In the clothing world, premium clothing like vintage designers will always retail at a high price. Genuine vintage clothes are rare because they have unique designs. However, the vintage clothing market is mostly unregulated, making it difficult to sniff out fakes from genuine pieces. Vintage enthusiasts should note that vintage clothes may not always be in mint condition and expect to find some wear and tear.
How to Perfect Your Hunt for Authentic Vintage Clothing
Here are some tips to help you find genuine vintage clothing:
1. Expect Anything
Flea markets are among the most basic places for shoppers looking to find genuine vintage clothes. If you are fortunate enough to have a flea market in your area, it can be a fantastic location to find authentic antique apparel. Outdoor flea markets frequently have merchants selling various things, including clothes and brand-new merchandise. When you visit a flea market, look out for antique clothing vendors, they usually have enormous racks of undistributed worn outfits.
2. Browse Through Different Online Stores
Many people prefer shopping online, and rightfully so. Online stores are ideal for buying multiple clothes without the hassle of having to visit the shop in person. Conversely, there are countless spectacular online stores and sites such as E-Bay, Farfetch, and Asos Marketplace, among others, where you can find genuine vintage outfits. High-quality websites have made it effortless for anyone to shop for vintage outfits from anywhere, especially from other nations. Social media platforms like Instagram allow you to buy vintage clothing and follow other vintage clothes enthusiasts, celebrities, and fashion houses.
- Check for Rips
Because of their old age, most antique clothing is prone to defects, having gone through several hands. Tears in old clothing are testament to its long life. You may have to locate professionals to mend and clean your vintage clothes. You always want to ensure your classic outfits are in mint condition.
- Consider Traveling
Thrift and local vintage stores are ideal places to purchase genuine vintage outfits. If you love traveling, finding classic vintage outfits should be relatively easy. On transit, you encounter different sellers, which improves the odds of finding unique and original vintage items. Shopping is an inseparable part of traveling even if you don't fancy shopping itself. Other reasons like packing fewer clothes can prompt you to make a quick trip to a store whenever you travel. Hence, you can use that opportunity to get your hands on one or more classic vintage outfits.
- Look for Labels
Regarding apparel, genuine designer vintage is exceedingly difficult to imitate. For belts and bags, in particular, checking out for labels is a good way of telling the authenticity of a designer item. If you want to confirm whether the product you're purchasing is counterfeit or legitimate, you can Google and contrast the label with a genuine piece. Brand labels for designers like Dior are often quite distinctive, allowing you to tell even the product's manufacturing year.
- Authenticate your sources
While online auctions will likely help you get your hands on an authentic piece, not all auctions are genuine. Online scammers often take advantage of vintage product auctions only to get your credit card information. You can also get ripped off by buying counterfeit vintage outfits. It's wise to research before you participate in any online auctions and make any transactions. If you'd like to find out more about anyone, especially the sellers of online products, go to Nuwber and verify their personal information. Check their contacts, Google them, try to find any proof they are legitimate.
- Know Your Taste
Knowing what you want can save you plenty of time when shopping for vintage clothes. Besides understanding your body size and shape, you need to be in touch with your taste and style. Once you know what you want, you can research and list the places that offer what you want. With a list in hand, the next time you go shopping for genuine vintage clothes, it'll take you less time to pick a piece.
- Don't Deliberate Too Long
When buying vintage apparel, you can easily avoid typical shopping errors. Don't restrain yourself from purchasing a vintage item if it gets your attention. If someone else buys it, you'll be devastated! Some of the best classic vintage clothing tend to be sold in auctions. The benefit you get from participating in competitive bidding is that you often get the best price and contract terms for vintage clothes. The other benefit you derive from participating in bids is that you get high-quality products from sellers that have a track record of availing quality items. If you want authenticity, you're more likely to find a genuine piece of vintage apparel from a bid.
- Go For What Pleases You
While shopping for clothes online is easy, considering other shopping options will likely get you more amazing vintage clothes. Most people only look at labels when buying vintage clothes; sometimes, looking good is much better than wearing designer outfits. When buying vintage clothing, don't miss out on a fantastic piece simply because it doesn't have a luxury tag or a label.
- Check for Authenticity Tells
People love vintage outfits for different reasons. Some only want to wear genuine vintage outfits, while some simply want to look good. If you only wish for authentic products, there are multiple things you ought to check. For outfits like dresses and blazers, you should focus on the lining. You can tell the age of an outfit using zippers; if it was made before the 1960s, check what material the zippers are made of. Zippers before the 1960s were manufactured using metal.
Conclusion
Hunting for an authentic vintage outfit is an exciting adventure, more like a treasure hunt. Multiple outlets are selling genuine old-school outfits. There are also many fake vintage products out there; however, there are several practical ways of ensuring the products you buy are genuine. Buying from reliable retailers is a surefire way of guaranteeing that the product you're purchasing is legitimate.
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