Many of us are working to create a fully ethical wardrobe but a lot of the sustainable labels can be quite pricey, which puts a lot of people off. As it is simply out of their budget, it’s understandable that they can’t really see an alternative to fast fashion.
This is where secondhand shopping comes in – it’s ethical, good for the environment and great for your pocket! eBay is a great place to find those beautiful pieces from the ethical brands you trust, for a fraction of the price. Once you’ve learnt how to search and shop on eBay, you’ll find that it’s really a blessing to have so many options to pieces you really love, for a great price, without costing the planet.
I talk a lot about “timeless” and “investment” pieces, ask you to forget about trends and go on about how buying less is best way to be more sustainable. Still, it’s ok to want beautiful and trendy pieces, just try to make it a conscious decision.
If you love something try to find it pre-loved on eBay first… I can almost guarantee that you’ll find something similar and what’s best, for a better price. Hence this gorgeous Sézane blouse I’ve been wanting for ages, but it was a little out of my budget and I found for a very reasonable price. Combined with the classic Levi’s 501 jeans and these gorgeous, never worn boots from Office. The Levi’s seller specialises in 501s, they have all sizes and colours, the pieces are all original and in great condition (grade A vintage)! I’ve bought 3 pairs from them over the years.
Black band t-shirts were ALL I wore from when I turned fifteen up until my early twenties, after that I couldn’t bare the sight of one… Now I’ve come full circle and have spent hours scrolling through eBay to score some perfectly pre-owned numbers. From incredible collectors items, like this original Led Zeppelin 1977 tour t-shirt, to more common and recent ones, there’s truly a vast number of awesome vintage tees to choose from.
Nothing beats the feeling of a snuggling into a great cashmere jumper on a cold day. Both super-snug and soft on the skin, the cashmere feels more like a beauty treatment (or a hug) than just a piece of clothing. A good cashmere jumper is a winter essential – the ultra-soft yarn is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool, and more lightweight too. It’s such a versatile and long lasting pieces that I know, can cost quite a bit. I scored this Everlane jumper, 100% cashmere for £30.
A tip to help you start wearing vintage and pre-loved clothing is to choose timeless pieces that you’re familiar with and that will become a wardrobe staple – something that you can wear season after season. The trench coat is the epitome of cool when it comes to autumnal dressing and a classic that everyone should own. Thanks to their unrivalled versatility, trench coats are one of those key style pieces suitable for both formal and casual occasions.
I won an auction for this beautiful, barely worn Whistles trench for a fraction of the retail price. Great quality pieces should last for a very long time, especially if well taken care of. I’m happy to give this guy a new home, he will get a lot of wear in the next few months!