Second hand would you?

[Fairyliz]

I'm going to a friends wedding in June and fancied a new 'posh' dress to wear. I could probably afford to pay up to £120, but it seems a bit daft to pay that much for something I might only wear twice. So I went on ebay and bought an Austin Reed silk dress listed as excellent used condition.

Well it arrived and its gorgeous, fab quality and looks brand new. Best of all it only cost £18.15 including postage! However when I told a friend that it was second hand she was horrified as if I might catch something from it. So what do you think would you wear second hand clothes from someone you don't know?

[Spookey80]

Absolutely! And the advantage is, you are less likely to see someone at the do in the same dress.
I wouldn't think twice about it if I liked it.

[LaTrucha]

I would.

[noisytoys]

Of course. There is a similar thread about second hand baby clothes and most people agree they would use second hand for DC's. I can't see the difference

[JazzDalek]

Yes, of course, I wear second-hand clothes almost all the time. Small budget + expensive tastes. I would rather wear second-hand good clothes than brand new crap ones.

[TheCatcherInTheRye]

Absolutely, you should be totally proud of your good bargain!

[Arisbottle]

Most of my clothes are second hand, the only way I can afford to dress as I did before becoming a teacher.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

It's the same as hiring something in my view.
You have no control over who/where/when it was worn before.
The hire company has the responsibilty of cleaning the garment.

£19 for a silk dress sounds like a bargain- if you had it professionally cleaned it won't add much more to the price, And leave you loads to buy accessories

[FreddieMisaGREATshag]

Lesson learned. Don't tell anyone the next time.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes, I would. DD1 got her prom dress in a charity shop - a full length Karen Millen silk for a tenner. I wouldn't buy second hand shoes though.

[valiumredhead]

Yes, I buy stuff from charity shops all the time. Even Carrie from sex in the City bought 'vintage' clothes, and she bought Big a vintage Rolex

Your friend is ridiculous what does she think you could catch from it?

[AmberNectarine]

God yes. I bought an Issa wrap dress at the car boot sale this morning for £10. Same dress in a different pattern is £590 on the website! It is literally immaculate, but I'd dry clean it if I needed to!

[OneHolyCow]

Absolutely, I love vintage and got married myself in a vintage seventies dress. Got if off ebay and it was stunning.

[littlediamond33]

nearly all my clothes are second hand/vintage.i get most of my clothes from ebay and charity shops.nothing to be ashamed about.It saves money and you are 'recycling' so environmentely(sp?) friendly.Cannot see anything wrong with it at all.good on you for finding such a lovely dress.

[elQuintoConyo]

Also got married in a vintage dress off e-bay (fifties)!

None of my friends or famiky could give two stuffs if clothes are second hand. A new shop has opened where I live that sells clothes by the kilo, so a t-shirt might cost £4.50 but a coat would cost the full £25. They get new stuff in every Thursday from different places, so labels can vary widely. It's a great place.

[Yonihadtoask]

I definitely would.

Sounds like a great dress.

Wash it/dry clean and its as good as new.

Brand new clothes from a shop have no doubt been tried on by all and sundry anyway.

[Notcontent]

Absolutely.
It's something I got into in my early teens and never dropped the habit even though I don't have to. When dd was a baby nearly all her clothes were second hand. Your friend is crazy - the only way you could "catch something" is if the previous owner had the Ebola virus and you didn't wash the clothes...

I know some people are a bit funny about second hand things. More bargains for the rest of us!!!!

[Haylebop12]

All my maternity clothes are from eBay this time. Ill only be in them for 5-6 months And for what they cost I can have loads. I often pick up the odd thing for dd off there a d try to look for new or barely worn items. Have had a couple of mistake buys however. You live and learn!

[fossil971]

I have masses of secondhand clothes. I don't think that other human beings contaminate things by touching them. I think I might be unusual in MN in that respect though!

I hope the OP's friend never stays in a hotel because just imagine who else might have slept in the bed before her!

[Haylebop12]

Currently wearing a black next maxi (£22 I think) that I got, immaculate, for £5!

[noddyholder]

yes Half my clothes are second hand and they are among my faves

[CorrieDale]

Would and do! I buy virtually all my clothes second hand having lost enough weight over 2 years to require 3 entirely new wardrobes. I now regard having to buy something new as tantamount to professional failure! Other than undies... I always buy them new!

[Notcontent]

Me too Noddy - some of my favourites are second hand.

And I get more pleasure from second hand buys because there is less guilt about spending the money!

[AlwaysSleepingBeauty]

I love second hand and vintage. I think maybe your friend is jealous of your gorgeous bargain dress!

[LaRegina]

Absolutely yes I would and do all the time!

If you don't want to risk a reaction from anybody, don't tell them. Personally though, I love to smugly tell somebody who had just complemented me on my designer clothes that they cost me next to nothing