July 21, 2007 / GO Brooklyn / Fashion

A Dunn deal

By Katie Newingham

for The Brooklyn Paper

Part of the fun of vintage shopping is looking for the perfect piece at just a fraction of what it would cost retail. But in the world of already-worn clothes, sometimes you’ve got to make your own luck. GO Brooklyn asked stylist Sara Dunn, who has dressed KT Tunstall and the Rapture, for her hints on making the most of your discount discoveries.

Buy designer

“Anything designer — always buy it,” said Dunn. To keep it affordable, she recommends that you “get as far away from Manhattan as possible.”

Make friends with your tailor

“I get a lot of things tailored,” said Dunn. “If it’s an inexpensive item that just doesn’t fit right, it’s worth it.” In other words, a $5 pair of pants that are too long are worth the price of hemming. “But don’t buy something in horrible condition,” she warned us. After all, a tailor isn’t a magician.

Learn to haggle

“I bargain with people all the time,” said Dunn, who throws her own vintage sale called “Everything Must Go” once a month. While most prices are fixed, if there’s a defect in an item or you’re buying in bulk, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Think outside the box

“I think it’s fun to mix it up,” said Dunn. “Who wants to look like everybody else walking down the street?” She advised us to buy classic pieces but mix them with pieces that are trendy right now. “You want to keep it modern, but also to incorporate the timeless aspect of vintage.”

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