Save money, stay stylish and bag the bargains with my top tips when shopping secondhand in 2023.
Looking fashionable, polished, and well put together doesn't have to break the bank, and you can easily create premium-looking outfits with pre-loved pieces. You just need to know where to go, what to source and who to seek advice from when pulling your looks together.
Listen To The Experts
Shopping second hand continues to increase in popularity and we don't expect it to slow down. That's why you need to start saving, pinning and checking out links, handles and sites that can help you source like a pre-loved pro.
Here are some of my top accounts to follow
Duchess Of Thrift: Money-saving Mum who shares how you can dress well for less
Faye De Lanty: Thrift Stylist who shares top tips on creating runway and couture looks.
The Style Cycle: A Cheshire based sustainable blogger who writes about how to live a consciously chic lifestyle. Kat's latest blog on what to do with old underwear is genius! Read it HERE
Don't Overspend (Yes, it's a thing even when thrifting)
Sadly, people can often spend less money while shopping secondhand. They buy multiple outfits that they often don't need or really want. They are just buying it because it's cheaper than what they would spend if they brought it new. That's why it's super important to shop with intention. Keep your wardrobe organised and rotate items from the front to the back, so pieces are not forgotten about. When you head out on a secondhand spree, avoid overspending by allocating a few percentages of your income to your wardrobe. In most cases, around 5% of your total income will be sufficient to buy reasonably priced clothes.
Look for the pieces you've always wanted.
For those who are just starting out, it helps to have specific pieces in mind. ...Go online for something specific. After drawing up your wishlist, it's time to start tracking down those much-wanted items. ...
Be creative with your search terms.
You will find that the tagging, naming and descriptions of secondhand pieces is a little different to the mainstream world. Research styles, shapes and even eras when searching for vintage pieces. Sellers have to be as descriptive as possible to try and get their items ranking, so it can help to spend a little time being creative with your search terms.
Shop out of season. …
This is the best time to find some treasures. Generally, sellers are doing clear outs the season after the item is typically suitable. This is when you can find the best bargains and less people will be searching for the stunning kaftan in the depths of Winter. But that beauty can be yours at a fraction of the cost if you were to search for it in season.
Know your measurements.
This is super important as returns get complicated in the secondhand world. A lot of sellers will be reluctant to offer flexible return policies as it makes things difficult for them and is not cost-effective.. It's also not great for the environment. So ask sellers questions to make sure pieces are right for you, but also know your measurements so you can size the items up before you order them.
I hope these tips helped! Now it's time to get sourcing, and remember to tag us in your pre-loved looks!
