by Sean Curtis

Created on: May 24, 2007

For several years while I pursued a career as a musician, my girlfriend and I sold vintage clothes on eBay to pay the bills. We would buy clothing from various Chicago resale shops and resell it on eBay. Here are some tips to help you find the right clothing.

"VINTAGE" DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN VINTAGE. If you're truly looking for vintage clothing, be careful. Many people put the word "vintage" in their listing just to increase the number of hits they have.

ASK QUESTIONS TO THE SELLER. If you're curious about the authenticity of an item, ask the seller. You should be able to gage from their response whether they commonly sell truly vintage clothing. Ask where the clothing came from. This can be a good clue.

CHECK A SELLER'S PAST ITEMS AND FEEDBACK. If a seller has some truly great vintage clothing, their past history will show it. Check out the recent items they've sold. Do they seem vintage? Has anyone left feedback complaining about the clothing they received?

DO SOME RESEARCH. Were there any brand names of clothing that were popular 30 years ago that you particularly like? Pay attention and find out. You'll have a much easier time finding truly vintage clothing if you know what brands or styles to look for.

SIZES WERE SMALLER 30 YEARS AGO. Whenever I buy clothing on eBay, I buy up one size from the actual size I wear. This is especially true for guys. 1970s or 80s mediums are now about a size small. I wear a medium, but a vintage large always fits perfectly.

There's lots of clothing being passed around on eBay. Some of it is authentic vintage clothing, and lot of it is not. If you spend some time doing your research and being patient, you can find some truly great vintage clothes that your locals shops might not have.

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