When looking at fashion it’s always a good idea to look to the past for inspiration. But whenever we try and hit up a vintage boutique, we find ourselves either nauseous from the smell or moth balls or discouraged by the high price tags on good finds.  Thankfully, we now have Marion Mercer, a one stop shop for vintage gems. Founder Sarah Buxton scouts the globe for designer  treasures that any style afficianado would be lucky to own. Each piece is cared for and delivered in a very luxe manner and the shopping experience beats our East Village weekend digging ventures.   We caught up with Buxton’s to chat about a few of the key pieces she’s discovered.

1) The Motorcylce Jacket: “to throw over a long dress to dress it down, or wear with an oversize tee, short denim cutoffs, and ankle boots.”
Berman’s Motorcycle Jacket, 1980′s, $295

2) A Striped Dress: This fun and nautical red and white striped dress by Yves Saint Laurent is another one of Sara’s faves. It can easily be worn to the beach with a straw fedora or with some chunky gladiator heels for a happy hour cocktail with friends.
Yves Saint Laurent Tank Dress, 1980′s, $385

3. A Dressy Shawl: This gorgeous beaded shawl is to die for. It is intricately designed and drips with beads. It can be worn in so many different ways and can totally jazz up any outfit. Buxton recommends trying it out with a plain white tank and some baggy jeans or pairing it with your favorite little black dress.
Beaded Fringe Shawl, 1980′s, $215

4: The LBD: Speaking of your little black dress, this  Azzedine Alaia is a classic with lots of attitude.  “It’s super sexy but subtle at the same time when worn with biker boots and a hip slung belt, or glam it up with stilettos and a long necklace.”
Azzedine Alaïa Dress, 1980′s, $550

5: A Caftan: This great extra-long caftan dress from Halston is boho chic and perfect for summer. It’s great alone or you can style it with tons of jewelry or shorten it with a great belt.
Halston Long Caftan Dress, 1970′s, $495

So try out one of these great vintage pieces and you won’t have to risk showing up at a party and catching duplicates of your look throughout the room.  Whatever your style, you’ll be sure to leave everyone wondering where you got your fabulous outfit from.