Savvy second-hand clothes shopping – ditching the new for the old has never been easier.

One of my main sustainability goals for 2021 is to reduce the amount of new clothes I buy - because I buy a LOT! At 42 I'm not even a slave to fashion, and yet still I think nothing of picking up something new with my food shop, or making a day of it in town with a suitably enabling girlfriend (you know who you are!) because I really like clothes, the brighter and bolder the better as well. For years I've also enjoyed the thrill of a 'win' on ebay and rummaging around in charity shops and markets for second-hand gems, and even though I tend to hold onto things for a long time, and donate that which does not 'spark joy' to charity, I think it might, might, just be time to cut down.

I've avoided writing it down, or even saying it out loud for fear of failure (or being held to it by my husband!), but in 2021 I fully intend to not buy any new clothes, with the exception of underwear and anything sustainable…ok, there's some caveats, but you get the picture. No more dresses with the weekly shop or hauls from online shops during the sales…this is going to be HARD!

I’ve got a game plan, and as I said, I’m not new to 'old', so I have picked up some tips along the way.

Unfollow anyone doing 'clothing hauls' on Instagram

The first I've done is unfollow anyone I was following on Instagram who regularly showed off clothing 'hauls' or try-ons. This was hard, because most of them also promote body positivity and style at any size or age, but I found it triggering, so they had to go. Out of sight, out of mind.

Love the clothes you're in

I 'Kon Marie’d' my wardrobe in 2019 (AKA really sorted it out) and so despite it containing three different sizes of clothes, and still being vast, what I do have, I really like. Since then, I've also been trying harder not to just reach for the same old things, but to wear more of it, and to play about with what I do have, mixing up what goes with what. As well as helping each item last longer, it's also really helped me focus on what I do actually need. Not that I needed any encouragement, but I've also been using accessories (mostly from etsy sellers) to change old items up and dress-up basic pieces.

Online marketplaces

ebay - I love ebay for second-hand clothes, because it's really easy to find specific pieces, and also to find hidden gems. I have loads of saved searches, but I keep my notifications off, that way, when I need something new it's really easy to search the brands I know, but I don't get tempted by newly listed items. I do also enjoy the occasional random search as well as that's when you get the best bargains; search, size and general item type, then sort by 'ending soonest' and let the bidding begin! What you do need for ebay is patience, some of my more specific searches (size 18 yellow blazer for example) haven't had any activity in months, or even years, and if you find a listing for something you like, it could take up to a week for an auction to end, and even then, you may lose - so plan well ahead. Look out for fast fashion brands selling old stock on the platform though, this seems to be on the rise, and really isn’t any better than buying in their sales.

Vinted - Because I’m such a fan of ebay I thought I'd check out relative newcomer Vinted. Unlike ebay, where most second-hand clothes are sold via an auction, on Vinted sellers state their price and you either buy it, or you don't. This does mean that getting an item is guaranteed, and quicker than on ebay, but you may end up paying more for it. Listings do seem to be focused on selling on fast fashion from the likes of BooHoo and ASOS, but there's also a fair amount of designer gear on there. After a really good search, I decided to delete the app, as there really isn't anything new to it and it has fewer listings than ebay. It's also just another avenue for buying clothes I'm better off without.

Depop - I thought I already knew what I was going to see on Depop, but I installed the app anyway and had a look around…I wasn't wrong, this is not for me. Mostly, seeing 90s fashion labelled as vintage, made me feel really, really old, and there was almost nothing listed that I'd wear. It works in the same way as Vinted, with the seller setting the price, and to be fair, it looks great if you're 20, a size 8 and into designer sportswear.

Facebook Marketplace - Not the first place I look for second-hand clothing, but there's plenty listed on Facebook Marketplace, which of course has the added advantage of probably being physically close to you, so a pretty instant way of getting something new. I'm told it's particularly good for finding baby and children bundles, and second-hand wedding dresses, but let's hope those don't become fast fashion any time soon!

Charity shops, kilo sales and travelling vintage markets

With the exception of kilo sales, second-hand shops have been around forever and are a great source of preloved items. Much like the overall volume of clothes sold though, you're going to find a lot of Primark and supermarket fashion in charity shops nowadays. Pre and I’m sure post pandemic, travelling markets and kilo sales are a great option for vintage finds, especially if you’re 'straight' sized of course, if you're not, I recommend paying for the early entry that most offer, as you're going to have much less choice to start with. Facebook is usually where I see dates advertised or my council 'what's on' email.

Independent vintage boutiques

Most big cities will have a couple of independent vintage boutiques, which are great for those who look for something a little different in their style, but as with the markets, options will be restricted for anyone over a size 14. I've noticed a rise of people selling vintage through social media though, and Ahead of the Curve Virtual Vintage Fair is a fantastic follow on Instagram for plus sized vintage and their traders are all saved in a Highlight.

Clothes swaps & swishes

The popularity of clothing swaps, or swishes as they are also known, was on the rise pre COVID and I’m sure there'll be back as soon as it's safe again. The concept is simple, you bring along any items you're done with and you get credits for them to exchange for whatever other's have brought. They're generally organised independently, so Facebook is a good place to look for events local to you, or you can of course organise one yourself with friends. I've seen specific plus sized events advertised as well, which is great.

With all that choice for buying preloved it's really a no brainer to ditch fast fashion, either for good, or for very special occasions only. I'm not going to fall out of love with clothes and dressing up, but I think I can make some lasting changes and do the planet and my bank balance some good.