I have no Shipley jewellery, but I know a little about jewellery in general. Gold vermeil has a thicker plating than items which just say "gold-plated," and also gold vermeil has sterling silver as the underneath metal. Cheap gold-plated items have brass or other base metals underneath.
Because gold vermeil is a layer of gold over sterling silver, the piece will tarnish. It's hardly a big deal, though. All you need to do is give it a wipe with a silver-polishing cloth. (You can use those clothes for both gold and silver jewellery. A great tip I received from a jeweller. They bring up any tarnish on gold just as well as on silver.)
You say that silver never "lasts" on you, but it's the nature of silver to tarnish. However, as above, all it takes is a wipe with a silver-polishing cloth. And it's worth it, because silver when polished is the whitest metal of all, including platinum. I actually find it therapeutic to polish my silver jewellery. Also, silver jewellery that's worn a lot doesn't tarnish.
Gold vermeil isn't just a small step up from costume; it's pretty good quality, seeing as it's precious metal all through. The plating is pretty good - quite a bit thicker than plating which is not sold as vermeil - and will take many years to wear off. But you do have to look after it. You can't shower, sleep, or swim in it like you can with solid gold, and I wouldn't exercise in it, either. You have to treat gold vermeil with delicacy if you want the gold to last. But it will last, if you treat it with respect, and it's a great way to get the gold look without the price tag. And no one looking at it will ever know it's vermeil and not solid gold.
Good luck!