Buy First, or Buy Second?
Whether you are a shopper or not, most people find it exciting to come across items for a great price whether on sale or marked down. No matter your budget, the thrill of a sale can be the same for us all. In the world of secondhand shopping, not only can you find items on a bargain at any budget point but you also are practicing sustainable living by shopping at secondhand stores (and if you’re a thrifter, don’t forget the thrill of the hunt!)
When defining secondhand, shops range from thrift stores, consignment, resale, or vintage – they all have clothes that are either given or donated (there’s even a digital marketplace such as sites like ThredUp, or of course Second Look). Clothing within these boutiques are most times in gentle use and worn briefly, or they come completely new with tags. In my world, Second Look focuses solely around the design and styling of wardrobes, homes, and events with exclusively secondhand finds. Antiques, garage sales, thrift stores, consignment – you name it, I use them all to help build mine and others dream wardrobes and spaces. It is amazing what you can find, and to know you’re supporting the environment by keeping textiles and fabrics out of landfills of previously used clothing. While there is much buzz about the resources being used by fast fashion production and companies, I’m not here to suggest you shouldn’t support your favorite retailers – but rather you take a Second Look at shopping secondhand and supporting a sustainable living style.
If you need reasons to shop secondhand boutiques and stores, then here are a few myths to put to rest (and remember if you’re interested in supporting the environment but not doing the shopping, I’m happy to do it all for you!):
Myth: Secondhand means the clothes are pre-worn or unwearable.
This is actually one of my favorite myths to expel. I can’t count the number of times I have gone to any thrift or consignment location and found multiple items, new with tag, which were donated or sold from someone’s closet. All secondhand stores in some form have policies in place to ensure clothing smells smoke-free, has limited wear or signs of, no stains, holes or rips and that things are in good if not great condition. Regardless if they’re new or not, they’re still new to you by your own standards and wearable as such in your image.
Myth: Secondhand clothing are all things off-trend.
While there are plenty of “throwback” options at secondhand stores (and who doesn’t love some fun vintage finds!) not everything you come across is solely from another era. As is true with most things, that which is old becomes new again – and the cycle of fashion is no different. While you may find fun retro pieces you can repurpose or upcycle for your wardrobe, there are also plenty of on-trend items that are sitting on the shelves waiting to be added to your closet. And besides, if you love something don’t let anyone or any trend deter it – rock it and make it your own! You can also get creative with items as well.
Myth: Shopping secondhand doesn’t change anything for the environment.
This is definitely a fun myth to bust! When you shop secondhand, that piece of clothing has already been made and already entered into the fashion cycle. No new materials need to be used to create a new look in mass quantities – and often at the detriment to our environment. Purchasing secondhand helps to keep items out of landfills, and let’s be honest that’s better anyways because fashion doesn’t deserve to be in the garbage!
So, if there are so many myths around secondhand – then tell me why I should shop it? That’s a great question – let’s get started:
It’s perfect for the budget-conscious shopper.
Whether you’re looking for core pieces to add to your capsule wardrobe, or some colorful pieces to jazz up with a fast fashion approach – shopping secondhand can help you add styles of any genre or need to your wardrobe. Even if you have an event coming up that you need a one-time look for – secondhand can have you covered at a cost that will be affordable but still make you feel like a million bucks. Even sites like Rent the Runway are taking the digital scene by storm, allowing us to continue to reuse and re-wear items already in production.
It’s an opportunity to practice sustainable living and prevent waste.
Let’s be honest, we all have items in our homes collecting dust that we either dispose of or if compelled donate. Not only should you purchase secondhand looks but you should also contribute to the movement by donating those pieces you’re no longer invested in. They’ll suit someone’s needs better, and you’ll feel good knowing you contributed to the green fashion movement.
The experience can be a fun and exciting way to re-purpose items.
No matter the item, the moment you take clothing home from a secondhand store you’re already giving it new life. You may wear as-is, or you may repurpose it – either way it’s a subjective and personal shopping experience that lets you tailor the items you find to your personality and style. For example, I recently purchased a vintage 1980’s denim jacket. I’m a Disney nut, and my plan is to sew patches from Disney and buttons on the jacket as a keepsake I can wear on trips to colder months at the park. For $3 I get a fun jacket, and a great project that I can’t wait to show off and say was my own creation.
Shopping secondhand has a communal affect.
No matter what you purchase, you are either re-wearing something that someone else has resold or donated, or at least contributing to the cycle of sustainable fashion. If you’re a vintage shopper you also have the chance to reminisce about the woman before you who wore that similar piece and not only who she was but how she felt when she styled it. It’s taking a piece of history with you and recreating it in your own image. I often look at trendy items from different times and smile thinking about the woman before me – I walk away hoping I can style it just as well as I’m sure she did!
In closing, secondhand and sustainable style is not only a large part of our fashion scene but it’s growing quickly in popularity as others see the effect it can have on our planet and the feel-good attitude it gives to both your closet and wardrobe. Ethical fashion is where it’s at, and green style never felt so good. Take a Second Look and be surprised by what you could find.
If you’re interested in learning more about secondhand and sustainable fashion practices, you can reach or even have us shop for you! You never know what treasures you could walk away with!