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The style-educated fashionista knows the importance of incorporating vintage fashion into her wardrobe. Vintage fashion evokes the romance or excitement of another era while keeping your personal style fresh and unique.

Today, American teens are scouring thrift stores and their parents’ closets for 1980s leotards, acid wash denim and concert t-shirts. Meanwhile fans of the hit television show “Mad Men” are searching for the sleek, sexy styles of the early 1960s. Let’s face it. Vintage fashion is in demand.

But, there’s something else we must face – vintage shopping is totally intimidating. Sure, you would love to dress like Don Draper, but what if you end up looking like Fredo Corleone instead? Before you go on the hunt for vintage fashion, you’ll need a bit of education. Your resource? The Past Perfect Vintage blog.

PastPerfectVintage.Blogspot.com is the blog for the vintage shop of the same name. Holly Jenkins-Evans owns Past Perfect Vintage and writes for the blog. At Past Perfect Vintage, Holly features quality vintage fashion from the Victorian and Edwardian eras to the 1970s, including selected designer clothing. A founding member of the Vintage Fashion Guild, Holly has supplied fashions to theatres, design houses and museums in US and Europe. A costume designer and draper by training, her theatrical credits include both design and production for approximately 200 productions around the US. So, let’s just say Holly knows her vintage.

“As a general rule, I do not recommend wearing pieces that are pre-1930s, as most vintage of that age is simply too fragile,” advised Holly. She suggested that beginning vintage shoppers should start small. “Learn about what you buy before you invest serious sums,” said Holly, “For those who are shopping for wardrobe needs, I suggest mixing vintage and modern fashions. This avoids the 'dress up' look.” As for care, Holly said fashionistas should start with washable cotton or sturdy wool. “They are the easiest to care for,” she explained. Interested in becoming a collector? Read “Preserving Textiles: A Guide for the Nonspecialist” by Harold Mailand.

Holly also suggested that vintage shoppers do a bit of research and familiarize themselves with the fashion periods so they can tell what they like and what they’re buying. Two great resources are the Vintage Fashion Guild and a new book just released, titled “The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping” by Melody Fortier. Holly contributed a section to this hot-selling book.

If vintage designer clothing is what appeals to your shopping sense, Holly claimed that studying your favoritedesigners’ history is crucial. “If the buyer knows their working dates, labels and their style, he/she will be ahead of the curve,” she said.

You may be tempted to attend estate sales and auctions on your own, searching for great vintage attire, but Holly warned that these adventures are often time-consuming and unsuccessful. In addition, most of these types of sales are ‘as is’ or do not allow returns. “As a vintage dealer, I search out great pieces, then clean, repair them appropriately, research, date, measure and provide a condition report for all items I sell. My customers can take their time and consider what they want and ask as many questions as they wish. And rest assured they will get a garment in the best possible condition,” Holly clarified.

Another thing vintage shoppers should keep in mind is that the sizing from “way back then” differs from modern sizes. Holly cautioned that shoppers must be prepared to go up several sizes. “A 1950s size 8 and a 2009 size 8 simply do not relate,” Holly said. Whether shopping online or in person, vintage shoppers should keep with them their exact measurements, including shoulders, arm length, bust/chest, waistline, hips and inseam. Shopping for vintage hats? Definitely measure the circumference of your head.

As for eras, know that each had its own unique styles and silhouettes. Holly explained that the 1920s look is for the straight-figured woman, while the 1930s is ideal for the shapely, but toned figure. The 1940s silhouettes are nicely shaped and allow for bust, waist and hips, but also provide fullness to hide figure flaws. The 1950s are perfect for the curvy fashionista and the 1960s are best for boho-chic ladies with a thin figure. “Having said that, I find that although I can't wear 20s and 30s clothing well, I can wear the shoes, shawls, hats and jewelry of those periods just fine! So you can find something from any period,” said Holly.

Optimism aside, Holly did convey one firm vintage shopping rule: “If you were alive during a time period, it's best not to try to wear it again. For example, I look silly trying to wear the 1960s again. It looks like reliving the past instead of re-discovering the past!”

Re-discover the past with Holly and the Past Perfect Vintage blog. Gain advice and obtain tips on becoming a knowledgeable vintage shopper. One of Holly’s most educational blog post is a three-part article called Buyer Beware, in which she addresses labels, dates, secret alterations, reproductions and so much more. She also reports to her readers of vintage shops she discovers while traveling, the newest additions to her own vintage store and “neat examples” from other sellers she knows and trusts.