a second hand revival

"Second hand", "pre-loved" and at best, "vintage"... usually the associations with this type of clothing are less than desirable. We imagine a stinking, old, dilapidated building, with more cats roaming around than the crazy lady who lives nextdoor, and a pile of musty old rags in broken fruit boxes... "less than desirable" is putting it lightly. However, second hand shopping can really be fantastic if you have an open mind, a creative flair, and a strong stomach.

A friend of mine introduced me to the love of second hand shopping when she moved to Jozi from Cape Town a few years back. She always looks amazing, contemporary, and chic... and her secret? She knows how to shop thrift stores like a fiend. She recently bought a very "interesting" 80s-style, bat-wing leather jacket. A little tailoring here, and a few stitches there, and this jacket looks like it could have come from All Saints...

Benefits of vintage shopping:

• It's CHEAP!!! Some places are cheaper than others, but the average price for a dress is around R10- R50, jackets range from R50- R200 (depending on the fabric, for example leather), handbags go from R5- R20.
• You can find absolute treasures. I found an authentic Gucci clutch bag, with serial number and suede interior, for R5, all because the strap was broken!

• Your clothes will have a story. I always imagine the history behind the clothes. Who wore it, where did they where it?...
• You're helping the environment, as well as each other. Not buying new slows down our consumption, and ultimately reduces land fill problems, and most second hand shops sponsor charities, hospice or animal shelters. 

You also need to know what to look for:

• Accessories! Sunglasses, handbags, and jewelry are treasure items. Most of them are sold for a fraction of their worth, and are good quality.
• Beautiful materials or prints, even if the style is hideous. A pair of scissors, and a sewing machine can transform these items into great pieces.
• Jackets. The different cuts are always coming back in. Look for quality.
• Dresses, skirts and shirts... and possibly trousers if you can find a good cut (there are plenty of mom jeans out there!) 
• Old suitcases- great looking storage space.

Don't buy:

• Second hand lingerie or swimwear... please!
• Shoes, unless they are in remarkable condition... like never been worn before.

The best part of it all is mixing the old with the new. Brining in current and contemporary pieces which pull the whole outfit up-to-date.

Enough talk... lets see these theories in practice

Outfit 1:

Second hand items:
Handbag: R5
Shirt: R20

Outfit 2:

Second hand items:
GUCCI (!) handbag:  R5
Belt: R2
Dress: R40

Outfit 3:

 

Second hand items:

Skirt w/ belt: R15

Outfit 4:

Second hand items:

Blazer: R20

Gucci Handbag: R5

Outfit 5:

Second hand items:

Shirt: free (traded one of my own second hand items for this)

Belt (came with skirt): R15

Outfit 6:

Second hand item:

Old dress that I cut up and turned into a skirt: R15

Outfit 7:

Second hand items:

Shirt: R10

Belt: R2

Bag: R5

Outfit 8:

Second hand item:

Shirt: R5

"When you buy a piece of vintage clothing you're not just buying the fabric and thread - you're buying a piece of someone's past." 

— Isabel Wolff (A Vintage Affair)