Buy designer clothes for less

Where to find designer clothes on a budget!

If you love fashion but you’re fed up of spending all your money on the latest trends, why not update your wardrobe with something old – and make some money whilst you’re at it!

Vintage-inspired clothes are all over the catwalk but if you can find something special, you’ll not only be the envy of all your friends but you could pocket a fistful of cash too.

What is vintage?

There is some debate as to what makes something vintage but essentially, it must have originated from another era – typically from the 1920s to the 1960s. Collecting vintage clothing isn’t necessarily about haute couture; high quality garments that represent a particular era are now a core part of the vintage trade.

Retro garments usually date back to the 1960s and 1970s, but these days 1980s fashion is often included too (which just goes to show you that keeping hold of some key pieces from your younger days can reap rewards later down the line).

Overall, what you need to look for is quality. Collectors won’t be swayed simply because a garment is an original so steer clear of damaged or low quality fabrics. To get a better idea of what might sell, take the time to learn a bit more about fashion history.

For the big names, you’ll want to be looking for the grands couturiers – these are designers considered to hold a considerable influence in the fashion industry. Find out as much as you can about the work of these designers, not only because there’s a slim chance you could come across a rare piece rifling through a charity bin (you never know!) but because it will give you a better idea of how the work of these designers has trickles down on to the high street. Knowing which designers and which pieces sparked a particular trend will give you an idea of what to look for when you’re shopping.

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Where to find those gems…

By far the most difficult (but also the most enjoyable) part of collecting vintage clothing is the hunt. These days genuinely vintage clothes and accessories are difficult to come by, although there are some impressive vintage-inspired clothes which may also be worth collecting if the quality is right. You never know you could pick up the next Alexander McQueen from one of the young up and coming designers selling at Portobello market!

Vintage fairs

If you want the chance to rummage through a host of vintage treasures one of the very best in London is Sunbury Antiques Market which is free for all and crammed full of antique furniture, vintage habedashery items and clothes, with the chance to haggle your way to a fashion steal!

Other London-based antique fairs I would recommend are Alfies and Grays, also Land of PASH is a new London-based pop-up vintage fair selling authentic vintage and vintage-inspired clothing in Bermondsey.

Elsewhere in the country, the Affordable Vintage Fair visits 15 cities and is one of the largest fairs of its kind. See here for locations and dates. They also run the Vintage Kilo Sale where you can buy vintage garments for £15 per kilo.

Charity shops

Never underestimate the power of the charity shops. The days of Oxfam being a secret treasure trove of vintage garments are long gone but they are still worth your time and if you’re willing to spend time combing through the rails, there can be some fantastic finds. It’s well worth taking a trip to some of the posher areas near you where wealthy people may just chuck out some designer treats.

Online vintage bargains

I Want Vintage is my top pick for quirky second-hand clothes and jewellery from hundreds of vintage specialists all over the UK. All the items featured in the fashion section have detailed descriptions and links to the suppliers websites or contact details.

Delightful Muddle sells everything from ’80s bleached denim to swimwear from the ‘50s – and all at affordable prices.

Definitely worth a look.

There are also some fantastic deals to be had at Somelikeitvintage and Vintagesecret.com, so make sure you keep on top of new stock coming into these websites to grab the best deals as soon as possible.

Top notch vintage

For those of you who are serious about collecting designer vintage fashion, finding a bargain isn’t easy and certainly isn’t cheap, but if you’re lucky you could make a fortune in years to come. Here are some good places to start:

Vintagemodes is in the heart of Mayfair and stocks hand selected pieces from labels such as Biba, Chanel and Mary Quant. If you’re looking for designer jewellery and accessories try Gillian Horsup’s website and Atelier Mayer.

VintageCouture.com has private collections of high-end vintage clothing from designers such as Dior and Missoni. Also, Fashiondig.com is an online community of vintage fashion retailers and allows you to search for items by designer and decade to find the perfect piece.

The vintage collectables of tomorrow

Another way to invest in fashion is to buy the designer pieces of today at the best possible price, then keep a hold of them to sell on in the future when they’ll be worth much more.

Chic&Seek sells pre-owned women's designer clothing from Chloe, Chanel, and Prada to name just a few, but at a fraction of the original prices. Members only websites can also throw up some bargains – check out Koodos and Cocosa.

Start selling…

Auction site eBay is many people’s first port of call and although it can work well, your lot can get lost beneath a host of fakes and tat so you may be better off trying local auction houses if your items are good enough.

Try local vintage stores which may agree to take on more stock if it’s in good condition. Or set up your own stall at one of the vintage fairs all over the UK.

Online, WhatsMineisYours has a huge community of fashion-loving members. You cans use the site to swap, buy and sell your vintage wares.

If you have designer vintage in great condition it will pay to do your research. If you’re lucky enough to have a Gucci heirloom in the family auction house Christie’s has launched Gucci Collector, an online service which will provide auction estimates of vintage Gucci for free.

Finally, dress agency Future Vintage will also take on last season’s designer goods (no more than two years old) to sell on your behalf (taking 50% of the final sale price).

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