Vintage Clothing Shopping?

The popularity of vintage clothing is growing with no signs of slowing down. Why spend lots of money  on a throwaway dress on the high street when you can scour thrift stores and eBay and find yourself a vintage gem that will last you a lifetime.

I fell in love with vintage clothing as a little girl watching old films and loving the glamorous looks - the shellsuits of the '80s were never going to tempt me! With my many years of experience, here are my ten tricks and tips to snag yourself a vintage, stylish bargain without the headache.

1. Take your measurements and update them regularly - sounds obvious but a lot of people just buy by size and vintage sizes are a lot different to those you'll find on the high street.

2. Find something you already own that fits you like a glove, lay it on the floor and measure across the bust, waist and hips and the length - most online sellers will list flat measurements so you will find these invaluable

3. Buy bigger - most vintage sizes are smaller than todays sizing so buy bigger - it's much easier to nip it in than try to get it made bigger.

4. Know your limits! If you're a skilled dressmaker, great! You'll be able to sort out any garment that comes your way, if like me however you can only do the basics with a needle and thread then don't take on too much - I can nip in a waist, repair a seam or take up a hem but more than that and I'm lost. Find out what your local dry cleaners or tailors charges for various alterations and repairs and factor these costs in before purchasing. If it's too much work or too expensive, then pass, don't worry there will be another fabulous piece around the corner!

5. Know which era's styles suit you best - if you're very tall then 70's style maxis will look great, if you're tiny then go for some 60s mod dresses of if like me you're small and hourglass then you can't go wrong with 40s and 50s tailored dresses and coats.

6. Search for fabulous accessories - you can brighten up any outfit with great accessories - my collection of headscarves (with the emphasis on Mary Quant) is one of my favourite things!

7. If you're buying something online and can't see the actual garment don't be afraid to ask questions, most vintage sellers know the questions they will be asked and write great descriptions and are usually fine with answering any other questions you may have.

8. Re-purpose and give new life! Some dresses or coats I find are great material and cut but the buttons or zips date the piece, it stakes less than an hour to replace them and gives the garment a new lease of life

9. Think outside the box - some coats look great as dresses and some long skits worn high and belted at the waist make great strapless dresses - look for new ways to wear things and double your wardrobe!

10. Be impulsive! Everything is one of a kind, go with your gut instinct and if you love it, buy it!

Once you've bought your vintage bargains, take good care of them, wash them gently, store them carefully and they will last you a lifetime.

Happy hunting!