A piece from Martha's Closet

It is easy to be overwhelmed by vintage shops with their huge collections of clothing and layouts that can seem a million miles from the familiar high street set up.

Although, wearing vintage has been increasing in popularity but there are still huge numbers of women who haven’t tried it probably for these very reasons.

Add to the confusion, guessed sizes and the problem of the actual vintage size on the label differing from today’s protocol, it’s no wonder so many women stay away from the genre.

But there is another way. Buying online is a great way to ease yourself into vintage.

Sizing up
The most important thing when buying vintage online is to know your size. A vintage size 14 or 16 is more like a modern 10 or 12 so you need to know your measurements.

There is nothing more disappointing than falling in love with a dress and not fitting when it arrives. And some online vintage shops will not take returns if something doesn’t fit. (It’s worth taking note of the returns policy and sizing guide on each site.)

There are two ways to size yourself up depending on how confident you feel. Measure around your bust, waist and hips. Knowing what length of clothing you need will also help decide if an item is suitable. The length should be measured from the nape of your neck to your knee, you can then get an idea of where different lengths will end on your body.

Another way to do this is get a dress or top and skirt that fits you really well. Lay it flat and measure across the bust, waist and hips, then double it. This will give you a really good idea of your size.

Trousers are a lot easier as jeans and trousers usually have the leg length on the tag. If you are unsure or your leg length, when you are out shopping try on a couple of pairs to find out. Don’t use your jeans for your waist measurement though as most pairs sit lower on the body than your waist. It is also useful to have your measurements in centimetres and inches as some shops will only have the measurement in one or the other.

Where to shop
Finding reliable online shops is the key to success. Ebay is a great place to start looking for vintage, with its huge choice and great search facilitates you can narrow down the garment type and size. Ebay is also the place to pick up amazing bargains but this can take time.

Badly photographed and described items can sometimes be little treasures but other times they’re a let down. Reading feedback is vital but you do have to weigh up the negative feedback against the positive. Look out for postage and package costs too. They can double the price of your item.

Some ebay traders have been around for a long time. Two of my favourite ebay shops are the long established, COCO VINTAGE and Bo60Bo. You can also sign up to receive newsletters from your favourite sellers

Jacket available from Martha's closet

Etsy (www.etsy.com) is also fabulous. I can spend hours searching for something special. On Etsy all prices are in US dollars as the site is US based so the current exchange rate matters but it does mean when the dollar is really low you can get some real bargains.

But if thousands of items seems like too many to wade through, I recommend Sara’s Attic. It’s one of the very first online vintage shops I found in the UK and is now located on Etsy.

Founded in 2002, Sara’s Attic has a collection of beautiful dresses and because it’s vintage they change all the time. The site is easy to use and the shop is UK based. Postage and package is free if you request 1st class post.

Find Sara’s Attic at www.etsy.com/shop/sazfab.

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Martha’s Closet (www.marthascloset.co.uk) stocks a great range of vintage gems. It’s easy to use and is very friendly. They also allow returns if you do so within seven days. Well worth knowing.

Nina and Lola (www.ninaandlola.com) is a lovely site that allows you to search by size as well as era. It doesn’t offer a huge range as every piece is hand picked but what it does have is really special. Their current collection of vintage jewellery is excellent. Currently in stock are statement 60s and 70s pendants that are fabulous. Alongside the vintage, the boutique also sells ethical and up and coming designers like Bllack Noir and JF&Son.

Extinct (www.extinctdesign.co.uk) is a new online site which stocks vintage and guest designers. The collection is grouped into Spring/Summer, Autumn/Winter, Top Shelf and Florals. This cute site also has individual customised pieces and offers a vintage styling service.

Absolute Vintage (www.absolutevintage.co.uk) was awarded the ‘The Best Vintage Shop in London 2008’ by InStyle Magazine. It has an online store stocking a great range of lovely vintage handbags and a range of reasonably priced vintage clothing.

Rokit (www.rokit.co.uk) is another London-based shop that has an amazing website with hundreds of items. It also has great size chart that explains how and where they measure their items. The shop has a few ways to search including by garment and accessories type or you can search by era.

If you want the big designer vintage labels like Halston, Chanel, Dior and Ossie Clarke you can’t go far wrong with my favourite site, archive (www.archivevintage.com). This American site stocks amazing clothing from Alaia coats to the most stunning collection of Judith Leiber belts. Bare in mind postage cost will be much higher as the items come from the US and you will also probably need to pay tax on top.

Finding out more
The Vintage Fashion Guild which is a great resource if you want to find more about vintage. Probably one of the most useful features of the site is the label resource. This can help you date an item using the dress label.

It also has a directory of member sellers who agree to a code of practice in which the members pledge to date and identify any flaws as accurately as possible. Members are allowed to display the Vintage Fashion Guild logo.

The Guild is at www.vintagefashionguild.org.

The best thing you ever do?
Introducing vintage into wardrobe could be the best thing you ever do to your wardrobe. Yes, it can be frustrating as you can’t always get the instant fashion hit you can with the high street. But is does have major benefits.

Vintage clothing is usually better made than modern clothing. Most vintage pieces are pretty unique so there’s no turning up at a party in same dress as some of the other guests. Finding the perfect unique vintage dress will fill you with a confidence that I don’t think you get from the high street.

And, of course, it’s way better for the environment than a ‘fast fashion’ brand new item.

But the real pleasure of vintage is the love affair you develop with each item in your collection. I think that, because you have worked that little bit harder to get it, and the wealth of history it holds makes you appreciate it a whole lot more.