8 Places to Buy Vintage Online During Lockdown

Lockdown really is a bit crap isn’t it. Now we’re on round 3 and the weather is a bit grim, I’m definitely starting to miss little bits of my old life. I’ve really been missing visiting car boot sales and charity shops, going into London for riverside walks and going for tea and cake at National Trust properties the most, because these are the things I liked to do for myself. Collecting vintage clothing is one of my biggest hobbies and I’ve always loved looking for the perfect pieces for me. Although I love buying vintage clothing in person, the internet does put the whole world at our fingertips when it comes to buying vintage, so even if we can’t go and buy things in person, theres plenty to be found online.

I must confess to sitting in my PJs at home for quite a few days of helping the kids with their school work and getting my work done. But on days that I’ve got up, had a shower and put on something comfortable but fabulous from my vintage collection, I’ve felt that little bit more ready for the day. Dressing up for myself does make me feel good. So if you’re feeling like theres no point in treating yourself just because you can’t go anywhere, remember that not only will this all be over eventually, but in the meantime you can still do nice things for yourself, if your budget allows.

Buying Vintage Online During Lockdown

Really if you want to get your vintage fix during lockdown, the internet is your only hope! Buying vintage online is a brilliant way to support small businesses and make greener fashion choices and get something really unique to wear (around the house).

Ebay

Definitely still one of the best places to find excellent vintage, Ebay is worth a look for sure. With both ‘buy it now’ options, for an instant purchase and auction style listings for those of us hoping for a bargain, you can definitely find some fabulous vintage. Be sure to read the listing carefully and ask the seller any questions you might have before buying. Ebay can be quite hard work to navigate as listings aren’t always accurate and you often get a lot of modern and reproduction clothing mixed in with the real vintage, but it’s definitely worth sifting through to find the best bits and refining your search options to be quite specific.

Depop

I’m such a big fan of Depop, it’s simple formulas is very user friendly and I find the app so easy to navigate. If you haven’t used it before, Depop is a bit like Ebay meets Instagram in how it is laid out. Perfect for scrolling through a plethora of gorgeous fashion. You will find a HUGE selection of clothing on here, from people discarding their fast fashion purchases for a steal, to some of the best retro clothing online. Prices vary hugely I’ve picked up a gorgeous 50s dress for as little as £15 and also spotted gorgeous 70s Indian cotton dresses for well into the hundreds. There’s definitely something there for all tastes and budgets. Just be carefully to read the descriptions properly as lots of sellers prefer you to message before purchasing.

Etsy

I really love Etsy, which is why I chose it as the platform to run my shop from. Listings tend to be very accurate and there isn’t lots of new clothing hiding amongst the vintage. Because there are so many full time vintage dealers, with a huge wealth of knowledge and a gorgeous range of vintage to match, you will find absolutely stunning vintage clothing on here. Expect to pay a little more on Etsy as the fees for sellers are usually higher, but remember that you are supporting small businesses and right now that is such an excellent thing to do. As an Etsy seller myself I put so much time into my shop and put love into what I do and when people buy from my shop it is literally putting food on the table and keeping my bills paid. So I really do appreciate every single sale.

Facebook

There are so many vintage selling groups on Facebook and you can find some truly exceptional pieces. My biggest advice would be to read and be mindful of the particular rules on each selling page. Admins put their free time into running these groups and breaking the rules can result in drama, you have been warned! 🙂 The best way to find groups is to search for them, ask friends who also like vintage if they can add you to groups and see what comes up in suggestions. I don’t really use Facebook anymore, but when I did I found some of my favourite pieces on selling pages.

Instagram

There are so many amazing vintage sellers on Instagram and many sell directly from their pages or give you previews of things that will be coming up on their shops. I make sure I follow a few favourites to see what they have on offer and also use hashtags to find what I’m looking for. This is another great way to shop small and support some fab small businesses.

Sellers Websites

Although there are plenty of fab platforms that feature lots of sellers, many people still sell from their own websites. My first vintage business was run this way and I absolutely loved it. Be sure to regularly check your favourite vintage websites big and small and grab the best bits as they add them.

Auctions

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying at auction online, as there are a lot of hidden costs and vintage is often sold in big bulk lots. However it’s always worth taking a look at different auction houses websites to see if they have any vintage clothing coming up. Just make sure you budget in buyers premiums which are usually around 30% on top of the hammer price and expect to have to arrange your own courier to ship the items to you which can often be quite expensive too. Be sure to request full condition reports and lots of pictures before bidding as often these details are missed out.

Online Charity Shops

If you wan’t to do a little good while shopping online, take a look at the Oxfam online shop. They update their website daily with lots of fabulous second hand and vintage clothing. Some other charities also have their own eBay shops so it’s worth doing a little research to see if you can still support your favourite charities, while filling your wardrobes!

I hope you’ve found this helpful and that if you’re in search of lovely vintage during lockdown, that you mange to find something nice to buy. Feel free to add your own suggestions and link to your favourite sellers in the comments.

For vintage tips and ideas check out the Fashion section of the blog. if you like what I do and want to see more, be sure to give me a follow on the links below!

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Ways to follow Vintage Frills

Instagram – Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – Etsy

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