Shopping at a vintage store is one of my favorite pastimes. A colorful collection of carefully curated goods takes a lot of time and effort to put together. I have found my very favorite treasures at these shops. Plus, they’ve often put effort into sizing garments, making them easier to try on and buy. Still, vintage purveyors can be pricey, so if you’re looking for where to find vintage clothes for less, try one of these alternatives.

Estate Sales

For extensive collections of clothes spanning decades, look no further than estate sales. Many sales tend to be treasure troves of vintage garments, because people tend to hold on to garments that are special to them. In a sort of sartorial turducken, many estate sales are in the homes of vintage and antique collectors. I use a website called EstateSales.net to find local sales and use the pictures from upcoming sales to judge how many vintage items a sale will likely have.

Be warned, in some cities like L.A. and Miami, estate sales can go viral and have huge lines out the door. If you see an item in photos that you particularly want, call the sale ahead of time and put it on hold, otherwise you may be elbowing other vintage lovers.

Thrift Shops

Though it requires some serious digging, I have found some great vintage scores at thrift shops. With the popularity of retro clothing, it can be difficult to parse out the true vintage from the facsimiles. You can use my handy guide to vintage clothing identification to help you out. Note that some thrift shops may realize what they have on their hands, and price accordingly.

For the best success at scoring vintage at a thrift shop, I have an unusual tip. Do NOT go to a thrift shop in a “rich” neighborhood. Why? Because people in wealthier neighborhoods tend not to hold on to precious items. They tend to turn over their clothing and furniture every few years, resulting in items that are just this much out of date, but not actually vintage. Shop in neighborhoods that are less well off, or neighborhoods with lots of grand older homes.

Goodwill Outlet

Some cities have a Goodwill “Outlet.” They are not carefully curated like the Goodwill boutiques, instead they contain large bins of items sold by the pound. If you’re prepared to dig, Goodwill Outlets are the place to go. I’ve found some incredible things at outlets for $1.25 per pound. Be warned, items are often barely sorted before being tossed in the bins, so the house wares in particular can be dangerous to sort through with broken glass. You’ll definitely need to give everything you buy a good wash.

Flea Markets/Antique Malls

More curated than a thrift shop but less expensive than a traditional vintage shop, antique malls and flea markets can house some real gems. I once found a brown lucite 60s purse for $30! These stores operate on a stall system, with different vendors paying a small fee to “rent” their space. Many vendors are low-key hoarders, so they will have a ton to go through. They’re a pretty great source of home decor as well.

Clothing Swaps

If your friends are vintage lovers as well, organize or attend a clothing swap! These free parties involve bringing clothes you no longer want to a common area and swapping out items. This requires bringing clothing of your own, of course; don’t be too greedy. But I’ve found some of my favorite pieces at clothing swaps!

Relatives

I’ve found that older relatives are often really happy to pass on beloved clothing to vintage lovers. From a dress they made in home ec in the 1970s, to a skirt your grandmother spent a month’s paycheck on, you never know what’s hiding in old family closets. As a bonus, these pieces are even more special, because they come from people who know and love you.

Conclusion

If you’re willing to snoop around, or roll up your sleeves and do some digging, you’ll find some real vintage treasures. While common paths like Etsy, Depop, and vintage stores are more reliable, you can find some real jewels for less with a little elbow grease.