…I just need to pace myself.
(In other words: Brooke, be good. Please don’t fizzle your money away on costumes.)

Victorian Choice
(on Ebay)

Purpose: Period piece + drama.
Price: $30-150

American Vintage
(online and in stores in Los Angeles)

Purpose: Vintage pieces by era.
Price: $50+

Nifty Thrifty
(online)

Purpose: Inexpensive vintage items.
Price: $10-50

Rusty Zipper
(online)

Purpose: Prairie dresses.
Price: $40-60

Adored Vintage
(online)

Purpose: High-end vintage.
Price: $60-500

Aside from online shops, whenever I travel to a new town I ask the locals where to go for vintage, second hand shops, or costume stores. A lot of towns do have places like this, and while they can be expensive, you can always try to haggle with the price. I have even “rented” from stores like this even though it is not their policy to do so – it doesn’t hurt to ask!

If you are searching on a site like Ebay or Etsy, some key words that I often use are:

Fairytale
Flowing
Prairie
Bohemian
Long dress
Vintage
Gunne Sax (brand)
Victorian

I don’t worry to much about size when looking for vintage outfits, since one size is usually all that is offered. I always carry with me binder clips and safety pins so that I can make an outfit fit the model.

I hope that you find this helpful, and if you have any suggestions, please list them in the comments! This can be an ongoing helpful list for everyone!