I’ve been noticing a trend recently: all the new trends … are old. They say fashion trends come back around every twenty years and they’re right. Y2K is worlds cooler than it was in the 2000s, 80s-era scrunchies, and leg warmers are somehow back in. And the perpetually cool 90s are always influencing some trend or another.

Scrolling through the most popular retail sites and social media ads, I see cheaply made versions of designs that are direct copies of hit outfits from vintage celebrity paparazzi pictures. Hell, Urban Outfitters these days is just a Delia’s catalog. All of which to say: everything you want, you can buy vintage.

Shopping vintage is the best way to shop. Not only is it more sustainable, it’s often cheaper and cooler. My favorite outfits are the ones that are mostly vintage — because unlike the latest Khy jacket or It Girl brand, I can guarantee that no one else is going to be wearing it. Plus, there’s no better feeling than saying, “Thanks, it’s vintage,” when someone compliments an item of your clothing.

But vintage shopping has one major drawback: it feels so tedious.

Many of us were introduced to the concept of pre-loved clothing through hand-me-downs or scavenging through Goodwill bins. And while these are good options (host a closet swap with friends! Or make a weekend out of Goodwill diving!), sometimes you just want to be able to order clothes online and wear them out immediately.

Well, thanks to the limitless possibilities of the internet, it’s now easier than ever to shop vintage and preloved clothing without having to dig through disorganized racks or go through the tedium of thrifting.

But how do you shop vintage online without getting scammed or coming away with something that’s way worse quality than you thought? And, with the popularity of some resale sites and online vintage markets, isn’t shopping vintage more expensive?

The answer is, it’s all in what you’re looking for. Some sites offer great deals on high-ticket items, some offer cool t-shirts at good prices, and others offer convenience.

Here are my holy grail tips for shopping vintage online.