12 Vintage Clothing Rules You Can’t Shop Without

JACKET: VINTAGE / JEANS: LEVIS / SNEAKERS: VALENTINO

This time in London, I found myself strolling around in the streets and craving for some good vintage pieces. I have visited many shops and ending buying the brown suede jacket that you see in the photos. I really loved it and I bought it for just 45 pounds. Returning back home I though why not writing an article about what to be careful when you vintage shopping and which essentials rules to follow.

1. When you do find something you like, remember: If it is too small, throw it back! Alas, we are here to inform you—you are not going to lose that weight.

2. On the other hand, if it happens to be too big, it can often be taken in.

3. If it’s a knit, you can hand-wash it and sometimes resize it somewhat.

4. Check for holes by holding up the garment to a strong light. (Reweavers can work magic, but they are costly.)

5. If the fabric is weak, if the beads are falling off (and isn’t that always the case with your favorite thing in the whole shop?), it better be super-cheap.

6. If it smells nasty, the dry cleaner has a process to deodorize it, which can sometimes help.

7. Stains that have been in a garment for 20 years are not coming out.

8. Always check the armpits carefully! Here lies trouble.

9. Sometimes, if the fabric is washable and the item is white, you can maybe perk it up by soaking it in bleach. (Of course, it could also totally disintegrate in bleach, but that’s part of the fun of vintage clothing!)

10. Yesterday’s outerwear can be miserably heavy—make sure you won’t end up schlepping through next winter with a refrigerator tied to your back.

11. If you are new to the world of vintage—or if the above warnings have scared you to death—consider getting your feet wet with an aging accessory.

12. Your bargaining power will increase immeasurably if you bring cash. Nothing persuades a weary seller to meet your price more than subtly waving a thick wad under his or her greedy little nose. Plus, if you leave those credit cards at home, you can only spend the amount you brought with you—a foolproof way to cut down on costly mistakes! Sure, it’s difficult—but aren’t life’s worthiest lessons the ones that can seem hardest to accept?

JACKET: VINTAGE / JEANS: LEVIS / SNEAKERS: VALENTINO

JACKET: VINTAGE / JEANS: LEVIS / SNEAKERS: VALENTINO