How to Find Retro Clothes

Woman dressed in pin-up fashion

Retro clothing styles will always be in fashion because trends reappear after a number of years. Bell-bottom jeans showed up again in the '90s straight from their once-groovy days of the '60s and '70s. Flowery tops and long skirts have also gained appeal recently among the widespread replication of other older styles in contemporary fashion. Sometimes it's just cooler to be out-of-date.

Things You'll Need

• Access to the Internet
• Your wardrobe

Instructions

Finding Retro Pieces

1. Check your own closet. Seeking out retro styles can be as easy as rummaging through your old clothing. It depends on how retro you want to get. Styles from up to 20 or 30 years ago or more can be found in your own wardrobe, depending on how old you are and how it still fits. If your closet doesn't do the trick, try older relatives' clothes, if they don't mind. This will certainly dredge up interesting fashion styles that correspond to older time periods.

2. Find thrift stores in your area. Thrift stores have an abundance of vintage, retro clothing. If you don't mind slightly used clothes, vintage shops are an optimal way to get your hands on some previous-era pieces. Vintage clothing is usually inexpensive. Most clothing sold in thrift stores is in good or excellent condition, but be on the lookout for unseemly marks or rips.

3. Go online for vintage, retro styles. Many websites specialize in the sale of already-worn clothing and other used items. Ebay.com, a grassroots seller domain, is an incredibly popular source for used items, many of which are clothes. Most of these pieces are sold at a fraction of their original price. For expensive collectible pieces, try antiquedress.com. This website has clothing from the 1800s up to modern-day fashion styles, intended for a serious retro-fashion connoisseur. These pieces are in good condition and are so historically significant, they could be hanging in museums.

   For new women's clothing in addition to vintage, already-worn pieces, visit modcloth.com. A good portion of its new items are also retro-inspired styles, so it's an ideal place to check out if you want clothing with no wear and tear. Vintagetrends.com is another interesting outlet for retro clothes. This website boasts lots of styles from different eras and also specializes in old-school military garb. In addition, go to mybabyjo.com for pin-up girls' clothing. The clothes are vintage and the floral accessories and jewelry are made by hand.

4. Search in your Internet browser for retro clothing, vintage clothing, retro styles, or even "how to find retro clothing," which, besides summoning this article, will also direct you to a plethora of websites selling the exact types of retro clothing you are looking for. Use different keywords to bring up corresponding websites that might specialize in certain kinds of retro styles. Mod, flapper, depression-era, funky, grunge, and pin-up styles are all vastly different, so if you know what age you want your clothes to replicate or originate, it's best to search directly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're buying vintage clothing, check the store's or website's return policy and their quality guarantee.

• Also, if ordering on the Internet, read the clothing measurements and compare them against your own. Older and foreign pieces may adhere to a different measurement system.

References

• Squidoo: How to find cute retro clothing, accessories and housewares.
• eBay