Hello 2022, you bright-eyed wonderful year! January is underway and so is the evolution of secondhand.
A ThredUP 2021 report found that 33 million consumers bought secondhand apparel for the first time in 2020, and 76 percent of those first-time buyers plan to increase their spending on secondhand in the next 5 years, while its recent Thrift for the Holidays Report revealed that 62 percent of consumers believe buying secondhand apparel/fashion gifts are more socially acceptable now than 5 years ago, demonstrating that any remaining stigma around wearing or gifting pre-worn is lifting. and new trends are already been committed to.
So what next? How do you make secondhand work for you, become part of your lifestyle, and develop it into a habit worth keeping when it comes to styling your forever looks?
I started SHSUK at the end of the summer in 2021. 4 months later: We produced our first ever swap shop, raised money for Smart Works Greater Manchester, styled influencers up and down the country, and built a tribe of secondhand stylers, with people like you, included! As an ex-fashion journalist and correspondent, I can firmly say we are putting the fun back into fashion, and managing to keep our efforts conscious and sustainably focussed.
So what next? My goal this year is to build the go-to secondhand platform for tips, advice, content, and pieces to help build your very own secondhand styling lifestyle.
So here's what you need to know, to make your pre-loved outfits look new again in 2022.
Why a capsule wardrobe rocks
Curating essentials and sourcing go-to pieces that you can wear time and time again, really serve as a foundational pieces to your looks. The LBD, the boyfriend jeans, a cashmere sweater and the perfectly-fitted pencil skirt are all key items of clothings that you can modernise with accessories, jackets, shoes and bags. You can uplift, elevate and switch the mood very easily on all of these capsule pieces, so start as you mean to go on and make sure you have your staple treasures. Learn more about how to source these essentials from my recent charity shop guide.
Styling The Trend For Your Lifestyle
Bringing something up to date only works when you make the look work for you. I recently moved to Cheshire, and without doubt, you can see how my new home is influenecing the choice of clothing I'm buying from secondhand stores. However, the truth is, I don't ride horses and I'm from Birmingham. So there is no point trying to be something I'm not. Instead, I take the tweed jacket from Sue Ryder for £7 and add a rock T.shirt, black jeans and ankle boots. Suddenly the 80's house wife jacket becomes something that suits my kind of daily lifestyle.
Layering is key
You’ve heard this one before, but it's a tip I live by. You can do so many things with a 60's summer dress, a chunky knit and and a leather jacket. Not only do you transition seasons, but also decades by layering. When layering, remember to build up the weight of the materials. Start off thin and try to find pieces to layer over the top which are a tad thicker, so they can hide the excess fabric.
Scrunch it up
You’d be amazed what a change a bit of scrunching can make. For jeans or trousers a turned-up cuff makes a full-length into a cropped classic length which makes your heels and legs look sky-high. And my absolute favourite, a rolled-up sleeve; instantly makes whatever top or shirt you’re wearing seem boss centric and more suitable to your frame. I love a blazer or jacket sleeve rolled up too, but due to the thick fabric I often find myself spending the day constantly pushing them back up. To combat this roll a rubber band or a hair tie on your arm to elbow length over the top of your sleeve and fashion your jacket to cover it for longer-lasting sleeve rolling.
For more tips and tricks on how to build the perfect secondhand wardrobe for your own lifestyle make sure to check out our Youtube channel.
