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I do have a little confession to admit here, I have a fiendish and ongoing obsession for visiting charity shops. I’m not sure where this love for second hand clothing and treasures began, but it’s such a favourite hobby of mine. Some may turn up their noses at the thought of rummaging through people’s old clothes, with that unfortunate and familiar pungent smell and fustiness, but that’s almost the beauty of it: fashion that tells a story dating back 10, 20 or 40 years. It’s the wonderful unbeknown to what you may find and I think this is my favourite part. When you shop on the high street, to a certain extent, you have an idea of what you may find: the latest trends, new seasonal pieces, the faithful monochrome basics, and of course, the price tag.
But the truth is, I don’t shop in charity and vintage shops for the great value they possess – quite the opposite in fact and if you’re a regular vintage enthusiast, you’ll know the prices have certainly risen over the years due to increasing popularity. It’s more for the originality, the uniqueness and lack of expectation that accompanies it. It’s true that many times I have visited my favourite second hand haunts only to come away empty handed but those other times? Well, I’ve found some absolute gems: silk blouses for £1, vintage M&S shirts in blush pinks and nudes and pretty embroidered long line jackets with intricate detailing and original buttons. These special finds are undoubtedly the very reason behind why I have developed such an unequivocal love for charity shopping and vintage fashion.
Of course, ethical fashion must have an important mention here too. We can’t keep investing in fast fashion forever, fuelling unfair trade and gruelling conditions for factory workers is a serious problem and one that is frequently talked about in the media. It was reported in 2015 that America alone disposes of 11 million tonnes of textile waste every year. Every year? That’s a phenomenal figure for one country. But I’m certainly not going to sit here and say everyone should be buying second hand clothing and refrain from high-street fashion because I certainly don’t. It’s more just to emphasise the excitement and original style opportunities that shopping in thrift shops can present.
Reformation, Instagram
I feel that many may wrongly assume their local charity shops are simply stocked with old, faded t-shirts and bobbly cardigans. Well, yes, to a certain extent I’m pretty sure you will find these more undesirable items in multiple locations but if you look hard enough, and visit regularly, I’m fairly certain you’ll find some real vintage bargains too.
