Woman in vintage dressDo you adore vintage clothes?

If so, you're not alone. Charity shops are reporting a massive surge in business since the beginning of the credit crunch, with fashionistas desperate to find a bargain.

So, how do you get to that elusive vintage piece first?

Author Isabel Wolff is so obsessed with retro chic that she's written a novel, A Vintage Affair, based on a character who owns a vintage shop. Here she shares her expert tips...Want to work vintage but don't know where to start? Isabel warns that vintage shopping is difficult to do in a quick lunch break. "Be prepared to spend time looking - then know what era suits you and stick to it," she recommends.

"If you're curvy then the boxy shapes of the 20s and 60s are not going to suit you, but the more fitted silhouettes of the 40s and 50s will look amazing.

"You may like the glamorous bias-cut styles of the 30s, as seen in Atonement and Gosford Park, but be aware that those figure-skimming dresses are unforgiving on a round tummy or large bust."

It's also important to keep your own style in mind to avoid ending up with a wardrobe full of beautiful clothes you'll never wear.

"Be realistic. Don't go into a vintage dress shop hoping to be turned into say, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's," Isabel says. "That style may very well not suit you and you might miss something that would.

"It's also important to bear in mind that vintage sizes tend to run small because women were smaller in years gone by. If the label says that a dress is a 14, it's more likely to be a 12 or even a 10. My advice is to ignore the number and hold the garment up to you or try it on."
Remember that vintage fashion comes with a past. Isabel has this advice for finding a real vintage gem.

1. If you are buying vintage as an investment, then buy the best quality you can, preferably with a designer or even haute couture label.

2. Don't be squeamish about the odd tiny mark or stain - it's all part of the garment's history and is a small price to pay for owning something that is beautiful, individual and may even bear an iconic name.

3. Check the overall condition of the garment. Look for moth holes by holding it up to the light. Also check for underarm stains, which are almost impossible to eradicate.

4. If the garment looks as though it's going to need serious cleaning then it's probably best avoided, as the cleaning may not work and might even wreck it.

5. It's important that you store vintage clothes correctly. Don't hang satin and lace dresses - fold them between tissue paper and lay them in a drawer. Store anything moth-prone in clear plastic covers.

6. Scour those second-hand shops for vintage finds, or failing that, cheat! Remove all the hard rummaging work by visiting an online vintage store, but be prepared to pay a slightly higher price.

7. There are some wonderful vintage websites including MarthasCloset.co.uk, ElizabethsVintageCloset.co.uk, BibaLives.com, MyVintage.co.uk, Devoted2Vintage.co.uk, and CandySays.co.uk. Also look out for vintage fairs which take place in all the major cities."

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff is £6.99, published by Harper. Available now.