should be described, and hopefully pictured. Think of you senses..any flaws that you can see,hear or smell should be noted. Then you need to use your judgment as to whether that flaw can be lived with or remedied.

Style

Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s desirable or stylish now. Classics never go out of style and you will see elements of this style copied in today’s stylish fashion and decor. Some things are so ugly that they enter the hallowed ranks of kitschy. But some things are just not. Know the person that you are buying the gift for—if they like kitschy or they like classic, buy accordingly.

Likely to Increase in Value

Vintage items don’t always increase in value. But you know that the ones that do will continue to be desirable and stylish for decades into the future. This is a hard one to judge, but if the item is likely to increase in value, it is probably worth considering. If not, pause and think a bit about this one.

Searching Online Versus Searching Locally

Many of the articles that I read about buying vintage gifts suggest that you search at resale consignment shops, antique shops, thrift stores and flea markets. And this is a good idea if you are not so familiar with the type of gift you are purchasing. You can touch,inspect and smell the items to get an idea of what is quality and what is not. However, you can only see what is available nearby. With online sales, you get a whole world of variety to choose from. But you don’t get to touch, inspect or smell the items. As you would do if looking at an item in person, ask questions if the description is not clear to you.

And where to look online? I would do a search on google or your favorite search engine. Just enter a description of the type of item you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for a vintage toy, enter “vintage toys“.  You will see pages of links to sellers of vintage toys.  And if you know you are looking for a vintage board game, use those keywords to narrow your search. If you have a favorite site like eBay or etsy, you can start by going to that site and entering your search terms there.

• Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for bids.

• Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for immediate purchase.

1. Vintage is Quality. Vintage items are better made. They use better materials,show better craftsmanship and better construction. Everything was made to last longer. Similar quality today will cost way more than buying vintage.
2. Vintage is Green. Reuse of materials and resources is one of the basic tenets of living green. The materials that would go into today’s manufacture will be saved. That means more living trees,minerals still in the ground and fuels that don’t need to be burned.
3. Investment Value. Most vintage goods will retain their value and possibly increase in value. Most goods bought today will lose much of their value tomorrow. Vintage goods are relatively liquid and can be resold easily to trade up to your next collecting fancy.
4. Vintage is Unique. A vintage piece that speaks to you shows your individuality. Mixing vintage pieces with modern purchases shows your taste and stimulates conversation.

• Paris Designer Nichole de Beauvior

  Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for immediate purchase.

• Postcards

  Link to Rose’s Sundries on eBay for immediate purchase.