Second-hand stores - yes or no?

Coffee_Girl

Worker Bee
Jan 23, 2012
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Poland
I know that most of you are interested in fashion and shopping. And I suspect that we would all love to wear top designers, or at least being able to get the entire new collection of *** (your favorite store), but unfortunately that's not always the case.

So what do you think about second hand stores - do you consider them to be good places to find really cool outfits for a low price? Or maybe you're totally disgusted by the idea of wearing something someone else used to wear who knows where and how.
 
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i kind of like the idea of it... its really cheap and i've read blogs where they've found some amazing stuff. but in reality, charity shops are not my kind of place! the clothes always smell a bit weird, and trying to find something nice is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. but a charity shop has just opened at home that sells proper vintage designer stuff, and its all set out beautifully in the shop and still proper cheap. so i can't wait to shop in there!
 
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I like to browse these stores because you can find things with the tags still on them! Brand new! & if not brand new, fantastic condition.

Also, I love finding vintage clothing... it's crazy the amazing thing's you can find there but then I can usually 'shop' my mom's closet, I'm so glad she had good style when she was younger :p
 
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YES with one exception (shoes)!

I am a bit pickier at second hand stores but I am always down for a good browse through what they have. I have gotten some really cute pants but don't usually have luck with shirts. I don't do second-hand shoes because I can't wash them.
 
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A theoretical yes!

I always think I will find most awesome, stylish, retro clothing in second-hand shops for a small price. But it never is true. It's hard to find anything nice, everything comes in one size only and you're lucky if it's yours, plus it's not that cheap anyway.

But I did buy a men's shirt there recently. I want to sew a garment of my own design, and it needs a large, straight shirt as a base, but I couldn't afford to spend 20 pounds on that, which is the average price for men's shirts in shops.
 
Oh yes yes yes! I'm crazy about vintage clothes...almost all the stuff I buy is vintage :luv:

I love the feeling of owning a little piece of history that comes with buying vintage garments, plus things were made to last back then...not like the cheap mass-produced crap today that only lasts one season :nopity: Also, the clothes were not produced in third-world country sweatshops!

I'm not disgusted by the fact that these things were worn by someone before me - on the contrary, I feel like it gives them a certain ˝personality˝ which only adds to their charm :)
 
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I like second hand stores. Sometimes you're lucky and you find a really nice item with good quality. I hate to see other girls wearing the same clothes that i do that's why would rather buy a cool shirt at an old second hand shop than at a H&M store.
 
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There is one second hand store near to me but every time I step in it stinks big time so I have a quick look and leave. And the stuff in there are pretty pricy. I would love to find some more second hand stores in London, it would be nice to have a look but I guess I'm just not good at finding stuff.
 
I love secondhand and consignment stores! I really can't resist seeing a flea market or a bazaar and not going to have a look... you never know what you'll find! (Even if it's horrifying.)

I.E: Rack of unwrapped pantyhose fluttering in the breeze at an open-air bazaar... YUCK!

I think secondhand stores are actually pretty good motivation, because the average and large sizes get bought out fast, but size 2-4 and smaller are usually left gathering dust. And they're usually the best-kept clothes, too!
Even the larger sized funky clothes, things with unusual patterns or cuts, go untouched on the racks, because they tend to look awful on all but the skinniest bodies, which is why they're in the thrift store, once worn, with the original tags still on, I'm certain.

Oh and I lovelovelove finding vintage dresses, but clothes crafted before stretchy waistbands rarely fit my big, squishy body. :(
Chalk up yet another reason to get bony:

So I can walk out of the secondhand store with every vintage dress, size 2 pant, and XS top and a big, big grin on my face.
(No used shoes, though. BLEH!)
 
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LOVE SECOND HAND STORES. That is all i shop, Talize (second hand) Walmart and Ardenes.. super cheap places... so not high level fashion stuff. I do not buy underwear or white shirts at second hand places and shoes are a bit iffy but i have bought shoes from second hand store and just lysol that crap out of them.
 
Hell yes! I don't buy new clothes in general, for two reasons. I don't have money for those uniquish, great looking clothes I would love to wear, and my style doesn't allow me to wear much of those H&M mass-production clothes. And anyway I'm very poor, so I shop in second-hand. All my wardrope is from those places, except stockings and underwear.
 
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I like second hand stores. Sometimes you're lucky and you find a really nice item with good quality. I hate to see other girls wearing the same clothes that i do that's why would rather buy a cool shirt at an old second hand shop than at a H&M store.

I just love when a "I'm too cool cheap clothes" girl asks me where did I get this amazing skirt :)
 
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Yes! I'm cheap and I love the fact that you can find unique items in such shops :D
 
i kind of like the idea of it... its really cheap and i've read blogs where they've found some amazing stuff. but in reality, charity shops are not my kind of place! the clothes always smell a bit weird, and trying to find something nice is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. but a charity shop has just opened at home that sells proper vintage designer stuff, and its all set out beautifully in the shop and still proper cheap. so i can't wait to shop in there!

Where's that shop? I'm looking for more vinatge places in London so if there are any cheap ones around it would be well worth a look!
 
It's a great way to save money, but sometimes finding good pieces can be a tedious task in those stores. Finding things that fit me gets harder when all the sizes are mixed up, there's always too many big sizes, and the small ones are a rare find.
 
Cheap and you can find some real gems in these shops! They have a bad rep. of being old and full of stuff your grandma would wear but I think they are kind of good as you can find unique pieces. I ought to go to a few again...
 
There is one second-hand store in my hometown that I love. I go there few times a year and this extremely nice lady knows me and looks for all xsmall, cute outfits that she can find. Depending on the season and the prices I can leave with a bag full of clothes + nice, brand new, leather bag all for a price of one, regular store, dress.

But... I am absolutely rubbish in finding good clothes there by myself. I need help :)
 
Where's that shop? I'm looking for more vinatge places in London so if there are any cheap ones around it would be well worth a look!

oh its not in london i'm afraid :( its in rochester, where i live outside of term-time.
do you know any good vintage shops in london? i'd be interested to find some too!
 
love love love 2nd hand.... bought nice stuff there, (calvin klein,fred perry...etc) so awesome. i try to get "high fashion" there, since i miss the money to buy it in a normal shop. most of the time i get great stuff:bow: . The brands are sold in small sizes, somany ppl won´t fit in. yuppy.:highfive:
 
YES! I got unworn Nicole Farhi trousers with original sales tags, worth £390 from the NF shop, for £3.50.

Plus, I am short, have a big bum, huge boobs and a small waist, and am broke. If you're going to buy something that doesn't fit and then ruin it with your sewing machine trying to shorten the legs, it had better not cost more than a fiver.