How to Find the Best Vintage Clothing Stores Online
3 min readHave you heard of the 30-year cycle? It’s a rule of thumb that the trends, styles, and cultures that were popular 30 years ago re-emerge due to nostalgia. Thirty years is the rough number of years it takes for a consumer of culture (a child) to become a creator of culture (an adult), and these creators are heavily influenced by their childhood nostalgia. This cycle has resulted in the popularisation of vintage clothing. However, it has also opened the door to scammers and others who simply want to make a quick buck by selling low-quality vintage clothes or brand-new clothes styled to be vintage. Thus, finding a reliable online vintage store can be difficult, but there are many tips on how to find the best one. For example, you can turn to the reviews of a store to ensure its legitimacy. You can look up any clothing company’s online reviews, such as Baltini. You can look up reviews of any vintage clothing stores online.
The Benefits of Buying Vintage Clothing
Buying vintage clothes is sustainable and relatively cost-effective, and there is a good chance you will find something unique. First, buying vintage clothing is bearable as you are not buying into the trends of fast fashion, which often result in clothes being thrown away when they go out of style. The modern obsession with newness is incredibly destructive for the planet. The cyclic concept of buying vintage can be seen as a way of recycling. Secondly, it is cost-effective as thrift stores, physical and online, sell unwanted clothes for next to nothing. Sure there may be stores that overprice their vintage products, but many don’t. In addition, you have a high chance of finding a truly rare and unique garment. And even if you don’t, due to the 30-year cycle, you will find something still fashionable.
Finding the Best Vintage Stores Online
The most effective trick is to research the store. As mentioned above, looking at the reviews of a store is a great way to ensure legitimacy, as you can read previous customers’ experiences with the store. Secondly, look at every website with a suspicious eye, as many stores will label an item as vintage, but they are newly made. In addition, you should take note of the store’s return policies: sizes are not and have not been consistent over the years. For example, you may be a size 10 for a specific brand from a particular period, yet you will be a different size for a brand that made clothes 35 years ago.
Some More Helpful Tips
Once you’ve found a promising store, you should look for clothes with an open mind. Most vintage stores won’t stock clothing in every size and color. Look for flaws in the garment’s pictures before buying it. It is more susceptible to tearing and wear, so take extra care when purchasing it.