At an estate sale, it’s easy to make a beeline for the kitchen. Vintage Pyrex, cast iron, old dishes and cookware tend to get plenty of attention, and experienced shoppers may already be digging through the cabinets by the time you walk through the door.
But don’t overlook the bedroom closet. Grandma’s closet can hold decades of clothing, handbags, scarves, jewelry and accessories that haven’t been picked through the way the kitchen usually has. And some of the best finds aren’t necessarily hanging right where you can see them; they’re folded on shelves, tucked into drawers and hiding inside old boxes.
Start With the Scarves
Don’t dismiss a pile of folded scarves as something you’ll come back to later. Look for silk, hand-rolled edges, interesting prints and recognizable labels, because vintage scarves from fashion houses such as Hermès can be highly collectible.
One estate-sale shopper featured by Southern Living reportedly found a Hermès scarf buried in a pile and priced at just $3. It turned out to be a collectible Kermit Oliver design that can sell for considerably more on the resale market.
Check the Labels on Older Clothing
A dress or blouse doesn’t need to have a currently trendy designer name to deserve a closer look. Older labels can help identify when a garment was made, and certain eras, designers, department stores and discontinued clothing lines have their own collectors.
Vintage Lilly Pulitzer is one example worth recognizing. Some collectors especially seek out earlier white-label pieces, so checking the tag can reveal more about an otherwise ordinary-looking dress.
Don’t Ignore Cashmere and Other Quality Fabrics
Sometimes the best find isn’t a famous label. Cashmere sweaters, wool coats, linen pieces, and silk blouses can be expensive to buy new, yet may be hanging beside inexpensive clothing at an estate sale.
Check the fabric tag and condition before deciding. Small moth holes, staining, odors and damaged seams can turn an inexpensive piece into something you’ll never actually wear.
Look Through the Handbags
Closet shelves are a natural place for handbags to accumulate, and older leather bags can be easy to overlook when they’re dusty or slightly misshapen. Check inside for labels, examine the hardware and stitching, and look closely at smaller bags and clutches that may be tucked inside larger ones.
Designer names can certainly make a bag interesting, but they’re not the only reason to buy. A well-made vintage leather handbag at a good price can be a worthwhile find even without a recognizable logo.
Dig Through the Jewelry Boxes
Don’t assume everything valuable sits in a glass case near the checkout. Costume jewelry, sterling silver pieces, brooches, watches, and older necklaces can still turn up in bedroom drawers, boxes, and organizers.
Look for markings such as “sterling,” “925,” and gold karat stamps, but don’t treat a stamp alone as proof of value or authenticity. Interesting unsigned costume jewelry can also be collectible depending on its age, construction and design.
Related: Vintage Accessories From Grandma’s Era That Still Look Chic Today
Open the Shoe Boxes
Old shoe boxes don’t always contain the pair pictured on the outside. They may hold barely worn heels, vintage sneakers, leather shoes or other footwear that was stored away and forgotten.
Check the soles, insoles, labels, and overall condition before buying. Older shoes can look pristine on top while deteriorated foam, glue or soles make them difficult to wear.
Don’t Pass Over the Sewing Supplies
That old sewing basket on the closet shelf may contain much more than thread and needles. Vintage buttons, trims, lace, patches and other notions can be collectible or useful for sewing, crafting and repairing older clothing.
Pay particular attention to unusual buttons made from materials such as mother-of-pearl, porcelain or early plastics. A jar or tin that looks like ordinary sewing clutter may deserve a few minutes of digging.
Related: 15 Vintage Sewing Items We Grew Up With That Are Now Valuble Collectibles
Check the Very Top Shelf
The highest closet shelf is easy to skip, especially when the interesting clothes are directly in front of you. That’s also where people tend to store things they rarely use, including old hat boxes, purses, formalwear, gloves and accessories.
Look behind stacks and inside boxes when the sale allows it. Something stored out of reach for years may have escaped the wear and tear of everyday use.
Look at the Coats and Formalwear
Older coats, evening dresses and formal pieces may have been worn only occasionally and can sometimes be remarkably well preserved. Wool coats, vintage party dresses, embroidered pieces and garments with unusual construction are worth checking even when they aren’t your size.
Look beyond the style and examine the fabric, lining, buttons and workmanship. Older garments can also have interesting details that aren’t as common on inexpensive modern clothing.
Check Pockets Before You Put Something Back
Pockets can hold belts, gloves, handkerchiefs and other accessories that belong with the garment. Checking them also gives you another chance to inspect the piece for holes, damaged lining or forgotten items before deciding whether to buy it.
The same goes for handbags and luggage. Look through every compartment rather than judging something solely by its exterior.
Don’t Forget the Closet Floor
Shoes and boxes tend to attract attention, but the bottom of a closet can also hold hat boxes, luggage, storage cases and items pushed all the way toward the back. Get down low and look underneath hanging clothes rather than assuming everything worth buying will be at eye level.
