by Tierney O'Hara

Created on: August 14, 2009   Last Updated: November 15, 2011

Vintage clothing brings us back to another era - reminds us of what clothing our mother or grandmother used to wear.

Vintage clothing reminds us that styles change, hems go up and down. Necklines are plain then ruffled then plain again. There's an ebb and flow to vintage clothing and finding the era you identify with or like the most is the first part of your vintage clothing quest.

If you loved the styles of the 80s or 90s, you might find clothing anywhere from your family members' closets to the local Salvation Army. Tag sales and church rummage sales also seem to be stocked with out of date clothing, some approaching "vintage." Once in a while, vintage or "newly vintage" items may be found in a consignment shop or at Goodwill.

The term "newly vintage" refers to items that are iconic for the era even if the era is just 10 years ago. These items have a value beyond others of the same age because their style stands out and can be remembered: mini skirts, bell bottoms and maxi dresses were once in style, then 40 years later they became in style once again. Obviously the older items have the most value, but the newer copycat items are collectible right now.

If you are seeking items purchased and worn in the 50s or 60s for example, your search will be harder, but not impossible.

A vintage clothing dealer I know puts in ads in her local paper looking for older clothing and accessories; she attends local auctions looking for vintage items; she answers newspaper ads that offer vintage clothing for sale.

She goes to all the estate sales available to her and opens closet doors first before looking at linens or glassware. "Often I find that people do not realize the value of their deceased relative's closet full of clothing. Even men's clothing has a value if it's vintage," she states.

"Unopened packages of hosiery, full slips in perfect condition; even old-fashioned corsets are being snapped up by vintage clothing buyers because there's a huge market for these items," she adds. "Just look on eBay and see what these items are going for."

eBay is another wonderful place to find vintage clothing. You can look though pages and pages of clothing advertised as used, pre-owned, old or vintage. Sometimes people aren't aware of the value of their items, so don't dismiss auctions that are advertised as "used" clothing. The person who used this clothing might have worn it back in the 1940s, so check all auctions out.

Large cities often have high-end vintage clothing shops with marvelous stock for those with big wallets. Online vintage stores also carry unique items, but do some research on the store, feedback, reviews, etc. to ensure the store is legitimate before you hand over your charge card number.

If you want to look at the best of the best in vintage clothing and won't even blink at spending $2000 plus for a single antique item, then check out these online stores: Bustledress.com; Contentmentfarm.com; Corsetsandcrinolines.com, to name a few high end eShops.

The best vintage clothing will always be the items you like the best. So armed with your research and a map to find tag sales, rummage sales, consignment shops and thrift stores, start your engine and drive off early in the morning on your quest to find vintage clothing and accessories.

The early bird does get the worm in the case of tag sales and estate sales. The very best items are selected within minutes of the start of the sale. Enjoy the hunt, and with luck you will find amazing items you'll be proud to wear.

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