Vintage clothes are taking the world by storm, capturing the hearts of fashionistas everywhere with their timeless charm and unique style. The common question that arises is: Where to buy vintage clothing? If you’re a busy individual, you’re probably looking for an easy way to get behind the trend of vintage fashion. That’s where online shopping comes in. In today’s fast-paced world, online platforms offer accessibility and variety, allowing vintage enthusiasts to browse and shop from the comfort of their own homes. In this blog, we’ll dive into the best online platforms for vintage clothing shopping and share insider tips to navigate the exciting world of online vintage fashion.
Why shop for vintage ?
Vintage clothing is trending around the world. It’s on the ramps as well as on the streets. There are two key reasons driving the growing popularity of vintage clothing. Firstly, vintage garments are stylish and unique. A jacket from the 1920s is markedly different from one belonging to the 80s. Adding a single vintage piece to your look can make it unique.
Shopping for vintage is also a sustainable choice. When you buy a vintage garment, you’re reducing the demand for fast fashion and newly manufactured dresses. In turn, this reduces the pollutants released by manufacturing centres and lowers your own carbon footprint. You’re also contributing towards minimising waste. All in all, it’s a great way to be fashionable and eco-conscious.
Where to buy vintage clothing – thrift vs vintage ?
It can be confusing differentiating between shopping for vintage outfits and thrift shopping. Both categories offer pre-loved clothes. This means the garment you’re considering has probably been worn by someone else before. However, the value of vintage and thrifted clothes can be very different.
Vintage typically refers to outfits manufactured at least twenty years ago. Today, this marks a period between the 1920s and the early 2000s. So, a dress from five seasons ago can’t be called vintage. A vintage reseller focuses on outfits with details characteristic of the design era they belong to. Band vintage tees from the 80s and 90s are a great example. Vintage resellers also take pride in the quality of their products and are likely to go the extra mile when curating their collection.
On the other hand, thrift stores focus on low-priced garments. Most reseller accept pre-loved clothes of all kinds and ages with minimal quality control. You can get a good deal at a thrift store but finding a vintage coat from the 1940s here is a rarity.
The bottom line – if you value quality, skip the thrift stores and shop on vintage clothing platforms online.
Where to buy vintage clothing online?
Given the age of the outfits you’re looking at buying, ensuring quality is a must before you shop. Here are a few websites where you might find a vintage treasure.
1. Riaaj Vintage
Riaaj Vintage is a shopping platform born from an unwavering fascination for the evolution of fashion over the ages. Each garment offers a connection to the past. The brand prides itself on its design curation and quality assurance. Outfits are sourced from around the world, thereby guaranteeing an international aesthetic. The vintage collection spans decades and caters to the needs of men and women. You can find a variety of tees, shorts, jeans, jackets and more from Ralph Lauren, Ed Hardy, Harley Davidson, Levis, Calvin Klien and other labels. Some of these garments are truly one of a kind. What’s more, to make the shopping experience smoother, garment listings are accompanied by detailed measurements. This is a critical detail since vintage garment sizes can differ from current size charts.
2. Bodemonts
When people ask where to buy vintage clothing online, Bodemonts is a name that often pops up. The platform has a twin focus. On the one hand, it offers hand-picked vintage outfits from around the world. This includes pieces with designer labels as well as unbranded vintage finds. In addition, the brand also upcycles pre-loved sarees from India to create new outfits. Customers also have the option of getting their own heirloom sarees transformed into a more contemporary outfit. Bodemonts also offers a curated collection of vintage jewellery to enhance your looks.
3. Viange
For eclectic vintage jewellery, you must head over to Viange. This vintage shopping platform has a vast collection of costume jewellery from around the world and over the last few decades. It’s all about the glamour of the iconic fashion houses of the 20th century. You can find exquisite earrings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches from Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga, Escada, Swarovski, Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld and more. In addition to jewellery, Viange also offers a limited collection of vintage garments. From Escada to Oscar De La Renta, there are treasures waiting to be picked up here. Note that price tags can get quite heavy here.
4. Red Empress
Red Empress is a relatively young brand that dives deep into the past to find cool vintage outfits that will resonate with today’s modern men and women. Their outfits are sourced from around India, particularly from the northeast as well as New Zealand. Apart from the vintage tag, the platform sets itself apart by focusing on outfits with a funky attitude. If bold shirts with large sunflowers printed against a contrasting base reflect your personal style, check out their collection on Instagram.
5. Vintage Laundry
If you’re looking at how to get cheap vintage clothes, check out Vintage Laundry. Vintage Laundry walks the tightrope between vintage and thrift. It offers a range of preloved clothes at affordable prices. Founded by a stylist seeking to balance being fashionable with sustainability, Vintage Laundry has a large collection of shirts, jackets, pants, accessories and jewellery. Each garment is personally selected in keeping with the platform’s overall aesthetic. That said, this isn’t where you’re likely to find vintage garments with designer labels.
6. Folk Pants
Folk Pants started out as a small thrift store and evolved into a popular online vintage clothing shop. Founded by two sisters, the platform focuses more on quality rather than the age of the outfit. It’s a great place for bold, minimalistic fashion. You can find vintage florals and gingham prints as well as pieces with dramatic collars and sleeves. Along with local finds from Manipur in India, you could find outfits from known labels like Indian designer Atsu Sekhose and Dolce & Gabbana. While they don’t have a website, you can shop through their Instagram handle. They also have offline stores.
Where to buy vintage clothing in bulk?
Most vintage clothing websites offer one-off vintage garments. You can mix and match but you’re not likely to find multiples of the same style. This can be challenging for stylists. What you need is to know where to buy vintage clothing in high volume. Riaaj Vintage is one of the top websites for bulk vintage clothing. Riaaj Vintage gives you the option of shopping for clothes by weight or by the bale. Branded bundles of garments can include anywhere from 10 to 300 vintage pieces.
Where to get vintage cloth?
Sometimes, you don’t want a readymade outfit, you want to create a custom garment. For this, you need the right fabric, lace, buttons and trims. It’s much harder to find the right fabric rather than a ready outfit. That said, it isn’t impossible. Online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay are among the best places to shop for vintage fabric. You can also find fabric scrap bundles to embellish outfits and smaller stitching projects, as well as saree borders, ribbons and assorted silk trims. Etsy is especially popular with vintage shoppers looking for pieces from the early 1940s to the 1960s. Along with the fabric, you can find ready-to-wear vintage garments too on both platforms.
Summing it up
When it comes to the world of fashion, what goes around comes around. Choosing a vintage outfit makes you look cool no matter what the current trends are about. Of course, you need to choose the right garment and style your outfit right. Pay attention to details when you’re shopping for vintage since the garments are mostly pre-worn. Also, make sure of the sizes – don’t rely only on the S/M/L tags. Riaaj Vintage makes it easy for shoppers to visualize how a garment will fit by providing measurements for each listing. Whether you want to base your look around a vintage tee shirt or layer a jacket on your little black dress, there’s the perfect vintage garment waiting to be picked up. So, let’s start browsing!