<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" As the founders of A Current Affair marketplace, Joey Grana and Richard Wainwright know a thing or two about how to shop vintage. A hub for designers, stylists, celebrities and vintage aficionados, A Current Affair hosts over 50 vintage exhibitors three times a year at Cooper Design Space in downtown LA and the next pops up tomorrow on April 5. But a vintage expedition without some know-how can be daunting and, worse yet, fruitless. So Wainwright, a private vintage jewelry dealer by trade, and Grana, who runs the LA boutiqueScout, prepped us by spilling all of their shopping secrets. Tip #1: If you only buy one vintage item, make it an accessory.  Wainwright suggests pairing classic pieces from your wardrobe with a vintage statement necklace or clutch in order to transform your look without transforming your entire closet. That and accessories tend to have a longer shelf life when it comes to both style and durability. Tip #2: Be flexible with sizes. Many older garments were constructed with room to be let out, Grana explains. That doesn&amp;#039;t quite mean one size fits all, but it does mean a tailor can usually make modest alternations to fit. Don&amp;#039;t pass up a perfect Dior dress because it&amp;#039;s one size larger than you&amp;#039;re used to. Over time, he says, you&amp;#039;ll learn which eras&amp;#039; silhouettes best fit your body. Tip #3: Pay attention to quality, especially with designer pieces. Grana&amp;#039;s advice: Before making a purchase, &amp;quot;always look carefully at each item.&amp;quot; According to Wainwright, you can determine how well a garment was made by examining &amp;quot;the hems, the way the fabric feels, the stitching, even the quality of the buttons.&amp;quot; Tip #4: Think modern. Wainwright and Grana have a flexible definition of vintage. &amp;quot;Vintage just means something that was in fashion and has fallen out of fashion\u2014and now it&amp;#039;s back in fashion.&amp;quot; Because that includes such a range of looks, mixing and matching new pieces with old ones is the best way to develop a personal style. &amp;quot;The takeaway is that you want it to feel fresh. Even if it&amp;#039;s something from the 1890&amp;#039;s, the goal is to incorporate something vintage and not look era-specific,&amp;quot; says Grana. Tip #5: Do your research. Bring your smartphone so you can research on the go, Wainwright advises. Especially when purchasing a classic designer investment piece like an Herm\u00E8s bag or a piece of Chanel jewelry, it&amp;#039;s worth checking how much similar items go for on eBay and other online marketplaces. Tip #6: Trust your gut. Even if it takes you outside of your comfort zone. &amp;quot;If you have a strong positive reaction to something, you should explore that,&amp;quot; Wainwright says. Don&amp;#039;t always play it safe; that said, if you feel like you&amp;#039;re in costume, you probably look that way too\u2014put the garment down and back away from the shelf. Tip #7: Don&amp;#039;t hesitate. &amp;quot;When it&amp;#039;s a one-of-a-kind piece, if it is something that works for you, just buy it,&amp;quot; Wainwright urges. &amp;quot;Because that is the last chance you are going to have!&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/a2003/how-to-shop-vintage/>