How To Shop Second Hand

How to shop second hand this September.

Are you a thrifty second hand shopper or do you struggle to enjoy a rummage around your local vintage or charity shop?

Inspired by Oxfams, Second Hand September, I’m here to share with you my top tips to shopping second hand and why it's so important.

Shopping second hand is very on trend. I love finding a random blouse that I know no one else will have, or stumbling across that dress I wanted in Zara last year but couldn't afford at the time. 

Up to 100 billion garments are produced by the fashion industry every year. And each year, as much as 92 million tons of clothing ends up in landfills. So if you're not already doing a little second hand shopping then why not try Second Hands September to get youself used to it.

‘When a new pair of jeans is made, an estimated 16.2kg of CO2 is emitted – the equivalent of driving over 58 miles in a car.’ - Oxfams website

So let's look at how best to shop second hand and check out some of my favourite finds this September.

The Charity Shop:

Did you know that the British Red Cross has partnered with Zara and now takes their old stock and sells it at lower prices? I’ve also spotted M&S doing the same thing. Asos are supporting amazing charities, including Cancer Research UK, Oxfam, Style with Each, and The British Red Cross on ASOS_Marketplace. So even the big brands are getting on board to support second hand sales.

Oxfam online. Best Buys Sept 23

Shop in more affluent areas to get designer bargains in the Charity shop. I remember my first trip to Chelsea and finding a shop full of stunning high end clothes. I also love Rochester and Oxted for more interesting finds.

Make a day of it. Have a charity shop day. My sister, mum and I used to love a day wandering around Charity shops and going for coffee. Pick a highstreet that you know has 3 or 4 different second hand shops and make a day of it.

Online:

If heading to the shops is not your idea of a good day out, then go online. The best thing about second hand online shopping is you can filter the colour, size, garment type so you can cut out the noise. If you prefer to support charity at the same time as shopping second hand then check out Thriftify. You may have heard of them in magazines like Vogue. They support a range of Charities similar to Asos Market Place. Oxfam and  British Red Cross are also online as are many others.

These days it’s more about Online second hand retailers like Vinted, Ebay, Thrift and Depop. I use Vinted mostly because I love their app. If you had a garment you loved and wore it to death it’s worth looking for another on one of these second hand sites. You may find a shiny new one to wear to death all over again.

And don’t forget about Vintage shops. You don’t have to head to places like Brighton for Vintage clothes shop. I love a day in Folkestone at Bounce Vintage and Trash or Treasure in Maidstone. But a few minutes on Instagram will bring up a lot of interesting small business’s sourcing and selling beautiful unique vintage pieces online.

Look out for large Vintage Kilo Sales like this one in Canterbury. It’s £20 a Kilo.You simply fill a bag, get it weighed and pay on your way out.

Canterbury Kilo Sale in Westgate Hall

Last but not least, why not try shopping your wardrobe??? When was the last time you looked in the back of the wardrobe? Often we find things we’ve not seen for ages and can give it a new lease of life with a belt or recent purchase. 

If you have so many clothes you're not sure what to do then have a swishing party. You all bring a number of good clothes that you no longer wear, fill the rails and take clothes off the rail for free. 

Did you find this artical useful? What are you going to try? If you need help understanding your style or body shape get in touch for a free Style Breakthrough Call.