Thrifting with First Ladies Vintage

Hi! My name is Niki and I am the shop owner of First Ladies Vintage. I've been selling vintage online since 2009. With a background in costume history and design, as well as a lifelong love for old things, selling vintage clothing and surrounding myself with history every day has been a real dream come true for me. First Ladies Vintage loves mod 1960s silhouettes, neutral colors (pink is considered a neutral to FLV!) and feminine details. I've never met a lace ruffle or a peter pan collar that I didn't like! When I'm on the hunt for pieces for the First Ladies Vintage shop, I like to consider the wearability of everything I find and how it could potentially fit in to a modern girl's wardrobe.
That being said, now is the perfect time to head to the thrift store to hunt down a sparkly outfit for all your upcoming holiday parties! I'm here to share a few tips and tricks to make sure

1. Always bring a measuring tape with you and know your measurements! Most thrift stores are not equipped with fitting rooms and its a total hassle to repeatedly take off all your winter layers to try on dresses in the middle of an aisle. Know your measurements and speed along the aisles.

2. Grab a cart! Fill the cart with anything and everything that catches your eye. That amazing full collared coat might not be there when you circle back later. Its easier to to edit your own pile than to go back and remember where you might've seen that rhinestone sweater.

3. Imagine you aren't at a thrift store. Sometimes its dizzying, all the colors and fabrics and country music. Imagine the party or event where you might wear that sequined jacket. Would anyone realize you thrifted it for $4.99? What if you removed the shoulder pads and wore it with your favorite boots?

4. Study! My best tip is to learn as much as you can about vintage fabrics, patterns, and findings (the zippers, buttons, etc). The more you are able to recognize how vintage fabrics differ from modern blends, the more quickly you can whip through an aisle without stopping at every mall dress.

5. Visit early and often! The turnover at thrift stores is quick and they put out new items every day. If you have an event in mind where you'll need a specific piece, give yourself a few weeks to look. Don't be discouraged if you don't find any treasures on your first trip. Try a different thrift store or go on a different day.

Thanks for the great thrifting tips Niki! We'll be sure to put them to good use next time we go out on the hunt for vintage clothing. Visit First Ladies Vintage online here and pick up something for your next holiday/new years party. You can also follow FLV on Facebook and Instagram.