Fashion: 2nds
Hunting for this season's look in the bargain bins of second-hand clothing shops will not only help your pocket but also give you the thrill of having found a lost treasure FASHION
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The thrill of buying second-hand clothes is in the searching and the rummaging around. For real aficionados, such as Carol Thomas, a student, and her partner Chris Murdoch, a part-time teacher, even a stroll past the stalls on Portobello Road is a bit too easy. "It's not so much fun - all the selection has been done for you," says Carol.
She prefers to go to the source of the supply. On Saturdays, she can be found sifting through the rails and in the bargain boxes of charity shops, such as her local branch of MIND in Kensal Rise, northwest London. There, she and Chris can find real treasures. They have not given up hope of the 50 pence bargain, which in these days of inflated clothing prices (both new and retro) is like getting something for nothing.
Carol and Chris have been on the second-hand trail for almost a decade. They are reluctant to tell of all their secret haunts, many of which are in the relatively obscure but plentiful charity shops of Scarborough, Chris's hometown. And while there is always a market for second-hand clothing, the trends to look out for change at the same pace as fashion itself. Right now, the emphasis has moved on from last year's Fifties' look that was flavour of the season on the Paris catwalks, to the mods of the Sixties (Chris recently came across Harrington jackets for pounds 2.50 in Bristol) and the Seventies.
If you have the eye for it, second-hand clothing can look strangely ahead of its time. As Chris and Carol found recently whilst walking along Whitby harbour - a broad North Yorkshire accent behind them whispered, "trendsetters!".
Tamsin Blanchard
Left Chris wears blue suit, pounds 8, from Oxfam; Seventies gold tie from Chris's dad; shirt, pounds 1.50, from charity shop; green suede platforms, pounds 10, in sale from Shelly's, 266-67 Regent Street, London W1 and branches nationwide, enquiries 0181-450 0066
Above Carol wears stripey cardigan, pounds 8, from charity shop in Scarborough; Chris wear T-shirt, pounds 5, and flares, pounds 5, from Portobello Market
Right
Chris wears fake fur coat, pounds 5, and trousers, pounds 5, from Fisherman's Wife Hospital Charity Shop, Market Way, Scarborough; hat bought from a market in Greece; shoes from Shelly's, as before
Top left
Chris wears long leather coat, pounds 10, from charity shop in Scarborough
Left
Carol wears red feather jacket, from Ad Hoc, Kensington High Street, London W8; loafers, from Shelly's, as before. Chris wears fake fur coat, trousers and hat as before.
Above
Chris wear blue suit as before
Carol wears check suede jacket, pounds 15, from Camden Market, London NW5; crochet top, pounds 3, and velvet skirt, both from Portobello Market
Photographs by Derrick Santini
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments