Shopping Second hand

Now I know I am not the only one who associated "second hand" and shopping in charity shops as something only my dear old granny did.... for me it always conjured up the image of mothballs and dodgy old clothes no one wanted. But as we move to a world of sustainable thinking, second hand has become trendy! So I wanted to share my tips on how to get the most out of your rummaging.

I first discovered the joys of second hand shopping whilst at university. Low on funds but always wanting something new for Friday night (I was fashion student!!), so I would hit the local charity shops and vintage fairs looking for bargains. I also spent a summer of work experience in London, for Tatty Devine, quickly realising I was not cool enough for Brick Lane!! So I spent my weekends rummaging, found some amazing pieces and gave myself a little style overhaul. Now if you have the patience to rummage, this can be a way to discover a treasure trove of goodies, but lets be honest we don't all have the patience or the time but maybe we should?

Enter the pre-loved stores, curating pieces for you and helping to spread the sustainable benefits of shopping second hand. These stores are a much nicer shopping environment than your run of the mill charity shop, and in my opinion a great source of fashion as well as a great connection. The ladies who run these business have a true eye for the gems and can be your best friend.

"Preloved is an informal word that describes an item that was previously owned. Preloved is a euphemism, which is a milder way to say something to make it less harsh or blunt. Preloved is typically used to describe something for sale to avoid calling it used or second hand" - Dictionary.com

I am lucky to have two of these stores in my local town, that allow me to browse amazing second hand pieces. So if you are local to the Market Harborough area, you need to come and check out Ginger Kate & The Attic. Whilst I do struggle to find many pieces in a size 18 in these stores (it seems to be not as many are sold/donated) but I will always browse the rails and keep up to date with what is in store - you never know when someone I know might need a brand new Whistles dress, or a gorgeous silk oriental print Topshop jumpsuit. I do however do well with accessories..... I recently found a gorgeous bright pink Kate Spade little Minka bag for £32!! I spotted it in The Attic store window and literally ran in and stripped it off the mannequin!! That bag retailed at around £350 new and aside from the usual wear and tear you would expect from a handbag, she is is great condition.

Knowing what you're looking for and keeping an eye out really pays off - I had a black leather Mulberry Tillie satchel on my Wishlist for years. A beautiful bag from the days of Emma Hill, vintage and not often seen, she is a gorgeous soft satchel style bag with gold hardware.

A friend of mine spotted one on Instagram from Closet Detox UK and I was able to snap her up for £129, sounds a lot for a bag but she is gorgeous buttery leather and compared to the £950 original price tag it was a bargain!!! This is where organising your wardrobe and creating a list of gaps, can really help hone down what you want to look out for. Plus I am a little less precious with her, as she isn't brand new and this kind of leather looks better with age.

My top tips for second hand shopping

1. Make friends with the shop owners / store managers of the pre-loved stores and follow them on social media. Getting to know them will help you to get an idea of the brands/styles they are likely to gravitate too and following Instagram will give you a first look at new lines just in.

2. Make a Wishlist of items you would like to find and keep your eyes peeled, you NEVER know when you might stumble across something amazing. Working from a list will keep you focused and make the task at hand easier.

3. Do your research - what shapes/styles work for your body, what colours work well for you and what brands do you love. This will make looking through rails or the website quick & efficient as you will be able to spot pieces easily. Obviously you never know what will be in store and something alternative may catch your eye. Charity shops especially are a great way to try something new as you will only be spending a few pounds on a piece.

4. Block out the morning and take your time, for a charity shop rummage you want to enjoy the space, look at everything and not miss a gem. Also think about what you are wearing.... slip on shoes and clothes you can easy take off are key, especially as most charity shops don't have fitting rooms, so a quick try on in front of the mirror may be your only option.

5.Get yourself on Vinted or Depop. Obviously this is a hit & miss way to shop second hand as you have to take a punt that its in a good condition and fits but it is a treasure trove. I have had a couple of pieces of Vinted and am so happy with them. I had a pair of New Look wide fit sandals from maybe 7 years ago and they died this summer (gutted!) but I managed to find them in a different colour on Vinted, in my size and for around £10 with P&P......made my day. These sites are great as you can browse anytime and favourite items you have your eye on, plus the app will recommend things based on your search history.

6. Consider alterations, especially if its just a simple nip/tuck or shorten. Obviously items will only be in one size but have a seamstress on speed dial for those little tweaks.

7. Pass on the love - sell your unwanted items, but remember they need to be in good condition. You can drop off your items to a charity shop, upload them on Vinted/Depop or speak to a preloved store about selling any pieces that are a little more special or designer. The items get a new home & you might get some money to spend on your next piece. Keep the "circle of life" going.

So next time you have a bit of mooch round the shops, pop into your local charity or second hand/pre loved store and see what fabulous pieces you can find.