Why Vintage?

I buy most of my clothes second hand - This not only is kinder on my wallet than high street shopping, but it also allows me to be a lot more creative with my sense of style, and view dressing in the morning as an enjoyable, almost artistic activity, rather than a chore. I have compiled a list of the pros of buying vintage, in the hope of convincing more of you to explore the side of clothing that, maybe just needs a quick wash before you wear it.

It’s eco friendly

Honestly, there are many fashion companies who would rather send their goods to landfill than ‘pollute’ their image by donating clothes to charity (Have you ever seen a homeless person dressed in head to toe Dior? Didn’t think so.) Not only is this a horrifically wasteful and disgusting mentality, but it is incredibly unsustainable. Wearing vintage means you are recycling clothing that would otherwise be rotting in a dump somewhere. Consider it a sartorial rescue mission.

2. It’s special

Vintage clothes are rare and often unique, which makes them special. Designer vintage is unique, special and often very valuable. You are wearing clothes that you would normally only see in your family’s old photographs or referenced in modern pop videos - that’s pretty cool.

3. It’s cheaper

There are some quite expensive vintage boutiques, but if you look for your items in car boot sales, charity shops, estate sales, the chances are you are paying much less than what you would for a brand new version of the same item. Keep an eye out for 90s platforms at low prices, as they are currently selling online for very inflated prices!

4. It’s not ‘Gross’

Seeing shopping secondhand and vintage as ‘disgusting’ is an ignorant way to think. Whilst vintage items won’t appeal to everyone’s style, even charity shops only accept items that have been thoroughly cleaned and checked over before being put on the shop floor. Specialised vintage boutiques are even more vigilant with their items, often spending a significant amount of money on cleaning and restoring items before putting them up for sale. And yes, Charity shops often accept bulk donations of people who have died - but the chances they popped their clogs in the sweater you bought is still pretty low.