shopping for vintage

i've been rather lax in the past few weeks about updating, but days have been hectic around here.  sorting through mounds of meticulously stored sportswear seems like a very daunting task at this moment, but i promise things will come together and this blog will not go neglected!

topic of the day this friday -- shopping for vintage!  shopping (and shopping for vintage in particular) should always be a joy instead of a burden, but can be baffling to the newcomer.  i'd like to offer a few helpful tips that will hopefully make you a professional in no time!  first, some rules of thumb pertaining to age:

1. clothing made before the late 1930's will not have zippers.  although zippers were initially introduced in the early 20th century for footwear, they were not widely used on apparel until the 1940's.  clothing of the 1910's tend to have very elabourate snap, hook, and eye asymmetrical closures with attached cotton bodice linings.  1920's and 30's dresses often have an opening on one side seam with snap closures.  select dresses of the late 30's will have the identical side opening, but with a thick metal zipper instead.  the back zippered garment we are familiar with today was not in heavy rotation until the 1960's.

2. familiarise yourself with fibres and weaves; educate yourself on the hand of different fabrics.  i constantly see examples where people confuse 1960's garments for 1920's.  knowing the difference between a silk and polyester organza will settle this matter.  an ability to identify period appropriate trims can also be of aid -- plastic beading and pearls will never occur on a 1920's beaded flapper dress.  look for signs of age such as tarnishing of the real silver commonly used to coat the interior of clear bugle beads.

3. be on the lookout for hand finishing, french seams, and other signs of superior construction.  lined garments and bound buttonholes are also good indicators of a quality garment.

4. inspect articles carefully for holes and seam rot.  small holes or areas of weakness may not be readily apparent, but holding a garment towards the light can make the process much easier.

5. know your measurements and have a tape measure handy when going treasure hunting!  it is imperative to understand your shape, since most vintage pieces will not have a size tag.  when they do, the vintage sizing is completely obsolete.  being able to gauge your size by eye will come naturally after some practice.

so next time you're in the mood to uncover some vintage finds, keep this information in mind.  if you are fortunate enough to live in the los angeles area, there is a flea market every sunday to keep you occupied:

1st sunday: pasadena city college 

2nd sunday: rose bowl, pasadena

3rd sunday: long beach 

4th sunday: santa monica 

every sunday: melrose trading post on the corner of melrose and fairfax