‘There’s no such thing as overdressed’ is my motto in life. I’ll happily wear a vintage diamanté necklace while working from home or a black lace dress for a trip to the cinema. As a busy working mum-of-three, if I waited for a ‘special occasion’ to wear all my beautiful pre-loved dresses, I’d only get to wear them a couple of times a month.
I’m 49 now, but my style hasn’t changed much since my 20s – think Wednesday Addams meets Cruella de Ville. Lots of black lace, velvet, chiffon and fake fur coats, paired with ornate clutch bags and sparkly statement jewellery.
I’ve been a journalist for 30 years, writing for Marie Claire, Red, Glamour, Grazia and Stylist and my love of fashion led me to set up my own pre-loved clothing company earlier this year.
My business Sparkle & Dust, selling vintage Gucci handbags, pre-loved Jimmy Choos and masses of Kurt Geiger, is already thriving, and I’m hosting a major shopping event, The London Style Show, in Surrey this Sunday.
While working for sustainable fashion brands Bottletop and Togetherband (owned by Cameron Saul, son of Mulberry founder Roger Saul) for three years, I learned about the environmental toll of the clothing industry. The clothing industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, according to research by Oxfam last year.
Nearly 75% of my wardrobe is now pre-loved, so having honed my hunting skills, I’m happy to share my secrets with you… Just don’t tell anyone, right?
Discover designer charity shop partnerships
Charity shops like The British Heart Foundation have partnerships with major brands such as Swarovski, where they supply the shop with new unbranded Swarovski items, sold at a lower price than branded goods.
The designer Kate Spade, who sadly took her own life in 2018, has a partnership with Mind charity shops in the UK, which are packed full of Kate Spade heavily discounted stock, in her memory.
Target charity shops in upmarket areas outside of London
London charity shops have wised up to the value of pre-loved fashion, so instead target affluent areas outside the capital. Think upmarket counties like Norfolk, Buckinghamshire and Cheshire.
First, look in the charity shop’s window display and cabinets where their best designer buys are usually displayed for security reasons. Don’t be shy about asking to try on a dress that’s on a mannequin. I’ve bagged some of my best designer bargains that way.
Get to know the staff in your local charity shops too and ask for a discount if you bulk-buy. Figure out who the manager is – they’ll be the only one with the authority to give you money off.
Brave the jumble sale
Advertised in village halls, libraries and local newspapers, jumble sales can be a real treasure trove of designer goods. Don’t forget to search through unpacked plastic bags. Be methodical and speedily sift through every item to make sure you don’t miss a gem. The staff running the sale may not be fashionistas, so there’s every chance you could find a rare designer item tucked away under a table.
Be the queen of the car boot sale
London’s Capital Car Boot Sale in Pimlico (as seen on TV) is not to be missed. Frequented by fashion buyers, stylists and glamorous ladies-who-lunch selling off their designer wardrobes, I’ve found everything from a roll of beautiful vintage black velvet (which my local tailor turned into trousers for me) to a leather suit jacket and a brand new blue velvet jacket by & Other Stories, each for under £10.
I do a recce of every stall at the start, making a mental note of the items I want, then half an hour before closing time, dash about making low and bulk-buy offers. By that time, most sellers are tired and desperate to get rid of their stock. I once nabbed five evening dresses for £5 by befriending a weary seller who was getting rid of her entire wardrobe of too-small clothes.
Get to know each platform and find the one that’s right for you. Always offer less than the asking price and if you like several things from one seller, create a ‘bundle’ of clothing to save on postage and give you better negotiation powers. ‘Follow’ the sellers you like on each app, so you receive an alert as soon as they upload a new item. If you’re buying a designer item, ask if the seller can send you a photo of their original receipt before you make a formal offer. There are varying levels of protection in place for the buyer and seller, but no guarantees you’ll get your money back if the item is fake. Be cautious.
Try Granny Chic
With a collection to rival AbFab, my 80-year-old mum’s seven (!) wardrobes are a treasure trove of goodies. Recent items I’ve found in her clothing jungle include a black Frank Usher sequined floral evening jacket, green fake snake cowboy boots, a hot pink 80s layered Rara skirt and a studded 80s denim jumpsuit straight out of Dynasty.
Look for eccentric great aunts (and uncles) who won’t mind you rifling through their kit too – tweed jackets and men’s herringbone flatcaps be restyled as a ‘sexy sloane’ look for a country weekend. Get creative.
7. Go under the hammer
If you’re on a bigger budget and looking for an investment buy, join the mailing list for auction houses such as Christie’s and Bonhams, so you know when their fashion sales are. Christie’s has a Handbags Online: The New York Edit sale (26 November till 11 December) with collectable treasures from brands such as Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and more. There’s also a Jewels Online: The London Edit auction from now until 29 November, packed with sparkling beauties. Similarly, Bonhams recently held a Barbour jacket auction for The Royal Countryside Fund with rare editions of the classic coat.
So now you have the tricks of the trade, enjoy the thrill of the chase… there’s nothing like it.
Emma Elms is founder of Sparkle & Dust and host of the London Style Show, Sun 24 Nov, 12pm-5pm, Ripley Village Hall, which features three catwalk shows, a celebrity makeup artist and carefully curated stylish stalls. Free entry, free parking, everyone welcome.
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