How to Shop For Vintage Clothing, Bags, and Jewelry

Favorite Piece to Shop Vintage: '30s and '40s cocktail and evening gowns, white cotton, and black lace blouses.

Easiest Era to Shop: '90s grunge, anything from the '80s and '70s — the eras closest to us. Earlier eras are harder to find.

Jewelry 101: Look for anything that is in fashion and on trend. It's important to buy things that are authentic, meaning they are from their original place. Silver is always a good bet and long chain necklaces.

Handbag Dos and Don'ts: Evening clutches are better vintage than the ones made today, they really knew how to make them back then. Get a practical handbag; slouchy '70s bags, and ethnic/folkloric cloth bags are great — handbags from the '50s are not practical at all.

Soul Searching: You should never buy vintage heels — a vintage dress or outfit needs to be updated with a pair of amazing, modern pumps. If you do want to shop for vintage shoes, stick to moto boots and flats, like a pair of Ferragamo loafers!

Flea Markets vs. Stores vs. Online: I like to see and interact with the pieces before I purchase them. There is some great stuff online; however, I personally do not shop vintage online.

Hot Vintage Trends: Anything fur, it's cheaper and doesn't support the fur industry. Leather pieces are great, especially a vintage leather pencil skirt. It's also a lot cheaper than a new one. With the '70s trend in full force, jumpsuits are also a hot find.

Favorite Vintage Stores: I suggest flea markets, thrift stores, estate sales and garage sales. You can even use Craigslist to find garage sales in your area!

Check out Shareen's store, Shareen Vintage.