Five Reasons to Shop for Vintage at Bricks and Mortar Shops

1. Quality. Vintage items are often crafted with more skill and durability in mind compared to modern items, especially when it comes to clothing, furniture, and home goods. Second hand items should always be examined for wear and tear. Vintage, by definition is most often second hand, as its 20 years or older, with the rare exception of deadstock items, which still has its original tags. Often items are discarded because of holes, stains, scratches, dents, damage, or smell! When you purchase from a physical shop, you can examine the item with your hands and your eyes. We recommend to turn garments inside out to examine the seams and construction when trying on vintage clothes. Examine all aspects of furniture and home goods looking for damage, but know that many items can be repaired if damage is found. They were constructed with durability in mind! We were always a disposable nation.

2. Cleanliness. When you purchase a vintage item from a reputable dealer, you can examine the cleanliness with your own senses. You can also smell the garment for yourself. Does it still smell like grandmas perfume? Dust? Mothballs? Something worse? Eek!

3. Touch. This is highly important in clothing. There is nothing quite like feeling a fabric with your own palm and fingertips. Does the fabric make you itch? Run your palm over the areas of most wear, the bust and the interior of the legs, is there piling or does it feel like the fabric is thinning? When you are looking at quality garments, vintage materials will just feel different. 1930s silk feels pleasantly different than modern silk. 1940s rayon feels cold to the touch.

4. Knowledge and History. Most vintage dealers are experts in their genre and can talk for days about the items we love and source. Often, we acquire items from families who reach out to us with stories and memories of their family members, or even themselves in their younger days. Sometimes we even get historic photos of the items along with the actual item! Who doesn’t love knowing the history of their items?

5. Styling Assistance. Unsure of how to style a garment? Which way does it tie? Is this the front or the back? Not sure what to wear underneath? Decorating your home? Need some help with design or measurements? What pieces complement each other in a room? Not to worry when you are shopping at a local bricks and mortar shop, we love what we do, and are happy to help you find and style your favorite vintage items. You cant get that from an online only shop.