3 Unexpected Places to Find Vintage Clothing for Less

It's no secret that vintage clothing can be pricey.  The few times I've ordered from etsy or similar vintage apps, I'll spend nearly $100 on a dress to find that once it arrives in the mail, it doesn't fit.

But fear not!  Down below I'll share three places I find vintage clothing and accessories for only a few dollars each.  So the next time your wardrobe can use an update or your bank budget is running low, try one of these places to find new goodies!

 

Image from blog.tuppencehapenny.co.uk

Thrift Stores
Believe it or not, thrift stores are the most common place I find vintage clothing aside from vintage stores.  Even places as common as Goodwill have hidden treasures.  The key here is to look in towns with a largely elderly population.  Oftentimes, when people remain in the same house for a long period of time, they collect stuff without realizing it.  There's never a need for them to go through it or get rid of it so they'll hang onto things decades old -- perfect for vintage collectors.  Once seniors are placed in a nursing home or pass away, these items are donated to local thrift stores.

I've found beautiful items from my local thrift stores, including two mint-condition Evan Picone skirt suits from the early 1950s, numerous knee-length skirts, and a one-of-a-kind handmade 1960s shift-dress.

Garage / Estate Sales
Everything said above about thrift stores applies to garage and estate sales.  Some people don't want a hassle and choose to donate everything, but others try to sell what they can before donating.  Once again, the best finds will be in towns with a largely elderly population.

A plus to these sales is in addition to clothes, you can often find vintage furniture and household goods as well, like sewing notions, pyrex cookware, and more.

Your Grandparents' Closet
This is probably your best option for vintage clothing because it's free!  Older people know how much stuff they have and often want to get rid of it, but its not easy to let go of memories.  In this case, they likely haven't worn the clothes for years and will be overjoyed to see it in use by someone they care so much about.

Unfortunately, both my mom's and dad's parents moved a long ways (one in the mid 1960s, again as recently as 10 years ago, and the other in the early 1980s) so their collections are more recent than my taste, but I've come across a beautiful poodle skirt and petticoat from my Nana's closet.  Crazy the things that people hang onto.

If you're in the same boat as me, you can also look into the wardrobes of your grandparents' friends.  This may also help if you and your grandma are a different size.

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I hope these three places have inspired you to shop a bit more!*

*I don't often promote consumption (very unsustainable) but in the case of used goods, the material extraction and manufacturing has already happened.  Depending how old it is, it could have been made in the United States with fair labor laws (rather than today's method of exploited overseas labor).