Resale
Buying vintage or resale clothing is very chic and green nowadays, but before you go out on a clothing treasure hunt, keep the following points in mind, or the money you spend on that stylish sixties velvet jacket may be money down the drain.
Condition is the most important factor to consider. Look carefully for tears, holes, stains, pilling and discoloration. Most reputable resale and vintage stores won't accept clothing that has those kinds of problems, but smaller issues may have been overlooked. Check the inside seams to see if the stitching is coming apart and definitely check underneath the lining if possible. Stabilizers, the interlining fabric that helps jackets hold their shape, can disintegrate or fail if the garment hasn't been laundered properly. It's also worth mentioning that a garment with any kind of smell, moth balls or other unmentionable odors, should be avoided.
Another consideration is the type of fabric, which influences future care. Will the garment hold up to dry-cleaning? Are you willing to give a garment made of lace, velvet, or wool the tender loving care it needs?
What about style? Unless you're buying for a theatrical production, is the style timeless? Is it something that can be worn season after season, like a trench coat, or does it have dated elements? (Think 1980s monster shoulder pads.)
Finally, clothing sizes have changed over the years and clothing nowadays is cut more generously than before. In addition, a garment you find may have been originally purchased outside the country with a completely different sizing system. Bottom line-try it on before you buy.
The same goes for vintage furniture. You would be surprised to learn how much you could save if you only know how to find places where you can find furniture resale. There are tons of furniture that barely have any scratches or damage in them that you might think they are practically new. Some of these items are factory rejects just because of few minor scratches and very minimal errors in details. There are also those thrift stores that resales decorative items that usually costs a lot if you will buy them on depots.
The value of your vintage dress or resale jacket is subjective. But even though the initial price may be cheaper than buying new, make sure it's worth your investment.