Secondhand / vintage / charity / ethical and slow fashion chat

[madamceladon]

Can we have a chat thread for this?
Tips and ideas, blog and podcast recommendations and latest finds?

I'll start. I think 80% of my stuff is secondhand, from charity shops eBay and vinted. I've got more into this in last five years and never go in fast fashion shops. I feel a bit ill and overwhelmed if I do now.
If I do need to buy new I try to find a company that is ethical and made in Britain.

I've got really into maintenance and repair as well. I love watching a film while I debobble and darn knitwear.

Recent efforts, I had some nice black fine wool trousers but they were too loose and unflattering on thighs, I've improvised and put in my own pleats at the top and pleased with how they came out.

I wanted a black polo neck after I saw some women looking very stylish in a black and white 1960s film and found a perfect one the next day in the charity shop: lambswool, old m and s, made in Britain.

I love this website
vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource

And this podcast
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dressed-the-history-of-fashion/id1350850605

Hurrah! I’m in. I started buying from charity shops in the early 90s and now buy very little from anywhere else. Back then it was because I had very little money, now it’s because I love the thrill of finding treasure. I have three charity shops within 8 minute’ walk of my house so it’s easy to just swing by and sift through. Yesterday I bought a black cashmere crew neck sweater and a fabulous nylon quilted-ish skirt (sounds awful, actually it’s really nice - and I really don’t do synthetic fibres - with very rare exceptions!)

Most of my clothes are from charity shops - I can't really cope with eBay and other online places, I find them overwhelming.

I love charity shopping because it has encouraged me to find my own style, rather than blindly follow fashion. And you can find some really quality pieces there - I recently got a beautiful cashmere jumper in perfect condition for £8, and a very stylish grey wool coat for £18.

Agree with mending rather than binning too. I've recently been spending a lot of spare time repairing my cashmere jumpers after moths got to them. You can tell they've been repaired if you look closely, but I'm not binning lovely, soft, warm jumpers because of a few holes!

Oh yes please - I love this idea- my plans for 2022 are to refine and streamline my wardrobe- and any purchases need to be very considered- but have been thinking about taking it further and all purchases have to be second hand/ vintage/ charity shops.

I love the idea of charity shops but I always fall for the bargain aspect, same as in the January sales, in that I buy something because it’s cheap rather than because I absolutely love it or need it. So I still end up with things in my wardrobe I don’t wear that much. I wish I could find a way to change that as I really like the concept

I love charity shops too, and about 90% of my wardrobe is from charity shops.

I did but a pair of jeans from H&M recently. I usually avoid fast fashion like the plague as I’m aware of the impact on the environment. However, I do intend to wear them a lot, and also I don’t have the money for sustainable fashion at the moment. It’s just SO much more expensive and I find that a shame (but also understand why it is).

My recent favourite charity shop finds are;
Hobbs merino wool jumper for £6
Alpaca scarf for £6.99
Ted Baker wool trousers £9.99

I would be much happier to buy from charity shops if they had better changing rooms. Or if they sold online, I’d happily pay an extra couple of quid for the convenience. I buy clothes from charities like Barnardos via ASOS Marketplace but I couldn’t be arsed to rummage around one of their physical stores.

stealingbeauty
I read an article once that said Fast Fashion isn't a problem if you are not a fast consumer- and that changed the way I thought about it. I don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on one item as I am clumsy, accidents happen etc - also, I am plus size so the amount of nice sustainable fashion is scant to say the least. This article said to treat your fast fashion item in the way you would treat a considered purchase, take your time finding it etc then wear it until it is worn out. I have a primark shirt that was £8 years ago- its a nice cut and colour- looks more expensive than it was and gets complimented on a lot. I must have worn it once a week for the last 6 years and it is still going strong

@Ryannah

I would be much happier to buy from charity shops if they had better changing rooms. Or if they sold online, I’d happily pay an extra couple of quid for the convenience. I buy clothes from charities like Barnardos via ASOS Marketplace but I couldn’t be arsed to rummage around one of their physical stores.

Both Oxfam and Shelter sell clothes online.

I rarely buy new and visit our local charity shops regularly. I buy for me and for the house. Latest bargains are a zara coat, still with tags, for £20, canvas chest of drawers for £9 and a wireless charger for £2.

I can recommend Thrift plus for those who’d prefer to buy online - it’s not a charity shop but people donate their clothes for Thrift to sell. When they sell Thrift donates a proportion (either 1/3 or 2/3 depending on the donator’s choice) to the charity nominated by the donator. You can search by brand which I find helpful as I can look for styles/sizes from shops I know will suit and fit me.

Following! I get nearly everything secondhand. Just found a great puffa jacket by Hype for DS's winter coat, on Vinted, for £10.

If people know of any exceptionally good charity shops in their area, perhaps they could list them? I live in NE London and my go-tos are Traid in Dalston (brilliant) and the one on Highbury Corner (Marie Curie, maybe?).

I buy everything from vinted now. I'll never go back. I started 18 months ago and I've bought some dodgy stuff but I must be getting better because I haven't had to re list anything for quite a while. The key is to know your size in the brand the item is from, ask questions, ask for extra photos if needed and always start with a low offer also be prepared to walk away.

I feel like anyone who buys brand new is being mugged off.

@crochetmonkey74 exactly this. I have stuff I bought from primark early 2000s still going strong.
I think clothes have got so cheap people have just gone crazy and we buy far too much most of which is never worn.
I remember saving up for £40 topshop trousers in 1996. That's more expensive than now.
I've started selling my kids clothes or giving away to charity and looking at ebay for my own stuff. I do love a charity shop bargain.

@madamceladon can you share tips for debobbling please?

@crochetmonkey74

stealingbeauty I read an article once that said Fast Fashion isn't a problem if you are not a fast consumer- and that changed the way I thought about it. I don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on one item as I am clumsy, accidents happen etc - also, I am plus size so the amount of nice sustainable fashion is scant to say the least. This article said to treat your fast fashion item in the way you would treat a considered purchase, take your time finding it etc then wear it until it is worn out. I have a primark shirt that was £8 years ago- its a nice cut and colour- looks more expensive than it was and gets complimented on a lot. I must have worn it once a week for the last 6 years and it is still going strong

Yes, that’s so so true. I suppose it really is about being intentional, buying carefully and very much in moderation, and being sure about what we want.

I get a lot of my wardrobe secondhand partly for budget reasons and partly for sustainability. Best recent-ish find was probably a Brora cashmere cardigan for £5.50. I think a lot of it does take persistence though and for things like jeans I do end up just going to Marks and Spencer.

This is me! I've always loved shopping in charity shops every since I was a teenager, then got into ebay in my 20s and now love vinted and vestiaire as well as charity shops. I must confess I do buy too many clothes but I look for good quality and nice labels so I can sell on whenever I have a clearout.

@crochetmonkey74 @ambereeree totally agree about being a slow consumer regardless of where you buy from. Also I’ve noticed that often it’s the cheapest item I’m wearing (as in what itts original retail price would’ve been, rather than what I might’ve paid for it) which somehow lifts the entire outfit. A bit like having loads of very expensive shoes but the ones you actually love the most are the cheap pair you bought on the way to a meeting (because the ones you were wearing were not quite right) and which somehow have become your favourite and most used pair!

My best ever charity shop purchase was a gorgeous silk striped shirt- originally from Next but it was on the pound rail of a charity shop- I have had it 12 years- it's in regular rotation still and is a bit faded, but only I would really know that.
I can never seem to find trousers in a charity shop - I struggle and often even with normal shopping have to order and try on 8 pairs to find one good one- so I am going to try and hunt these down preloved when I need them, but if I have to, these will be the only new things.

Oh I'd say almost 100% of my clothes are from charity shops. I've developed a good eye and I'm lucky with where I live.

The smaller local ones tend to be the best. I've got masses of stuff of great quality for 1 or 3 pounds. Happy to share the shops if anyone is Surrey/Sussex area.

I wish I could buy more in charity shops, and I don't mind buying second hand. Lots of my thins have come from various Facebook groups that are specific to one store or brand. However I'm not conventionally sized (I am 6 foot tall and need tall range tops, dresses, skirts and trousers) and I hate spending ages rummaging through piles of junk that doesn't fit in case I might find one random item that does. It's just too hit and miss. I also live in the country nowhere near a city and certainly nowhere near London so local charity shops are a bit.... limited.

For example, I would really love a vintage leather jacket. Can anyone suggest where I might get one to fit?

For example, I would really love a vintage leather jacket. Can anyone suggest where I might get one to fit?

Vinted, but look at the men's section? They would likely be longer.

covetingthepreciousthings

If you find one that you like- yuo could order online and send back after trying on or you could go to an actual shop -then set up alerts on your ebay account to be notified when they come in stock - I am not sure if you can put alerts on Vinted/ Depop
It may take a while but part of vintage shopping is 'the chase' of waiting and getting your items.

Also- a little tip - Lets say you wanted the Hobbs Dakota Leather Jacket- you can put an alert for that, but also an alert just for 'Hobbs Jacket' and Hobbs Leather Jacket' as not every seller knows the style name . Another tip- if you are a size 14, put alerts on for sizes 16 and 18 too as you can have them tailored down to fit (not sure if you can have leather tailored easily but for other things this is useful)

So glad lots of people are up for this topic.
@covetingthepreciousthings
For de bobbling I bought a simple electric one from John Lewis, just uses a double a battery and is fine. You can also use razors and just shave the wool. Just go easy so not to cut the wool. You can rest the item on a stiff cushion to have something to work against.
Here's a blog post I did with a refurb of a leather bag and a wool jumper.

thescentfulapprentice.co.uk/repair/

@pucelleauxblanchesmains £5.5 for Brora cashmere! That's incredible!
😮👍🏽😮

I think that's why I love secondhand so much. I'm champagne taste and lemonade budget. The good stuff lasts and it's wonderful getting merino, cashmere, silk and lambswool at such lower prices compared to new.