THE main thing with buying vintage is of course to go for what you like and what suits your personal style. But if you need a bit more advice, here are my top tips for buying vintage clothing.

The way your garment feels to wear is just as important as how it looks. Savvy vintage shoppers consider the fabric as well as the cut and colour. There are some great luxury fabrics such as vintage silk.

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This blue heart print Christian Dior vintage dress is a great example. Whilst it is still a premium price, a dress like this would cost many more times to buy new from Christian Dior today.

You don’t have to go designer for silk, look for luxurious silk shirts and blazers too. Don’t forget about viscose and rayon, as they can look and feel as good as silk. Other luxe fabrics include velvet and cashmere but there are some amazing vintage cottons too.

You can usually find a beautiful silk dress quite easily, but for a real treat look for one that’s silk-lined. Other linings that feel good close to your skin tend to be natural fabrics rather than man-made, so look out for cotton linings rather than polyester if this is something you want to wear often and for long periods of time.

Don’t be too concerned about size when shopping for vintage. It’s a great idea to look for items that are too big, as for a few pounds you can get them taken in and tailored to your measurements, making the whole look even more amazing.

Also don’t fret too much about loose zips, tiny moth holes or seam tears as they too can be easily repaired by a professional and it really won’t break the bank.

At My Vintage we only sell high quality vintage and we usually have repairs done before we sell items, so you needn’t worry about an unexpected hole or rip.

A few decades ago, people tended to made their own clothes a lot more than we do now. Some of the best vintage wear you’ll find may have been made at home by a talented amateur seamstress.

Don’t make the mistake of overlooking vintage clothing without a label as you could be missing a real gem, such as this gorgeous little 50’s dress.

Having dealt with vintage for over 16 years, I can date an item of clothing withing minutes, with or without labels. So with My Vintage you can trust that you are buying authentic vintage that has been under the experts eye!

A belt can really make all the difference to an outfit. Belts are great at helping you get the best fit out of an item of clothing.

My top tip is to look out for gold or silver, as these colours tend to go with any item of clothing. It’s best to invest in a few belts of varying widths and styles and you will never look back.

If you are plus size or top heavy, wear belts on the higher empire line and if you are smaller at the top and waist then cinch right in at your smallest point for that killer silhouette.

You can shop for vintage 24/7 at www.myvintage.co.uk or come and visit us at the shop, My Vintage, 2 The Circus, Darwen, BB3 1BT.

You can also book a free personal styling consultation by calling 01254 774701 or emailing emma@myvintage.co.uk.