@Gertrude I don’t really wear dresses and skirts, but perhaps I should start if it means I can get them cheap. I’d have to go for short sleeved or sleeveless though. And it seriously sucks not being able to buy a nice sweater because the sleeves are too short in an awkward, non-fashionable way. The belt rule is a good one though, I think even for shopping in general. I always find myself wondering if stuff would work with one, and I never have one.

Anyway, all clothes should be made longer! Short people can hem, tall people cannot add fabric. Ahh, the injustices of the world.

I know what my body looks like and I know what clothes look good on it. Trying on clothes in thrift stores not only slows you down but can be such an enormous hassle because thrift store dressing rooms are so small and cramped and sometimes not at all private. Plus: I’ll try that wrinkled stained dress on at home after I’ve washed it, thanks. I have a mini measuring tape that I keep on me at all times to quickly measure the bust and waist of anything I’m interested in. If measurements are all I need for buying vintage on etsy, then it’s all I need for IRL shopping too.

And as for Rule 7, I’ve been buying and wearing vintage since I was 16 and I can’t even fathom not altering the clothes you get to fit. Do you seriously wait until that one magical item that fits you perfectly shows up before you buy clothes? Your clothes will not only look better on you if you take 10 minutes to fix a too-long hem but having the ability to alter your clothes means there’s so many more items you can buy. That two-sizes-too-large Lilly Pulitzer shift? Take it in 4″, lift the hem 6″, and you’ve turned a $4 find into what looks like an awesome $100 summer dress. Learning to sew was probably the best skill my mom ever taught me.

Oh and? “Rule Six: Shop in all sections. Except underwear.” I recently bought three packages of Spanx underwear, brand new, still in their packaging for $3/ea. (retail about $30 + tax) Shop in all sections, full stop.