Last year, I was looking online for a dress to wear to an upcoming wedding, when I discovered the world of vintage dress. I was mesmerized by the elegant designs and materials I came across. Why hadn't I thought of this before? Why go to the department store and buy the same trendy standard dress that every other girl will be wearing, when you can buy a timeless dress that no one else will have? Some of the party dresses I found were simply breathtaking. But before you buy that perfect vintage dress, here are a few suggestions to keep in mind.

Dresses made between the 20's and 70's are considered vintage. Browse through dresses from the different decades and decide what you like and what you don't like so that you can narrow your search. There are many fakes out there and that may be something you might consider. But if you really want an authentic piece from the past, make certain that is what you are buying. There are excellent, authentic vintage stores on e-bay that I would recommend.

Keep in mind that dresses were made smaller before, so don't rely on the usual S-M-L labels. No matter what size you are, you should get an accurate bust-waist-hip measurement as vintage dresses tend to be advertised with such measurements. You may need to get your dress slightly altered to fit you right, which isn't a bad investment considering the timelessness and beauty of vintage dresses.

Some vintage dresses have been worn while others, although being old, were never worn. So it is normal for a lot of the dresses to have a certain scent or some slight signs of age. It is very important to inquire about the degree of wear and tear. You should ask questions like, Does the dress have any stains? Can it be cleaned? Are there any tears? Usually, information about the condition of the dress should be disclosed by the seller. But if it isn't included in the product description, always ask.

Unless you are going to a costume party, you don't want your vintage dress to look like a costume. Rather, you want to integrate it into your modern style. This means that if you are buying a 50's style dress, you don't want to wear it with 50's style hair and 50's style jewelry and 50's style make-up and 50's style shoes...you get the idea. Mix it up to create your own unique style.

There are lots of options for wearing vintage dresses. Find one that works for you and you style. Choose a vintage dress for you next party and you will stand out as elegant, tasteful, and distinctive.