Vintage clothes and accessories can be a real find, but they can also be a little creepy. Do the clothes have happy memories associated with them? What kind of person did they belong to? And, um, is the late owner still hanging around, watching to make sure the new owner doesn't spill punch on her favorite cocktail dress?     

This engaging article from the New York Times debates the heebie-jeebie factor of vintage purchases. They insist you register to read it, but registration is free and very worthwhile. Anyway, I've done my share of digging at the Garment District in Cambridge and area Goodwills and Salvation Army stores, so this article struck a few chords with me.

Forget potential ghosties. The fact that there are people out there who have no issues buying and wearing someone else's underwear, bathing suit, or shoes, scares me. It's one thing if the item still has its original sales tags or it looks brand new, but to knowingly purchase (and wear!) the previously-owned underwear of a complete stranger? To quote the article, "yeew." I wouldn't recommend it unless you can get your hands on a complete copy of the former owner's medical history.

If you're still keen on a vintage pointalizer, do a Google search for "vintage style underwear." I did just now and came up with a couple sites that do recreations of vintage styles. I won't list them because I make a point to check out every site I link to in this blog so that there won't be any unexpected surprises. While I love you guys and want to facilitate your potential interest in the undies of yesteryear, I don't love you enough to risk explaining to our editor in chief why there are ladies in garter belts and stiletto heels on my computer screen. Sorry, but my devotion only goes so far. :)

I can also understand being loathe to purchase a wedding or engagement ring of uncertain origin. Contrary to popular opinion, marriage is supposed to be a happy thing - you don't want to start on a sour note by proposing with a ring that belonged to a woman who was murdered by her husband. You could end up starting a Hope Diamond legend of your very own. 

Unless you know the story behind the ring or it's been handed down through your own family, just go to Barmakian's or one of the jewelry stores in the mall. If you're looking for a unique piece, research local jewelers and artists, see if they can custom-create a ring for you.

I don't believe the spirits of the dead return to this world to check up on the state of their favorite handbag, but I agree that inanimate objects can possess good or bad spiritual associations based on the circumstances from which they came and the people who owned them.

It might sound a little flaky, but think about it. Would you want anything from Aleister Crowley's house in your child's room? Would you feel comfortable with a souvenir of Charles Manson in your kitchen? Most likely not, unless you're an esoteric collector of some sort. You want to be careful about what you're inviting into your home.

On a less obviously evil level, perhaps that dress you're purchasing for your friend's St. Patrick's bash belonged to a grumpy, spoiled woman who never had fun at parties. Who knows - maybe some of her bad attitude lingers in the threads. :)  

Overall, provided you have the figure to fit into a 1920s flapper dress or a party dress from the 1950s, vintage shopping can be a fun and rewarding experience. Just make sure that in addition to checking for sweat stains, rips, and missing buttons, you also check for blood stains, stab holes, and punch splatters.

Punch splatters? Yes indeed. Because if someone sits and whines long enough at a party, chances are someone will give them something to whine about. :)