Karen Elson always does her research before vintage shopping.

The model scours the net for the best places to unearth bargain buys before leaving the house while her filmmaker friend Liz Goldwyn is a fan of finding retro pieces online which reflect current trends for a fraction of the cost.

Asked her best tip for buying vintage clothing, Karen said: ''I would say research online. Even with the stores, read up on them, and see what other people think. You can always get that sort of information online.''

Liz added: ''Etsy and eBay, Google; look at search terms for what you're looking for. If you see something in a magazine, and I do this all the time - I look at the collections, and I think 'Oh, that's kind of got a 1960s Ricky Riccardo gingham vibe', so I'll look up '1960s gingham pink dress.' Honestly, you can find things for a fraction of the cost, and if you buy something online for $10, $15 dollars and it doesn't fit... no big loss!''

Liz and Karen have joined forces to create their Vintage Vanguard collection for Moda'Operandi, which benefits the Dress for Success charity, which features their favourite vintage pieces customised by designers including Zac Posen and Narciso Rodriguez.

Fit is often the biggest issue when it comes to vintage, so Liz has come up with a top trick for avoiding disappointment.

She advised: ''One other tip is if you're looking in a flea market or a thrift store, take the waist of a garment and hold it around your neck - that's how you tell if it's gonna fit, if you don't want to be bothered with going to the dressing room.''