Thanks to a combination of the recession, programmes like Mad Men that are a veritable haven of period fashion pornography, and the resurgence of up-cycling, the stigma surrounding charity and vintage shops has thankfully passed. In fact, it’s now a necessary part of your fashion credibility. “Oh, this old thing? Yeah, sixty cents at a vintage shop, apparently was worn by a model in the ‘60s, essentially inspired all of Andy Warhol’s greatest work. But you know, whatevs...”

But if you’re a vintage neophyte, getting started can be daunting. Fear not – we’ve rummaged, rifled and reviewed some of Ireland’s best vintage stores, and roped in Ireland’s fashion icon of the moment Angela Scanlon to share some tips and tricks on dipping your perfectly pedicured toes in the depths of decades of fashion legacies.

Now, admittedly, charity shops have yet to grace us with any perfect condition ‘20s haute couture or last season’s Miu Miu, but they are great for DIY projects. Eighties style blazers can be given a new lease of life by taking out the shoulder pads and wearing over skinnies for a cool boyfriend-blazer look, or can be nipped in at the waist with a belt. Flowing 1960s hippie dresses or old cut-offs also make for great festival gear, while bowler hats and old dickie bows are great for adding some quirk to your ensemble.

But genuine vintage stores are where the real designer stuff can be found, and Ireland’s wealth of great shops has actually been improving over the decade. Good quality dressy pieces can be expensive, but even accessories like box hats, cameo brooches, kid gloves and vintage satchels will add gorgeously unique highlights to your everyday wardrobe.

Don’t just take our word for it – listen to the expert. A woman of many talents and seemingly boundless energy, presenter, stylist and fashion writer Angela Scanlon is fairly hot property at the moment. A contributing editor for Grazia Daily, Tatler and The Sunday Independent; presenter of RTÉ’s Reality Bites show Oi, Ginger! and a regular contributor to shows like Four Live, Xposé and Off The Rails, Scanlon’s star is fast on the rise. But all her presenting work will never detract from her one true, first love: fashion.

Named ‘One to Watch’ by Vogue, Scanlon has gained as many fans for her own unique style than for her work, as her ability to predict and mix trends results in an effortlessly chic look. But what makes her style as loveable as her bubbly personality is her rejection of the staid style of so many fashionistas. Always injecting a healthy dose of whimsy and fun into fashion, Scanlon’s style is about having fun, and constantly mixing it up.

So who better to give us some advice on navigating the often weird and wonderful world of vintage shopping, where you could easily end up shopping bags full shoulder pads and moth balls if you don’t have some guidance? Step one, according to Ms. Scanlon, is to keep an open mind.

“The golden rule if you’re vintage shopping is to keep an open mind. There can be a good deal of rummaging and treasure-hunting involved, and if you’re looking for something very specific, you most likely won’t find it when you need it! And though you may have a designer piece in mind, these are often not replicated. So get ready to root around, and allow yourself to be surprised by what you find.”

And Scanlon has some recommendations for where you can do your rummaging.

“My favourite place, without a doubt,is Shutterbug in Kilkenny. It’s run by Blathnaid Hennessey, and she does and incredible job of sourcing amazing pieces. The coats are incredible, and she’ll have gorgeous 1930s silk dresses. Good prints, good everything, so I find myself stocking up there a dangerous amount!”

In Dublin, for more special occasions, Scanlon recommends a trip to the old classic, Jenny Vander on Drury Street. “It’s an institution at this stage, isn’t it? It’s just beautiful, and one of the places that has a real respect and a real knowledge behind vintage clothes. You can tell there’s a history and an appreciation for that history behind every piece. The girls that work there are so passionate. It’s more occasion-wear so tends to be slightly more pricey, but it’s worth an investment in a beautiful piece.”

She also recommends the pop-up vintage shop A Store Is Born. It’s a gem; it does really gorgeous coats and then really beautiful cashmere cardigans and men’s cashmere jumpers. There’s also lovely silk kimono throws and also beautiful vintage underwear – which sounds really gross, but actually it’s beautiful! More 1920s silk slips than granny knickers!”

“Then Wendy’s Wardrobe, which is in the Powerscourt Centre”, she continues. “It’s part of Bow Boutique. But co-owner Wendy Crawford is a stylist among other things and she sources a lot of pieces from Paris; stunning, hand-picked accessories and hats and shirts that that perfect Breton stripe. It’s very Parisian and very much inspired by her style, so unlike other places where you might have to get stuck in and rummage hard for pieces, this is literally curated for you. They have labels in there and her perfectly picked individual pieces. It’s wonderful.”

If Parisian chic is your thing, be sure to take an afternoon to enter the fashion Narnia that is The 3rd Policeman in Rathmines. A treasure chest of eccentric and eclectic, the shop specialises in sourcing stunning European vintage goods, so expect to find gorgeous clothes nestled beside furniture, antiques, instruments, record players, cameras, curiosity items, households, art prints and much, much more. Think Miss Havisham’s attic as curated by Pat Fields. The 3rd Policeman’s staff are infamously passionate and knowledgeable about their wares, subscribing to the philosophy that if you know the unique history of an item, you’ll feel even closer to it. So be sure to get their advice on your inevitable armfuls of quirky finds, and you’ll not only go home with some one-of-a-kind pieces, but an understanding of the creativity, ingenuity and history possessed by each design.

Continuing on Scanlon’s fashion map of Ireland is another store based in Dublin’s city centre, the much-loved Harlequin on Castle Market Street. “I really like Harlequin, they have some of the more modern vintage stuff that I love, like Adidas tops and those great vintage Levi’s. It’s a great place if you’re into that 80s and 90s grunge look, and pieces can be matched with dressier ones too, which is great fun.”

For all you budding vintage fashionistas, Scanlon does have some tips and tricks to keep you on the right track. “Shoes never work out for me in vintage stores – mainly because they’re always tiny!” she laughs. “But I do think if you want to really work a classy vintage look, you should invest in a good tailor. In order to keep your look current and to make pieces flatter you, a tailor is invaluable in allowing you to change pieces, whether it’s by taking the arms of something or tapering the shape. So you get for cheaper clothes, often of a high quality; but it’s worth spending a little bit of extra cash to make them suit you and your dimensions, and turn it into a bespoke piece.”

While tweaking and tailoring can sharpen up your vintage threads, nothing adds as much impact to an outfit as perfectly chosen jewellery. Whether it’s adding a statement piece to an evening outfit, or playing with high-low fashion by adding striking pieces to a causal outfit, you can’t go wrong with jewels – and we’ve got the perfect place to find those unique vintage sparklers. Home to a century of jewellery, Rhinestones is one of Ireland’s finest treasure troves, stocking a huge range of antique, vintage and modern pieces, including early Victorian brooches, Edwardian keepsake lockets, Venetian glass beads, and one-off ‘60s studio creations. And though you might get stuck in the face-pressed-against-the-window stage due to those amazing displays, once you venture inside you’ll find fantastic sales assistants who know the history of each piece and are eager to help you find the perfect item.

Blending vintage clothes with new technology, the Revolver Project has a fantastic website, as well as selling its fantastic wears in the Twisted Pepper in Dublin, Tuesday to Saturday. Born out of a love of vintage fashion and pop culture, the Revolver Project team keep an eye on the latest trends and music, taking inspiration from influences both old and new. Their committed team of buyers and stylists hand-pick each item that they stock, from chunky knits, houndstooth capes, Edwardian-style blouses, flirty 1940s floral day dresses, classic boyfriend blazers and much more. Each piece is both unique and utterly wearable, and their brilliant online lookbooks are a must for those looking to learn how to work vintage trends into their wardrobe. The Revolver Project also have a passion for the stories and memories behind their clothes, and their online Journal celebrates the culture – both new and old – that ignited their love of clothing. So once you log onto their site, be ready to leave with many purchases and a ton of inspiration.

If you’re hoping to simplify your shopping list and hone in on one vintage trend this season, Scanlon recommends searching out some vintage sportswear, as sports-luxe is set to be a huge trend this spring.

“It’s such an easy trend to work. I have an old Chicago Bulls vest that I picked up in a vintage store years ago that I wear with a pair of boyfriend jeans or a skirt if I want to send it up a bit. So look out for sports t-shirts and great vintage bomber jackets. Then if you want something weather-appropriate, you can’t beat a filthy old rain mac!”