fashion vintage

When it comes to shopping, 95% of the time I shop secondhand and vintage. The other 5%, I’ll shop a new piece that’s sustainably made and can highlight my current wardrobe and give it a bit of a refresh. With this in mind, it’s a passion of mine to peruse and shop vintage on a weekly basis. No matter if it’s online or in store, finding a one-of-a-kind piece or something I’ve been on the hunt for is an accomplishment I relish. 

Flea Markets

If you follow me on stories, you know my favorite way to shop clothing is at a flea market. It’s my own meditation to go browse the different tents and sections of these markets, hoping to find something on my list or my next great deal. A lot of people get overwhelmed by them, which I can totally understand, but the key is to be organized. Know what you’re shopping for, have a budget, and set a time limit for yourself (quite frankly, a game changer to shopping… just ask my husband). I set out a few of my favorite tips when it comes to mastering the art of shopping flea markets here as well as the Rose Bowl Flea Market here. Whatever market you’re headed to, they’re always worth a walk through, if nothing else.

Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are great for rainy days when you can walk in and take your time perusing the racks. They require more digging, as they often are not as ‘curated’ as other platforms, but we all know this is when you can find diamonds in the rough. Salvation Army and Goodwill can be priced quite low, so you can get a lot of bang for your buck. Other higher end thrift stores will still provide a discount and you’ll be saving the Earth from waste, but you’ll find a higher ticket price more often than not. There are certain items I always

Contrary to popular belief, shopping online takes a lot of skill. Different platforms, and even what you’re shopping for, will require different techniques and that’s what makes the art of online shopping fun (especially with millions of items to sift through). That’s why I’m your vintage BFF and source for finding those gems!

If you follow along on Instagram, you may know that two of my favorite ways to shop vintage clothing and decor is through eBay and Etsy. Many times when I share my finds, I’m asked how I sourced it and more often than not, get asked my tips for shopping on the two platforms. Keep scrolling for my tips and techniques on what and how to buy to score the best vintage the inter-webs have to offer. 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SHOPPING ON EBAY AND ETSY

Take your time – The thing about having the luxury of looking at items online means that you’re also up against thousands of other people doing the same thing. Try not to buy things out of desperation to get them and take your time to make sure it’s what you want. Once you take the time and your dream item becomes available, you’ll know and you’ll have done the due diligence to feel confident pushing ‘add to cart.’ It’s always great to start with a list of items or trends you’re shopping and sticking to that to find that special piece.

Get specific – If you know what you’re looking for, the best thing you can do is get as specific about it as possibl

Much like any vintage lover, I’ve been wanting a vintage Chanel cardigan or jacket forever, but I’m not ready to drop $1.5k on one. Yes, I buy a lot of designer stuff and I have expensive taste, but there are some things that I just can’t justify. Enter the classic vintage St John cardigan which will solve the dilemma (if not affording Chanel is a dilemma).

I picked up my vintage St John cardigan for under $15 on eBay a few months ago and it’s one of my favorite finds ever. It’s one of those classic pieces I’ll wear well into my 100s, yes I plan to live to at least 100 years old, and will still be in style. These cardigans can tend to look a little too “buttoned up, pearl necklace” for my taste, but styled with the right pieces, it’s super modern and fashion forward. I love the contrast trim and the extra gaudy buttons which make the sweaters extra special.

My formula is to style with vintage Levi’s or leather pants and a graphic tee. It makes for a great cardigan over dresses for a most classic look, but you know I love mixing everything up when I get dressed up.

Shop my vintage St John cardigan finds: