Retail therapy can be incredibly beneficial when you’re feeling down on yourself and you want to give yourself something in order to lift your spirits.
If you’re a lover of all things vintage, retail therapy for you might mean forgoing the chain clothing store, and sifting through thrift and consignment retailers instead.
To find out more about what vintage retail therapy really means, as well as why it’s beneficial, keep reading below as we take a look.
What Is Retail Therapy?
Before we take a look at some places where you can conduct your vintage shopping, first let’s take a look at what retail therapy really means.
Retail therapy is essentially when you conduct shopping with the specific goal in mind of making yourself feel better.
We’ve all been in a situation where we need to cheer ourselves up, and what better way to do this than a shopping trip?
It has actually been scientifically proven that retail therapy releases endorphins in the human brain, which can make you feel better when you’re having an off day.
One of the reasons why it can be so beneficial is because it helps you to feel like you’re in control.
If you’re feeling sad or anxious, which often seem as though they’re emotions which are out of your grasp, purchasing new clothes and items can help to provide you with a sense of control.
This is because when you buy new clothing, you’re making an active choice.
Another way in which retail therapy can be beneficial is that it distracts you from whatever negative emotions you were experiencing previously.
By focusing on other things, such as clothing items, you’re blocking out those negative emotions.
As well as this, it also helps you to get out of the house, which effectively stops you from ruminating on negative thoughts.
Finally, it has been shown that once you purchase something that you’re interested in, you get a boost of dopamine, which can help to make you feel happy and joyous.
Places To Conduct Vintage Retail Therapy
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at what retail therapy really means, as well as how it can be beneficial to you, let’s take a look at some places that you can conduct your vintage retail therapy.
Consignment Stores
One of the best places that you can go to do some vintage shopping when you’re feeling low, are consignment stores.
These stores are great when it comes to selling vintage items, and they often have a significant collection.
In consignment stores, you will often find a mixture of more modern pieces too, so you’ll have to sift through these to find what you’re looking for.
The good thing about consignment stores however is that the clothing that they sell is often of a very high quality.
This means that you’ll be able to keep your clothing pieces for many years to come.
Flea Markets
If you’re feeling down, why not hit the local flea markets in your area. It’s not just clothing that you’ll find here, but a whole host of other vintage items that might pique your interest.
Finding vintage antiques can be incredibly interesting when thinking about the history of the items, which can help to take your mind off of whatever’s plaguing you.
If you’re somebody who is interested in vintage denim, then we suggest that you visit some flea markets, as they’re renowned for selling good quality vintage denim.
Thrift Stores
Probably the most popular and ubiquitous retailers of vintage clothing, thrift stores can be found just about anywhere.
If you’re a lover of vintage clothing, you’ll likely be able to pick up some wonderful pieces in your local thrift store.
Just like consignment stores, these are often mixed with modern pieces depending on the donations, so you’ll be required to sift through these.
True Vintage Stores
If you’re serious about finding some amazing vintage clothing pieces, then you’ll need to hit some true vintage stores.
These stores are just what they say on the tin, stores that exclusively sell vintage items.
Depending on the shop itself, the items can vary greatly in price, and some of these stores may prove to be quite expensive, so bear this in mind.
Estate Sales
Another place where you might be able to pick up some amazing vintage items is at estate sales. These are great for picking up some wonderful jewelry items.
Why Does Vintage Clothing Make Us So Happy?
There are a whole host of reasons why purchasing and trying on vintage clothing make us feel so happy.
The main reason being because we’re essentially recreating and celebrating a specific period in history.
When we put on our poodle skirts or Mary Janes, we’re celebrating the women and the fashion that came before us.
It can help to transport us to another era entirely, and make us feel as though we’re a part of it.
It also helps with creative expression, as it makes us stand out from the crowd. What’s the fun of looking like everyone else when you can be unique?
Final Thoughts
To sum up, vintage retail therapy means going to places such as thrift, consignment, and true vintage stores in order to seek out vintage clothing items.
When we find an item that we like, it releases serotonin in our brains, which can help to make us feel better if we’re feeling low.
Therefore, doing some vintage retail therapy can be a great way to cheer yourself up if your day isn’t going as planned.
Have you ever thought that you were born in the wrong generation? That you would have suited the 80s better? The 70s, 50s, or even the 30s?
Then welcome to my website, where you’ll fit right in. Hi, my name is Willa Price and I am a self-confessed fashion lover.
I specialize in vintage fashion at a designer label, and it is my dream job. I spend my days reinventing old pieces and reworking them into modern fashion trends.
Please, enjoy my website as you take a step back in time to relive the fashion evolution that we are still moving through now.
