5. Visit a local thrift store or consignment shop or go to an online auction site (such as eBay)

and browse through a selection of the clothing for sale. How much appears to be recently at the end of its fashion life cycle, and how much would be considered vintage styles? Do you see any current styles? If you’re looking online, find two or three items that are drawing multiple bids, and see how they are described, whether new or used, vintage, and so on. If you’re in a shop, see if you can speak to the owner or manager, and find out what criteria he or she has for accepting items for sale and what types of items seem to sell fastest.