Although Secondhand September is drawing to a close, here at Who What Wear we practice what we preach and are constantly on the lookout for pre-loved gems that will become much loved and worn pieces in our wardrobes. Regular readers will know that we pride ourselves on making sensible shopping decisions, with a view that every item we purchase—whatever the price point—should be viewed as an investment. And whether you’re after an iconic piece you missed out on the first time around, a timeless classic you’ll love forever or a spectacular one-off no one else will own, it pays to shop pre-loved.
There is one category that shoppers have often discounted pre-loved fashion as a contender for though, and that’s trends. Thankfully, “this season the trends are much broader which makes shopping for second-hand clothes a lot more accessible and sourcing preloved alternatives much easier to find’, explains pre-loved experts, stylists and founders of Chillie London Natalie Hartley and Lydia McNeil.
“The beauty of shopping for secondhand clothes is that even these trend-led finds are sometimes one-offs”, they continue. “Our advice is to select what suits you and what you genuinely like. At Chillie London we shop and sell by colour. This is a simplified way to fit pre-loved clothes into your existing wardrobe, while also tackling trends.”
To explain more about how to shop this year’s trends secondhand and for all the in the know info on what to look out for, we asked the team at Chillie London to create the ultimate cheat sheet for us. Scroll down to discover their favourite trends for the season ahead as well as some pre-loved pieces we’ve got our eye on.
“Pink is the colour of the season but we like to turn pink into a more universal trend by wearing the colour with pieces you may not expect. Here, Natalie wears a suede bomber and trousers, combining two shades of pink that work really well together. She adds white trainers to give it a neutral pop. Lydia has styled a simple shirt dress with a really oversized men’s suede jacket. Beige and pink look great together and combining the two is a stylish way to wear the trend for autumn.”
Channel the 80’s with this beautiful leather jacket. I’ll wear mine with dark wash denim and a sweatshirt.
This Attico mini is such a statement piece. Wear with knee-high boots or tights and loafers. Add a blazer over the top for extra warmth.
How amazing are these pink trousers? Rejina Pyo always gets it right.
Tick two trends with one item with this pink bomber jacket. Wear with wide-leg trousers or over dresses.
“These incredible leather coats are winter’s answer to the cotton trench. Look for shape in the shoulders and across the front and back. Lydia is wearing this epic red leather coat and has added loafers. Then she’s paired it with simple nylon tracksuit bottoms, but has tied the waist to add shape. Natalie has left her coat loose and has layered a suede jacket underneath to break up the black. We’ve styled this combo with adidas tracksuit bottoms and trainers for a modern twist.”
French-girls love IRO and thankfully you can now shop some of the brand’s bestsellers like this leather coat on pre-loved sites.
Khaki is a great choice for outerwear if you’re trying to steer clear of black or tan. It will go just as well with monochrome and brights.
What a find! I just know this Prada coat will be a forever favourite.
Don’t get caught up in the labels. Sometimes the best pre-loved pieces are from brands you wouldn’t normally shop from.
“No one can deny that tailoring is big right now. We chose grey tones for this trend and are playing with texture and print to give it some edge. Lydia has this super cool woollen St. Michael’s skirt suit, layered with a waistcoat over the jacket, which is actually a padded lining from another coat. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Natalie has styled a classic pinstripe blazer with a loose boiler suit and vintage T-shirt. Just make sure the blazer is oversized. “
I love this relaxed, forest green blazer. I’ll wear mine with black denim and heeled ankle boots, plus lashings of gold jewellery.
This blazer will work hard for you year-round. Wear with wide-leg trousers or style over midi dresses.
Missed out on sellout pieces the first time around? Search your favourite items on pre-loved sites for another chance to get your hands on them.
Wear these navy trousers with stripes for a Parisian look.
“Brown is another massive trend and one that is so easy to source on the pre-loved market! We are obsessed with wearing thicker jackets as jumpers and styling them with longer length coats. Looking for unusual linings can break up the tones, too. Lydia has a statement suede animal print jacket which she’s belted and pulled in tight to flatter her shape. She has added a pre-loved Lacoste rugby T-shirt and simple black jeans and boots. This look has a slightly 80’’. s feel about it so adding jeans and current footwear keep its looking relevant and on trend.”
How amazing is this fringed jacket? Wear with other tan separates to really nail the trend.
Cashmere for less than £100? Yes please.
For those looking to invest in a new designer handbag, look at pre-loved sites first. You could find one-offs or unusual colourways like this gorgeous chocolate brown bag that is no longer available in boutiques.
Look out for classic cuts or try shopping from brands that you know already fit you well.
“Another trick of the trade is layering jackets over coats. Denim is the perfect layer: it’s a neutral that goes with everything. Lydia has worn her biker style denim jacket over her faux snakeskin Clockwork trench and then added red trainers for a pop of colour. Natalie has this amazing padded denim jacket on. We love sourcing alternative denim jackets that have extra details like padding, zips and extra pockets. Vintage denim is in abundance so you can really find some amazing pieces. Natalie has layered her look with a vintage Japanese football top and cords.”
Loewe is one of my favourite brands to shop pre-loved. Note the wide cuffs on this cropped style.
I love the shearling detail on this 80’s style denim jacket.
A denim shirt is a great layering piece. I wear mine under blazers and over striped t-shirts.
Bypass the traditional leather biker and opt for this cool denim style instead. I love double denim and will be styling this with acid wash jeans and cowboy boots.
“These maxi coats are statement pieces and as such, don’t need much styling. We love to play with colour at Chillie and so Natalie has worn this khaki coat with navy blue. Take a risk with contrasting colours and use unusual colour blocking as a fun way to restyle pieces you already have in your wardrobe. Lydia has this incredible padded leather coat and has styled it with browns to give a softer feel to this heavy piece.”
It’s not just designer brands that you can shop second-hand. Find your favourite high street names on vintage sites, too.
Don’t be afraid of shopping pre-loved items that aren’t your usual size. A trench coat like the above will look so good oversized and with a hem that hits your ankles.
This Burberry coat is such a classic and will easily take you from day to night.
A celeb and editor favourite, I’m obsessed with this Khaite coat.
