5 Reasons to shop vintage

According to WRAP, an estimated £140 million worth of used clothing—or some 350,000 tonnes—goes to landfill in the UK alone every year.

By shopping vintage and second-hand instead of new, we can help take the pressure off the high street and alleviate the amount of perfectly good clothing that goes to waste after only a few wears.

If your wardrobe is gathering items that still have their tags on, consider donating them to your local charity shop or selling online—why not give these items a chance at a second life?

Read more: Best of British charity shops

For the most part, the "make do and mend" mentality of years past means that vintage clothing is often of a much higher quality that the high street, which often skimps on production value in order to provide a low pricepoint.

From lovingly-handmade pieces to reinforced denim and leather, lots of fabric benefits from the natural wearing process and can look even better for a bit of age.

Just remember not to put too much stock in the number on the label—vintage sizing can differ from modern ones so always try a piece on to ensure it meets your needs.

While it is always worth investing in that true hero piece, shopping vintage doesn’t have to mean taking out a new bank loan. Shopping on eBay, Depop or Etsy can turn up many a bargain if you’re willing to put the time into searching.

For those who prefer to shop in person, there are plenty of shopping events all over the country to get your vintage fix—Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair and The Vintage Kilo Sale are two of our favourites that tour up and down the country, promising good value for money inside a fun and friendly shopping environment.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that everything comes back into fashion eventually—if being on-trend is important to you, it’s worth keeping an eye on the catwalks and snapping up some key vintage pieces before they hit the high street.

This season, the 80s are huge—why not go for the real deal rather than the modern reproductions? Ruffles, sports brands, bold colours and shoulder pads will all be available in abundance in your local vintage store or charity shop with a bit of sifting.

GIF via Akram's Ideas

Fashion is all about having fun and showing the world who you are. This is much easier to do if you’ve got a great wardrobe of items that you truly love and know you won’t see on anybody else.

The eclecticism of vintage will encourage you to experiment outside of your comfort zone—there really is no better feeling than finding an amazing dress or handbag for a bargain price in a place you’d least expect it.

Often, the quest can be just as much fun as the conquer!

Read more from Jenessa Williams

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Images via Jenessa Williams