So you’ve decided to start dressing in a vintage inspired style but you’re not sure where to even start looking, let alone where to shop? This post is about how and where to shop for vintage inspired clothing!
If you’ve signed up for my email list then you’ve already gotten your free guide for Faking Vintage! (It also includes my list for best vintage reproduction shops so make sure to sign up if you haven’t yet!).
Although I’ve always loved vintage and retro style, one reason I decided to really start dressing in a vintage style several years ago was because I discovered that there were many vintage reproduction clothing companies, which is something that wasn’t available years ago when I was in high school and college when I was wearing vintage clothing. I loved vintage and thrift shopping back then, but one reason I stopped doing it was because I felt like vintage clothes were too hard to maintain and my lifestyle just didn’t support it at the time.
I always thought “wouldn’t it be great if there was a company that made new clothing that looked like vintage clothing, but it was less fragile than vintage clothes?” And so there is!
But where do you even start?
When I was just starting out I started buying things that 1- I liked and 2- looked retro (read about the difference between retro and vintage here). It didn’t matter the era or how authentic that it was, just that it looked retro and that I liked it. Hey, you gotta start somewhere! My style has evolved over the years, and I suspect and hope that it will keep evolving. That’s the thing about personal style, its not stagnant. It changes from season to season and from time to time in your life as you change. I love that!
This isn’t a post necessarily about how to start. Its about where to start. There are so many options. For now, focus on buying:
1- What you like
2- A retro or vintage style look
How to Find Vintage Reproduction Brands
Use Instagram to your advantage. Many people tag the clothing they’re wearing and its a great way to find new brands and boutiques! Many people will also use a hashtag to tag the brand too, so make sure to check that too! You can also use their hashtags to find others on the gram who have similar content in order to find more people to follow for inspiration.
A lot of stores, especially smaller brands, will actually sell through instagram these days. Check out the shop section to find what your favorite brands are selling and to find similar products.
Pintrest
This one is kind of obvious but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it. Pintrest is a great way to find influencers, creators, and brands. I’ve actually found quite a few people to follow that way, and after following them I found out which brands they love and learned several vintage tips and tricks.
Online Stores
The first place I bought things was ModCloth. Its an online retailer that sells products from numerous brands but its geared towards those who like retro style.
The second place I started buying from was Unique Vintage. Based in Burbank, CA they have a brick and mortar store and a huge selection of inventory online. If you live in the area its worth checking out because you can try on things in the store, see how their items are displayed and get outfit ideas. They also have a huge annual sale!
Another store like this, based in Europe, is called Top Vintage. Its an online shop that sells vintage reproduction clothing from many different brands. They ship globally too; I’ve received things from them in Japan, the US, and France.
Start to Determine Your Style
After checking out these stores, take note of the things you like and why you like them-is it the color, the length, the design, the details? This will help you hone in on your personal style preferences and know where to shop. For example, the brand Collectif Clothing has a lot of kitschy, fun pinup and rockabilly style clothing while the store Vivien of Holloway is more focused on true 1940s-1950s reproduction clothing.
Also take note of the brands that are sold on the website. Check out their individual websites or do a google search and see where else the items are sold. This should lead you to not only find more clothing you like, but discover other vintage reproduction retailers. Do a search on amazon for these brands too, because some of them are sold there and may be easier for you to get (for example if the brand is located abroad but its easier to buy through Amazon).
While you’re searching on Amazon, put in the term “Rockabilly skirt” and see what comes up. There are many brands that sell primarily on Amazon. The brand Belle Poque is an online retailer and sells a bulk of clothing through Amazon. Check out this Blouse and Pinafore that they kindly sent me to try!
One thing I like about this brand in particular is that its easy and inexpensive to get on Amazon US and Amazon France, and I bet many other places worldwide! These items in particular are also made from fabric that doesn’t easily wrinkle, which makes it great for travel.
A Note on Price
When you start shopping for vintage reproduction clothing you might feel that items are more expensive than you’re used to, especially if you often shop at big box or fast fashion stores. I get it, it generally is more expensive.
Here’s my advice: choose your clothing items wisely. Spend the money on your staples, your go-to items that you wear regularly. Buy a few special items from smaller boutiques. Then fill in the gaps with less expensive clothing brands, perhaps a brand that primarily sells on Amazon. Take your time, you don’t need to replace everything at once and its always better to use what you have. Save your money and then shop the sales like a boss (you can find good sales at all of the stores I mentioned above).
When you shop for vintage style clothing you really need to make a conscious decision to do it, you don’t often find something out at a shop to buy on a whim (unless you’re specifically going to a vintage or vintage reproduction shop). This means that you consciously decide where to spend your money and perhaps spend it on less quantity but better quality. You don’t have to do it quickly, even though it may feel like there’s an urgency because you really want to switch your style. Take your time and curate your wardrobe.
Do what you can with what you have, save for the sales, and replace your everyday items first.
If you’re just starting out dressing vintage, I hope this helps you have an idea of where to start purchasing clothing. Don’t forget to sign up for the email list to get your free guide “Faking Vintage: Making Your Modern Wardrobe Look Vintage”. It should give you an idea of how to start dressing in a vintage style now with what you have, plus it includes a list of all my favorite vintage reproduction shops!
If you have anything you’d like to see on the blog, or any tips I missed, please let me know!
As always, keep shining your light bright!