“Retold was born out of a mission to make vintage and second-hand clothing inspiring and accessible to as many people as possible, especially to those who wouldn’t have considered wearing it before,” Clare explains. “There has been a huge shift in the last couple of years which has been amazing to see. People are consciously wanting to incorporate more secondhand into their wardrobes and therefore the vintage and pre-loved community has really grown significantly. Just look at Selfridges, a shop that has really embraced the secondhand retail market with pop-ups from Vestiaire, Depop, Hurr rental, and now their Project Earth campaign. I, for one, didn’t think even two years ago the wider retail sector would be embracing secondhand so much.
“My top tips for shopping vintage? Firstly, choose timeless styles; this could be a beautiful trench, a luxe cream silk blouse or a pair of Levi’s. All classic wardrobe staples that you will wear forever. Don’t feel the need to go head to toe in vintage—it could be as simple as finding a gorgeous vintage blazer to wear with your favourite jeans or accessorising with a vintage belt. Secondly, invest in a tape measure and get to know your body measurements. Vintage sizing is very different to modern day so don’t rely on old labels etc to ensure an item fits. Thirdly, stay true to your own style and use Instagram to follow vintage accounts that resonate with your personal aesthetic – it’s a great source of inspiration.”
The brand’s hotly-anticipated autumn collection is landing this Sunday, and I got a chance to preview the edit, hand-pick my favourite pieces and style them up, so you can make the most informed choice when it goes live.
The collection will be available to buy from 5.30pm, so make sure to set your alarms, because these pre-loved gems won’t stick around for long!
