Alright so here’s how I found these amazing 70s dresses online without blowing my budget – total rollercoaster ride. Seriously, it started with me just scrolling on my phone late one night after watching some old rerun, and I got this massive craving for a proper 70s maxi dress. You know, the flowy, groovy kind with those big patterns? Yeah, that.
The Research Mess
First thing I did was type “1970s dress” into the search bar like a total noob. Big mistake. All I got were these cheap Halloween costumes and modern clothes pretending to be vintage – total junk. I spent like an hour clicking ‘vintage’ filters, sorting by price low to high, feeling super annoyed. Half the listings just said “vibes” or “style” but looked like they’d fall apart if you sneezed on them.
Nailing Down the Keywords
Figured I needed to get smarter. Dug around some forums – felt like detective work. Learned you gotta use super specific terms:
- “Vintage 70s Gunne Sax” (those prairie dresses are wild)
- “Deadstock 1970s maxi” (means never worn, sometimes tags still on!)
- “True vintage disco dress”
- Threw in things like “Patty Boyd style” too cause her vibe is pure 70s magic
Changed my search and BAM – actually started seeing real pieces pop up. Felt like finding treasure in a garbage dump.
The Actual Hunting
Alright, gloves off time. Hit a bunch of spots:
- Marketplace apps: People clearing out grandma’s attic, sometimes gold mines. You gotta move FAST though. Saw a perfect psychedelic print maxi, messaged “IS THIS AVAILABLE???” like a maniac within 3 minutes of posting. Snagged it for $40 when similar dresses go for $200 easy.
- Seller Profiles: Got obsessed with sellers specializing in true vintage. Found this one shop where the owner clearly lived through Woodstock – she knew exactly what era labels and stitches to look for. Followed her religiously.
- Photos, Photos, Photos: Learned to zoom in like crazy. Does the fabric look brittle? Is that a tear or just a shadow? Bugged sellers for close-ups of the seams, zippers, and underarms (stain city there, folks). Made them hold it up to a window once to prove it wasn’t totally see-through. No shame.
- Measurements Are EVERYTHING: Found a dress I swore was mine. Fit that 70s dream perfectly. Asked for measurements – seller said pit-to-pit was 16 inches. My ribcage does NOT bend that way. Total heartbreaker. Always, always ask for actual numbers against a measuring tape. Saved my wallet multiple times.
Winning and Whining
Scored three absolute winners:
- A peasant blouse with insane embroidery ($30)
- A metallic lurex disco mini that screams Saturday Night Fever ($65 – felt pricey but worth it)
- That flowery Gunne Sax-esque maxi dress ($40 steal!)
But then the downside hit – my husband saw the boxes stacked by the door. Started that whole “Where will these even GO?” discussion. Like dude, priorities! This is FASHION HISTORY. (Had to shove them into my already crammed closet.)
So yeah, online vintage hunting is part thrill, part frustration, and mostly just refusing to pay stupid eBay prices. Dig deep with the keywords, become a photo ninja, and measure twice. Happy groovy hunting!
