Lately I’ve been noticing some awesome little vintage shops popping up on ebay. I can spend hours in any vintage shop no matter how big or small, and the same goes when shopping for vintage online.

I love browsing stock in overseas stores, and trawling through the international Ebay listings for unique vintage pieces, however the postage can get very steep. Especially with heavier items such as shoes, boots, coats, furs and bags. Luckily there are some clever little bunnies who’ve decided to seek out and make available some amazingly unique and on trend items, sometimes for far less than you’d pay in a vintage store. Keep in mind though, that although there are some great bargains to be had, there are also some pitfalls, and some pieces that just never seem to go cheap.

Remember:

1. There is still a fair amount of faux-vintage – read the item description carefullySpotting the fakes can be hard, and especially harder when you’re shopping online and new to buying vintage pieces. If you’re not sure – ask questions, a genuine and reliable seller will answer any questions you have and usually be able to provide further detailed photos as proof. If you’re still not sure don’t bid to avoid disappointment and stick with reputable sellers until you feel comfortable in judging from the listing.
2. Make a bidding limit – and stick to itI can’t stress how important this is, work out before you start sniper bidding in the last minute exactly what your limit will be. You must do this in a reasonable frame of mind and I know from personal experience that the last 4 seconds of an auction is not a time when I’d say I was thinking reasonably. Work out, in advance, what you most feel comfortable paying for the item and then keep your bids within that amount. If you wouldn’t pay $150 for it in a shop why would you pay that much on Ebay?Remember to include postage costs into your final amount too, this can help avoid some ‘oh fuck’ moments when it comes time for payment.
3. Check seller feedback – always

I don’t think I need to go into to much more detail on ‘how to Ebay’, I trust any footpath humm readers are already well aware of how to do this, but for those who are new to vintage shopping online, it’s always nice to have some pointers to avoid disappointment.

Here are some stores I highly recommend adding to your favourite sellers and signing up for the newsletters. They get some great items in, and I suggest the newsletter as these are one-off pieces and you’ll get your hands on the best bits if you’re in the know.

Dolly Dagger Vintage

I rarely see anything here that I don’t immediately begin lusting after, everything is on-trend and very wearable. High end labels pop up often, and of course it’s all a wee bit expensive. Anything that goes to auction here is… well vicious – I’ve seen a pair of leggings go for over AU$100. Recent amazing find here was a Missoni Knit Jumper Dress – fucking amazing, I forgot about the auction and am still regretting it today… That said, check in regularly for some great ‘buy it now’ items. I picked up one of my fave cardis from here about a year ago for around AU$50 and was snapped for a street fashion pic the first day I wore it out.

OmDiddyOm

This store is awesome, however I’ve found a lot of the stock works best on the taller, thinner or more athletic types. That could possible be because the model is that build and the clothes look stunning on her but I’m doubting that will translate to my shorter curvier frame. Regardless I’ve still found some great pieces here that should work for just about any body type, and you can get some gorgeous little vintage frocks for around AU$80-$90 almost all of the time. Stock is an eclectic mix, ranging all eras, updated pretty regularly and the prices are reasonable.

Mockingbird Fair

I discovered this one recently and am in love with their stock. They too have a very eclectic mix of items, and range all eras. Check back often for some fantastic buy it now items, stock is updated pretty regularly, customer service is exceptional. My fave items from here have been a pair of vintage Rollers (in near new condition) for around AU$40 and my spotty vintage dress which I think was around AU$60, I’m really impressed with the and condition of the items.

Also check out these three:

Cops In Jeans – Kitsch Bitsch – The Retro Junkie

I still haven’t purchased enough from here to say too much, however I’ve been impressed so far with their customer service. Each has some great stock and update fairly regularly.

Happy vintage shopping babes xxx

Tags: au, australia, dress, ebay, indie, shop, shopping, vintage, where to buy vintage

This entry was posted on June 29, 2010 at 6:46 pm and is filed under accesorize, fashion, indie, shop, style. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.