There’s nothing like authentic vintage. Vintage clothing, or anything vintage for that matter had a life way before you or I discovered it. I like to think about all the places that dress or hat traveled, and who were its previous owners? Maybe they were a little like me, at least when it came to taste in clothing.I think part of the attraction to vintage clothing is the process we go through to find something special. That feeling you get when you walk into that little, out of the way boutique that you discovered while taking a different route home. Rummaging through piles of junk, and then looking up…and across the room on a rack of dresses is exactly what you wanted. I’m going to make some recommendations as to where you can look for cheap vintage clothing.Of course some of the obvious places would be to check out Ebay. Use the search tool on Ebay. For example; I just went to Ebay and in the search area I typed in (vintage,) and for categories I chose (clothing, shoes, & accessories.) The search came up with 183,940 items.
Some people prefer to only use the ‘buy it now’option.That way they don’t have to wait for the auction to end…and if the price is right, and you love it, then get it before someone else does. But make sure it’s your size, and be sure to ask the seller about condition, original tags, etc, if you don’t find this information in the sellers description.
Keep your eye on Craigslist. No, it’s not just for bicycles, used refrigerators, and house cleaning services. You can find garage sales across town or across the state, if you don’t mind driving further for the right item it might be worth the trip. And always run through the ‘For Sale’ section a couple times a week…you could be pleasantly surprised as to what you might find. Some good categories under ‘For Sale’ would be: clothes+acc, garage sale, and jewelry. And because cheap vintage clothing could get mis-categorized, I would try antiques, household, and general as well.
Always attend the ‘fundraising’ type yard sales. Here you’ll find stuff donated by many families, cheap prices, and a big selection. Lots of attic clean-out items like old clothing, coats, etc. Also church rummage sales are great.
Stop by the neighborhood thrift store, the Salvation Army, second hand and consignment shops on a regular basis. Don’t write off a store because they don’t have what you’re looking for now, remember these kinds of places are always turning over their inventory, stop in often.
Now we’re going to visit three cities in the US that always have great places to find cheap vintage clothing. The first is Boston which is fairly close to where I live.
Bobby from Boston
This is a great place for vintage menswear. A showcase of fine vintage men’s classy clothing from the 50’s and 60’s. Also good for leather boots. Bobby’s also has a warehouse, so ask if you can’t find it in the store. You won’t find much woman’s stuff here. If you’re in Boston, do visit Bobby’s.
Located in the south end, the closest transit would be E. Berkeley St. (silver)
Poor Little Rich Girl
This shop is located in Somerville, near Boston in Davis Square. They’re also opening a store in Cambridge soon. PLRG as they are often referred to is also chock full of authentic vintage, and the prices are great. Here you’ll find gorgeous window displays, vintage jewelry that’s top quality, and vintage dresses, shoes, and faux fur wraps. They have racks and racks of dresses. There’s always new inventory arriving.
OK…..off to New York!
No Relation Vintage
Located in the East Village (204 1st Ave). Here you can get cheap vintage clothing. They have great leather jackets and boots. Also a nice selection of vintage jewelry. You have to dig a little, but there are some great bargains. This is a very large store, with plenty to go around. Can find shirts for under ten dollars.
The Dressing Room
Located on the lower east side of New York. This place doubles as a bar and a vintage clothing store. The ladies can leave their husband at the bar, while they browse through the two floors of merchandise. There’s designer clothing on the first floor at good prices. In the basement you’ll find lots of cheap vintage clothing, and some great shoes.
Apparently they show a movie every Sunday evening at 8 pm.
San Francisco……here we come.
Mascara Vintage Private Collection
From the information I have, it’s by appointment only…as of this writing. But after their move, they’ll be a welcome back party in January.
Just a small boutique on Polk St., it’s been a great place to find vintage treasures for many years. Her prices are very reasonable. Mascara Vintage is a small place, but nicely organized with racks of dresses and blouses, and lots of accessories, and a good record collection as well. The people are very friendly and offer great service. Cara, the owner, is usually in the store and very helpful.
So, I hope I’ve given you some ideas…as well as places you may not have considered to find cheap vintage clothing. Most of these sources should give you many inexpensive items; however some things will be over-priced and quite expensive no matter where you go. Remember, some vintage should be priced high because it’s extremely rare, in beautiful condition, and something that’s in high demand.
Happy Hunting!
Author; D.A.Grosshans
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