1. You know that shopping for vintage things is not for the weak. You must be stealthy and prepared.
2. You probably have a strategy. Either you spend a day visiting as many vintage shops as possible, in a strategic and organised manner...
3. Or you have a few stores you try to visit on a regular basis.
4. You definitely have a favourite charity shop that somehow always has lots of good stuff in it.
5. You have a lot of imagination when it comes to finding things.
6. So you've actually grown pretty adept with a sewing machine.
7. Or you've spent a fortune at the tailors.
8. Also at the dry cleaners.
9. You've probably considered the thought that someone has died in at least one item of clothing that you own.
10. You've started thinking of new purchases as "future vintage".
11. You've probably inadvertently learnt a lot about history and antiques along the way.
12. You know that clothing sizes are arbitrary and meaningless, so you go by measurements instead.
13. You're probably on a never-ending quest for the perfect vintage ~something~.
14. You can't visit a new city without visiting at least one vintage or charity store there.
15. You can tell what material something is just from how it feels.
16. You secretly feel like a failure if you buy vintage stuff from curated departments in big-name high street shops.
17. "Upcycled" vintage actually makes you cringe.
18. You have an unhealthy addiction to eBay.
When you find vintage gems in good condition and at an affordable price on ebay
You love to recount the tale of the time you got a genuine 1970s Biba dress for £5, plus p&p. You will tell that story to your children. They will hate you for it.
19. There is no denying the smugness you feel when someone asks you where you got something and you say it's vintage.
20. And the quieter smugness of knowing that buying second-hand is better for the environment.
21. But there is no greater joy (or smugness) than knowing a beautiful, unique piece was £3.50 from a charity shop.
