I get it—secondhand and vintage shopping isn’t for everyone but for me is a real treat. The bargains I’ve found: from a £15 Aquascutum jacket to a £110 classic Burberry trench coat, as well as an embroidered cardigan French influencer and founder of Rouje, Jeanne Damas complimented me on. Not to mention the pieces of vintage sportswear I wear religiously and a checked shirt I bought for £3 from the Salvation Army charity shop, which I still wear 11 years on. Outside of COVD times, I genuinely loved nothing more than browsing my favourite retro clothing shops. However, right now, I have to settle for the digital options available—thankfully they are plentiful. From Etsy to eBay as well as Vestiaire Collective and Oxfam’s online store, there are many ways to find pre-loved items.
This month many people in the fashion world are celebrating Secondhand September—a commitment to only buying pre-owned items for 30 days. It’s not only a great way to make your wardrobe unique but it’s one of the best ways to be sustainable with your clothes. As I know that finding the coolest vintage and secondhand pieces can be tough, I asked four experts on the matter to give me their wishlists in the hope that it might inspire others to do similar when considering a new piece of clothing.
First, I asked Franny Fyne, founder of a vintage shop in Paris, who always wears the coolest retro shirts. I also spoke to Sara Brown who has a real eye for bold colours, not to mention she knows where to find brilliant plus size vintage pieces. Next up, it was Emma Slade Edmondson, who we featured in Best Wardrobes in Britain this year. And finally, I asked Who What Wear’s Shopping Editor Joy Montgomery what she’s after right now, as she also loves finding a bargain too. I’ve also included my own picks as I’ve got quite a few on my list right now. Keep scrolling for all the best vintage and secondhand pieces.
