Hi, my name is Kat. I'm the owner and buyer for the shop. I've been a professional vintage clothing dealer for about a decade now and am quite knowledgeable about fashion history and the market value of vintage garments.
Are you looking for a vintage shop that buys clothes? I buy a large quantity of women's & men's 1800's-1970's clothing, jewelry and accessories every year. I regularly work with families looking to sell a collection during the clean out of a house, estate, storage unit or even barn. (I don't mind digging and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty.) I enjoy working with estate professionals, collectors and other dealers as well.
I'm based near Rochester, New York and I'm happy to travel through out the Western NY region including Syracuse, Ithaca and Buffalo to meet for an appointment. Please just know that I cannot make appointments for a small number of items unless they are very special. In order to justify the cost of a trip I am looking for larger quantities of items.
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How to sell your vintage
Please fill out the contact form below. (Alternatively you can email me at hello@secondsightvintage.com or leave me a message with your phone number and I can give you a call.) Include the following information if possible:
- A short description of the items or the collection you're interested in selling.
(eras, quantity, brands & history all help)
- Condition of the pieces.
- The price you'd like to receive for each piece or lot. If you're not sure, it's okay to leave this out.
- And, where you're located.
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If you have a number of items that I'm interested in and you're within the Western or Upstate NY area we can arrange for a buying appointment.
-Please review the list of items I am and am not buying below. I receive a lot of messages and I don't have time to respond to messages about one item or items that I'm not looking to buy. Thanks for understanding.-
Items that I'm not purchasing at this time:
-Wedding dresses made after the 1930's
-I almost never buy full furs but there are some exceptions to this which I've listed below. I do not buy any other full fur coats or stoles. Furs are a risk because unless they were stored in cimate controlled conditions they will often rip during the first wear. The pelts lose their elasticity which leads to them spliting when worn.
-Shoes smaller than a size 6.5
-Children's clothing
-Women's & Men's Suits made after the 1950's
-Plain, straight cut coats made after the 1940's
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What I'm looking for:
I buy a wide range of things from different eras. Only about 1% of my inventory makes it on to my website and isn't a good representation of the variety of things that I buy. I create different collections for different venues and I buy for the costuming and film industry as well.
Above all, I'm looking for things that have character.
I buy nearly all sizes.
I do buy garments that need cleaning & stain removal, repairs or that can be repurposed. It depends on the item and the nature of the flaws.
Furs- I will buy Fox fur and Tibetan or Mongolian Lamb fur in excellent condition. Many 1920's - 1970's coats have fur trim and I will buy these if the coat is interesting and has a nice silhouette or label.
Textiles, fabric, lace, quilts, & linens - I may be interested in these items if they are from the 1950's and earlier. I'm looking for items that are very old, interesting and/or handmade. I also buy handkerchiefs, silk scarves & aprons.
1800's - Most women's and men's clothing, accessories and jewelry from this time period largely depending on the size and condition of the items. Flaws are to be expected but I can't buy anything that's disintegrating.
1900's, 1910's - I'm especially interested in women's cotton & silk dresses, blouses, skirts, undergarments, corsets, lingerie, nightgowns, robes, knits, workwear, lace and embroidered garments. Nearly all Men's clothing including workwear which can be in any condition. I also buy jewelry and accessories from this time period.
1920's, 1930's, 1940's - Almost all clothing items. Women's formal wear including dresses, gowns, and opera coats. Lingerie, bras, slips, nightgowns, pajamas, robes. Women's day wear including cotton & rayon dresses, tops, skirts, shorts, all knitwear, sportswear, bathing suits, workwear, overalls, jumpsuits, jeans, pants, smocks, coat and jackets. High quality silk wedding gowns. Nearly all menswear including sportswear and workwear which can be in any condition. I also buy jewelry and accessories from this time period. High quality and designer labels are always a plus.
1950's, 1960's - Higher quality or interesting women's dresses, blouses, skirts, knits, coats with a flared skirt, bathing suits & undergarments. Some formal wear if it is high quality or designer. Menswear including t-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts, hoodies, knits, flannel shirts, button down shirts with prints, jackets, coats, overalls / coveralls. I occasionally buy high quality jewelry and accessories from this time period.
1970's- Quintessential garments from the era. Hippie / flower child style clothing. Designer labels. All types of average quality women's garments that are interesting or can be styled to fit into a modern wardrobe. Natural fibers are preferred but nice feeling synthetics are okay. Men's tees, jeans and jackets. I occasionally buy higher quality jewelry and fun or interesting accessories.
1980's- High end designer clothing such as Halston, Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori, Betsy Johnson, Koos van den akker, Mary McFadden, Galiano, Claude Montana, Thierry Mugler, Hermes, Celine, Gucci, YSL, Lanvin, Tod Oldham, Leonard Paris, John Paul Gauliter, Alaia, Norma Kamali. High quality silk, linen, cashmere or other natural fiber basics.
1990's - 2000's - High end designer brands.
Thank you! -Kat