Vintage Shopping Tips from My Girlfriend

I took a little field trip with my two great girlfriends (and one babe) over to Rewind, a vintage boutique with two locations in Minneapolis. (They were kind enough to let us snap pics inside!)

Mary has a flair for hunting out the best styles and deals. She’s a believer that you don’t have to shop the mall to find high quality deals, in fact you probably won’t find them there. Treasures abound in vintage shops! Cynthia & her babe, Mary & her baby belly, and I set off to find some of those treasures together.

We entered the shop and I was pretty overwhelmed. So much everywhere!! Good thing Mary reviewed her quick list for vintage shopping rules with me that are so helpful for the mom on a budget who wants to still look fashionable.

1) Look beyond the size of the article of clothing.

Buy “off sizes” for deals.  Use a belt to turn an extra large tunic into a flowing shirt dress with leggings. Don’t rule out petites or longs. Tailoring is always an option. Tunics and sleeves that flow: always a chic look (regardless of how bloated you feel that day;). If you are pregnant or nursing, you can avoid many of the costly maternity items by simply finding a larger size that’s flowing.

Buy fewer items, but buy smarter. A quality wardrobe is best built one item at a time.  Go for that “gem.”

2) Rock the pattern.

Look for patterns that draw the eye in different directions. Confidently wear zigzag or diagonal stripes. Timeless looks are great! If it’s never in style it will never go out of style.

{Can we all agree how gorgeous this glowing mama is in this dress??!!}

Foreign is fabulous. Snag anything that is clearly from another culture. Unique & eclectic, it’s a conversation piece. Hand knit sweaters, handmade purses–learn the story behind the culture–it’s a great way to engage globally.

3) Real fabrics, real materials.

Real the labels and try to find whole materials, meaning it’s really leather, silk, 100% cotton, or 100% wool. They last longer than rayon and lycra, and will keep their shape and classic feel! Old is Gold. Root out those classic pieces that were made before the dawn of cheap clothing. Check Grandma’s closet.

4) Accessorize boldly.

Spruce up with a few accents pieces.  Think outside the ‘utilitarian’ box while eyeing durability and longevity.  Good sign when a purse has a liner! Love handmade items. It’s okay to go for the costume jewelry that’s fun and inexpensive and perfect to dress up an outfit!

But when you’re examining vintage jewelry, keep an eye out for natural “from the earth” wood, rocks, marble, beans, feathers, shells, pearls, amber, metals. They’re going to last you a long time.

Accessories bags/shoes/scarves. Punch items. Bold colors. Fun patterns. Previous rules apply.

5) Quality staples.

Always keep fresh plain white T’s and camisoles. A quality bra goes a long way, as does a regular restocking of cotton undies. Wool socks for the Midwest winter will earn their appreciation from warm toes. A favorite boot is Frye–a quality investment in a pair of boots that can withstand a lot of use. Minnetonka Mocs are some of the best moccasins around, too!

If you know a brand of pants {hardest item for me to shop for!!} fits your body shape, hunt those down! 7 jeans, Banana Republic, whatever your body likes!

6) Take your girlfriends with you.

These gals–such great advisors! They picked a stack of fun things and we all had a great time encouraging each other to do more and go further into vintage lurve. I realllly wish this velvet navy dress had fit me!

Maybe you’re a vintage genius too–any tips to share with me?