Fashion Evolved Vintage Value Venture

Fashion Evolved, a style blog for the eco snob has a great post on buying vintage with the following tips.

1. Look for pieces that you can pair with your existing basics. Buy a pair of perfect jeans, or a pair of black dress pants and then find something extraordinary from a vintage shop to wear with them.
2. Take your time and be prepared to walk away with nothing. Consider vintage shopping to be a sport. Sometimes you win—BIG. Sometimes you lose and come up empty handed. It should be a relaxing and fun past time so don’t go if you’re in a hurry or if you need something to wear RIGHT NOW. The best way to shop vintage is to just go on a regular basis without any expectations. Allow yourself to be surprised when you do find something extraordinary.
3. Look at labels, but don’t make it a priority. If you fall in love with a piece, buy it and use it.
4. Try it on. Sizing varies widely from different time periods and from different manufacturers, so you can’t just go by the size on the tag. If you don’t want to try it on there, find out what the store’s return policy is.
5. Look for pieces that have detail: beading, lace, sequins, embroidery. If the workmanship is excellent, but you’re not crazy about the style, think outside the box and consider buying it and having it altered or made into something new.
6. Most vintage stores also sell belts, handbags, scarves, jewelry and hats as well as shoes that need some TLC. Find a cobbler and make friends with him.

Good advice all, but for those of you like me, who don't have time to go on the hunt from store to store, the internet is a great source for vintage fashion.
And, try to shop on the net with stores that have full return policies. I wouldn't purchase anything that requires a correct fit if it can't be returned.