How You Can Look Fabulous In Pre-Loved Fashion

Post by Carol Hanson.  Pre-loved fashion is one of the fastest growing trends in the fashion industry.  Experts say that sales of pre-loved will overtake sales of ‘fast fashion’ by 2029, which is good news indeed.

My journey with pre-loved fashion began six years ago.  Leaving behind a corporate salary to start my own business meant rethinking my spending habits.  I wasn’t a big shopper in terms of quantity and my preference was always to buy fewer items of higher quality. But my clothing budget was now limited. So, I started to browse charity shops just to see what was on offer. Discovering a Karen Millen top with tags on for just £16 had me hooked!

Three Reasons To Shop Pre-Loved

There are some really good reasons to shop pre-loved fashion and it’s not all about getting a great bargain.

• It reduces waste.  Buying pre-loved extends the life of garments that would otherwise end up in landfill or being recycled and sold offshore to developing countries.
• You can find quality pieces at affordable prices.  My example of the Karen Millen top was just the beginning of uncovering a treasure trove of fabulous labels at great price points.
• You’ll have a wardrobe of unique pieces.  You’re unlikely to turn up to an event and find someone else is wearing the same outfit.

Choose Pre-Loved For Every Occasion

You can find some fantastic occasion wear and clothes for more formal occasions online and in pre-loved designer boutiques. Browse charity shops in affluent areas and you will often find some amazing pieces.

Charity shops are also a great place to look for casual every day looks. Ask questions on social media and you’ll soon start to build up a picture of what shops are best for particular types of clothing.  For instance, I recently discovered a charity shop that is known locally for stocking a wide range of jeans.

Browse The Boutique

For those not familiar with pre-loved boutiques, these are independent retailers who sell clothes on behalf of customers and are a fantastic place to buy and sell.

If you have pieces you wish to sell simply offer them to a pre-loved boutique.  If the owner believes they will sell, they will display the clothes for around six to eight weeks.  When  they sell, the boutique takes a commission and you get the rest.

The boutique sets the price.  They know the market and what the clothes will sell for. You are notified of any unsold pieces, so you can collect, or they will often donate to charity if you prefer.

Because they are so popular, the stock changes quickly and nipping in regularly for a browse is a good strategy (and a great opportunity to hit the high street of course).

Two of my favourites are:

Brockhurst Boutique in Chesham.  Great for designer labels and a wide selection of occasion wear and smart casual. Melanie has run her boutique for over 12 years and has a real eye for designer styles.

Vintage & Vogue in Beaconsfield.  A wonderful selection from high end designer pieces to quality high street brands.  Emma and Jenny love pre-loved clothes and set up their gorgeous studio to share their passion with others.

The Hidden Gem Of Charity Shops

Every high street has several charity shops and it takes regular browsing to recognise the types of donations they receive and spot the quality items. It’s an exercise worth doing.

Online there’s a great selection of pre-loved fashion to suit all budgets and tastes, here’s a selection:

Ebay – an overwhelming choice unless you refine your searches.  Once you’ve narrowed your choice by size and item type, then I recommend browsing by brand or designer to narrow the selection.

Oxfam – have a fabulous selection of over 100, 000 items, largely high street labels. At the time of writing this is the only way to shop at Oxfam as they have closed all High Street shops to reduce the spread of Covid19.

Beyond Retro – carefully curated selection of vintage clothes for both women and men.   They also offer a reworked collection which, as it suggests, means clothes are designed and made from recycled items.

Depop – this is an app based clothing sale site for sellers to post photos of their clothes and accessories for sale.  Narrow searches by style of clothing, size and brands. Alternatively, look for sellers and browse their collection.

Vinted – are the largest second-hand marketplace in the world. To protect buyers Vinted offers an additional protection policy.  Payments are held until the item has been shipped and received.

Timpanys – pre-loved boutique for high end designer pieces with a website too. Timpanys offer handy interest free payment plans.  Buyers can also choose to be notified if a price drops on a particular item. Sellers send goods to Timpanys who authenticate and check the item before putting on sale.

Vestaire Collective – pre-loved online designer fashion. Listed by sellers then when a buyer wishes to make a purchase, the seller sends the goods to Vestaire who authenticate and check the item before making delivery. Buyers can opt out of the authentication process and buy at a slightly reduced cost if they prefer.

What To Consider When Hunting For Pre-Loved Clothes

My golden rule on pre-loved fashion is not to use price as your primary motivator to purchase.  You need to apply the same rules of shopping for pre-loved as you would for new clothes.  The price is a bonus not the main reason to buy.

The basic principles of shopping:

• Colour – is it in my colours? Even if you have not had a professional colour analysis done you can get a sense of whether a colour works for you.  When you put the item on does the colour drain you and make you look washed out?  Do you find yourself staring at the colour rather than you wearing the item when you look in the mirror?
• Style – does it work for you? Is it flattering?  Does it show off your gorgeous unique body shape.  When you put it on, does it light you up?
• Fit – if it’s not a perfect fit, can it be altered? If you’re buying quality pre-loved fashion you may still save a lot of money by buying an item and having it altered. If you’re not a seamstress, then look for someone who can help and ask their opinion.
• Quality – if there are signs of wear how important are they? Is it still worth buying, will it be worth mending or altering to cover the defect?
• Misfit – does it go with at least three things in your wardrobe or will you have to buy a completely new outfit to get it to work? In which case it’s not much of a bargain!

Go With An Idea

When you shop pre-loved it’s better to go with an idea of what you’re looking for rather than just idly browsing.  I learnt my lesson on a Friday night with a glass of wine in hand.  The following week three pairs of black ankle boots were delivered from various sites!

Equally if you’re browsing in stores on the high street go with an idea of what you’re looking for. Be prepared to spend more time looking, as it can take time to search out those fabulous items.

But most of all just have fun!   When you get an item home have fun playing with it and seeing how it will work with your wardrobe.  By buying pre-loved fashion you are contributing to slowing down consumption of clothes.  It’s kinder to the planet than to always buy new.  You’re extending the life of an item and remember ‘Pre-loved is Re-loved’.

Bio:

By Carol Hanson, Conscious Wardrobe Stylist. Carol inspires women who have a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear. She empowers them to look and feel fabulous with a conscious approach to their clothes.