‘I received married in it’: readers on their favorite secondhand vogue finds | Style

Oxfam’s Second Hand September marketing campaign encourages individuals to keep away from shopping for new garments for 30 days and select preloved items as a substitute. From £28 Prada skirts to £5 wedding ceremony clothes, we requested individuals to share their favorite vogue finds and the tales behind them.

‘It arrived crumpled like a tissue’

I purchased this pink-and-red Prada pleated silk jacquard skirt in 2022 for £28 on eBay and it arrived crumpled like a tissue. But for just below £32, together with postage to my then London deal with, I didn’t complain. It took about three hours and as many rounds with an iron earlier than the worst of the wrinkles have been gone and the pleats restored. It’s a basic model however distinctive and weird, because of the color and sample. Definitely no primary. Nisha Daniel, lawyer, Kolkata, India

‘This blue Nineteen Sixties quantity known as my title from the rails of a store known as Shag’

Hunting for cool classic garments is a large ardour of mine, notably after I’m travelling. I used to be in Melbourne final summer time, and this blue Nineteen Sixties quantity known as my title from the rails of a store known as Shag. It value $50 and I used to be so happy to have an event to put on it when the Brit awards got here to Manchester lately. It felt actually particular to put on one thing so distinctive. Deb Grant, DJ and radio presenter on BBC Radio 6, Manchester

‘My son was very a lot into hat-wearing for festivals so I purchased it for him’

This hat, which I purchased from a BHF [British Heart Foundation] store in Epsom, value £2. My son was very a lot into hat-wearing for festivals and infrequently wore burgundy and purple, so I purchased it for him. It’s a bit like a newsboy cap, with a small peak. But as a substitute of the standard spherical high, that is organized in a collection of peaks, a bit like a crown. It’s fairly a heavy knit, and really heat on the top. Sadly, a couple of years later, he gave it to his then girlfriend. When they cut up up, she saved the hat. Graham Berridge, retired educational, Epsom, Surrey

‘A number of months later, we received married. I had this costume in my bag, in order that’s what I wore’

I purchased this costume for $5 in 1996 from a possibility store (op store) in Orange, New South Wales. I met my husband in New Orleans and, a couple of months later, we received married It labored out, and we now have been married for 21 years. I had this costume in my bag, in order that’s what I wore. It’s from the 70s, remains to be in fine condition and I completely nonetheless adore it. From a distance it appears to be like pink, however as you get nearer you realise it’s swirls of pink dots creating an optical phantasm. Alicia, works in politics, Adelaide

‘It turned out not solely to be sterling silver, however by the Italian designer OP Orlandini’

My mum discovered a choker at an op store in Armadale, Western Australia, after I was a teen. She was fairly certain it was actual silver, and preferred the design, so she paid the $5 requested and took it to a jeweller to be cleaned. It turned out not solely to be sterling silver however by the Italian designer OP Orlandini. The jeweller was so impressed he didn’t cost her. I wore it for years and now my daughter wears it. Rachel, instructing assistant, Tasmania, Australia

‘I used to be torn between contemplating it wonderful versus ghastly’

I purchased a startlingly orange go well with from certainly one of Lewes’ nice and diverse charity outlets, hesitating for some time on the £50 price ticket and torn between contemplating it wonderful versus ghastly. I believed it’d add somewhat aptitude in my particular instructional wants position in a state secondary college. Subsequently, I found that the go well with is from Altuzarra, a luxurious New York model, and price not less than £2,000 new. It seems that even essentially the most grumpy maths trainer loves it, and the children complain after I dare to show up in something completely different. Jane, secondary college SEN trainer, Lewes, East Sussex

‘Eighty years after anyone first made it, it’s nonetheless being worn reasonably than sitting in landfill’

My Forties shearling wrap has shoulder pads so massive they enter the muddy area a number of seconds earlier than I do. It was an extended whereas in the past that I discovered this in a charity store and actually can not imagine that I ‘ummed and ahhed’ a bit over the £15 price ticket questioning ‘would I actually put on it?’ Of course, I’d. Mostly, I put on it to stroll the canine or it sometimes makes an look at a celebration. Eighty years after anyone first made it, it’s nonetheless being worn reasonably than sitting in landfill and doing a significantly higher job of protecting me hotter than most issues I may purchase new. MJ, govt coach and schooling adviser, Norfolk

‘I usually put on it round the home because it makes chores a lot extra fulfilling’

I purchased this pink costume in a charity store off Lavender Hill in south London 15 years in the past. It was £15, which stays my highest charity store spend. I’m identified for my secondhand successes. It was initially for a buddy’s fortieth, however I’ve worn it as a zombie bridesmaid and Miss Piggy, and infrequently simply round the home because it makes chores a lot extra fulfilling. The loopy factor is that I went again to the charity store two years in the past when visiting London and so they had the identical costume in turquoise. Of course I purchased it. Josie, works for an help canine organisation, Sheffield

‘I knew I didn’t need to spend some huge cash on an artificial costume I’d put on solely as soon as’

My finest discover needs to be my wedding ceremony costume. It was such a pleasure to put on. It’s an early 70s cotton Edwardian revival in broderie anglaise with a brief practice. Having organised lots of weddings, I knew I didn’t need to spend some huge cash on an artificial costume I’d put on solely as soon as. My costume was £175 from Oxfam on-line (plus one other £100 in alterations and cleansing). Seven years later, I’ve certainly worn it solely as soon as. But I’ve plans to have it shortened and the practice changed into cushion covers so I can proceed to take pleasure in it. Nicola, educational, London