Would you buy second-hand clothes for your tweens?

[Mazzy6]

When I was a kid my Mum used to buy me second-hand clothes on a regular basis. It was always decent/nice used things that she'd hunt down for me but I did feel ashamed sometimes that I wasn't wearing brand new clothes and I think it did affect my confidence sometimes. As a Mum myself I always wanted to buy my daughters new clothes. With the cost of living crisis, I am now looking to cut back on spending, and one area is clothes. I have two daughters, 8 & 10, my eldest is in need of some new items and I've been looking on second-hand clothes selling sites and have found a few bits I think she'll like. But I have so far not bought anything as I'm worried that (particularly my older daughter) will not want to wear second-hand items!

Am I over-thinking this?! Does anyone else buy second-hand clothes for their tweens, and does it work well for you? Also hints on any brands that would be fashionable for tweens - that we can search for would be useful, I feel like I have no idea what would be in or not! Thanks 😊

Virtue signaling ✅

DS (14) is very keen on brands. Mainly Nike/Air Jordan / North Face - along with every other teenage boy.

I have told him that if he wants expensive brands we will buy them on Vinted.

I got him an air jordan shirt for £10 (£75 new). He used this Christmas money to buy some Jordan 1s - which were still eye watering but no way he would have afforded them new. I bought him a North Face coat for £90.

So still more money than buying cheap clothes new, but the only way he can ave the brands he wants.

It teaches him a good lesson too about sustainability and the value of 'this season's fashion'

Not wanting heaps of clotbes endeing up in landfil as pollution and wanting to save money and give to charity is virtue signalling now? These are common sense benefits to most people.
I've heard it all now.

Mine have always worn second hand and hand me downs. No issues

I do buy at charity shops. I don't buy my kids all 2nd hand clothes though.

I wouldn't but there's nothing wrong with it.

There's a lot of clothes that people sell for cheap that are new also so you can check those out but mostly I'd get them involved in the choosing.

Gap have always been a go to for jeans for me for both of mine. Always second hand or occasionally outlet (though they've shut now). Skinny 9yr old and not so 14yr old. The 9yr old doesn't care what he wears, the 14yr old tends to sit with me and we search ebay/Facebook/vinted for what she wants.

Dd likes sports brands reebok Nike etc for tshirts as do my nieces of similar age. Jack Wills was a thing... Sea salt if your careful not to do the granny version.

Same

From the time my daughter reached 14/15 she has spent hours walking around second hand clothes stores, she’s very artistic and has had some great finds. Wish I had had her in sight, she’s makes her own fashion instead of buying mass produced stuff.

Yes, my 12 year old DD loves Vinted and so do her friends. She's wearing head to toe Vinted now. It's great for merch from favourite shows too.
She likes brands like Bershka, Monki, Joanie, Smiley World, New Look.

Absolutely. Charity shops are my favourite shops, also love vinted !

Depends on the tween. My tween won’t wear new clothes for the environmental impact and fast fashion/sweat shops,

My youngest wears mostly hand me downs from my oldest. She loves it when the bags come out of the loft. She sifts through and takes what she likes and I charity shop the rest. She gets new bits as well but usually from cheaper shops. Cousin often hands down to both as well - although older cousin is smaller sized than my DD1 so DD2 often gets. One of DD1s friends’ mum’s often sends things my way too as she’s an only child so thinks my DD2 would use. Neither of my kids are into brands that are popular - most are associated with the types of girls she doesn’t want to hang about with. She has her own style and doesn’t really care if it’s in or not. She’s raised my wardrobe more recently as we are now similar sizes. This started when she fit into things I had put on too much weight for and was clearing out. We have a kind of communal pile of generic clothes like leggings and jeans now!! Lol. Youngest seems to like things associated with her interests such as Harry Potter (cheap in primark) or her horse riding hobby - we often buy in the sale.

I definitely agree that things have changed and many kids who are into labels will wear pre loved if they’re in good condition and a bargain. Lots on the media about the environment and not buying throw away fashion.

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Teens I work with love a good charity shop bargain. They love that they're saving money and also donating to charity at the same time

You’re paying so it’s your decision- you are really over thinking. I wouldn’ make a big thing of it. Second hand much better environmental and you can afford better brand. I used to love going round charity shops with my mum when I was young

I defintiely buy second hand clothes and mostly from charity shops- although our school has a facebook page where people sell on second hand bundles.

Ds1 is quite choosey about his clothes and loves a brand, but often the bundles we buy are branded. I do make sure that he is involved with choosing what we buy though so he is happy to wear it.

But I understand how you feel about it- my parents never bought me new clothes- in fact most of the time I was given stuff my mother wore. I well recall at my prom being given a red and peacock blue fake silk shirt (with shoulder pads) to wear along with my mother's black work trousers and told to stop complaining and how embarrassed I felt about it. I still now feel guilty about buying new clothes for myself. A girl in my class was always beautifully dressed and I was so envious.

I've used www.buildabundle.com for my preteen and well as baby items as all the stuff on there is gorgeous. They are on facebook as well...There are so many sites now like vinted, ebay, shpock etc that's alot of people are looking at other ways of buying and reusing. My dd is nearly 10 and she loves routing through charity shops with me for a bargain lol. Get the kids involved xxx

Yes, always bought second hand where I can get it. Ds is now 16 and I still do, and for myself. He couldn't care less if something is new or not as long as he likes it. He doesn't do brands or fashion but knows what he likes. I've bought him cargo shorts, hoodies, and wool jumpers second hand in recent years.

You will get loads of parents on here cheerfully boasting that their tweens & teens happily wear nothing but second hand, what you won't get is how their teens really feel about it. You probably never told your mum how you felt about it op.

Some won't mind, some will. When a teen knows their parent can't afford it any other way they often keep their feelings to themselves.

I think what can work really well is to set a clothing budget that you can afford, and give the tween/teen a little choice in how and where it is spent. Let them learn they can get more for their money, get the brands they like for less, if they buy second hand. I think when you discover the perks of preloved for yourself, there is zero stigma!

You will get loads of parents on here cheerfully boasting that their tweens & teens happily wear nothing but second hand, what you won't get is how their teens really feel about it.
If they have other clothes then you can tell if they like the second hand ones, DS will wear his favourites day in day out, it's pretty obvious how he feels.

You will get loads of parents on here cheerfully boasting that their tweens & teens happily wear nothing but second hand, what you won't get is how their teens really feel about it. You probably never told your mum how you felt about it op.

My DD chooses and buys her own clothes. At least half of them are 2nd hand

Yes I can clothe My 6 and 7 year old for a year+ for less than 100 pounds, I buy large bundles for them. Simlar with My 12 and 15 year old