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Original poster

Second hand would you?

61 replies

Fairyliz · 19/05/2013 14:03

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?

OP posts:
Spookey80 · 19/05/2013 14:04

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 · 19/05/2013 14:07

I would.

noisytoys · 19/05/2013 14:11

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 · 19/05/2013 14:28

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 · 19/05/2013 14:37

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

Arisbottle · 19/05/2013 14:39

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

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/05/2013 14:40

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 Grin

FreddieMisaGREATshag · 19/05/2013 14:40

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

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 19/05/2013 14:41

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 · 19/05/2013 14:41

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 Wink

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

AmberNectarine · 19/05/2013 14:42

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!

Coconutty · 19/05/2013 14:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OneHolyCow · 19/05/2013 14:44

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

littlediamond33 · 19/05/2013 15:44

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 · 19/05/2013 15:49

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 · 19/05/2013 15:54

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 · 19/05/2013 15:56

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... Grin

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

Haylebop12 · 19/05/2013 15:58

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. Grin 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 · 19/05/2013 15:59

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 · 19/05/2013 16:01

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

noddyholder · 19/05/2013 16:02

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

CorrieDale · 19/05/2013 16:08

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 · 19/05/2013 16:08

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 · 19/05/2013 17:46

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

LaRegina · 19/05/2013 17:55

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 Smile