Back in Fashion

It’s amazing how quickly old styles come back into fashion.  Wedges, flared-jeans, hippie-skirts and 80’s Ray-Bans have all come back into style recently, and who knows what recycled fashion fads could be just around the corner?  The surest way to make sure you’re always in fashion is to keep every clothing item you ever buy, but sometimes this isn’t practical.  There are, however, other ways you can pick up great retro items for fractions of the designer prices.  Staying in fashion is as easy as R-E-T-R-O!

Recycle: Some of the trendiest styles in fashion right now have already been around the fashion-block once, twice, maybe even three times.  Ray-Ban sunglasses, cut-off leggings, fluoro t-shirts and slouchy boots have all seen the light of day before – in fact anything from the late seventies or eighties is currently in vogue.  If you have family members or friends that were around in these decades who may still have a closet full of genuine vintage items, invite yourself over to have a look.  Chances are they won’t want to use them, or you can suggest a trade.  Recycling old fashion is also a great way to do your bit to protect the environment.

eBay: Check out eBay for incredible vintage bargains – the Women’s and Men’s clothing sections are crammed with cheap buys, usually from people clearing out their wardrobes.  There are also several businesses that make money by finding great vintage items that have come back into style and then selling them on eBay – this can save you a lot of effort, especially if you’re looking for a particularly popular vintage trend (cowboy boots and boho jewellery, for example, are often tracked down by businesses and put up for auction).

Trash n’ treasure: Another great place to find vintage buys is at ‘trash and treasure,’ garage and boot-sales, or at local markets or fairs.  This is a great place to pick up a real bargain (and you may be able to barter with the seller for an even cheaper price), as long as you don’t mind having to dig through the odds and ends to get to that perfect find.  Look out for vintage hats and coats.

Research: If you’re clueless when it comes to knowing what’s coming back into fashion, the simplest way to get ahead is to spend a few minutes flicking through the weekly gossip magazines and monthly fashion publications.  Any new trends are quickly picked up and published in these magazines, and they often find cheaper versions in high-street stores for your benefit. 

Op-shops & Oxfam: The final place to try for some great back-in-fashion buys are the op-shops and second-hand stores like Oxfam.  Chances are you’ll come across a really cheap vintage find, and in shopping at these stores you also get the opportunity to support charity.

Next time you’re looking to update your wardrobe with the back-in-fashion trends, all you have to do is remember R-E-T-R-O!  You’re only five steps away from the perfect retro find.