What Secondhand September Taught Me About Personal Style: A Stylist's Preloved Shopping Secrets

Alex Standley: Welcome back to A Styled Life. It's secondhand or sustainable September. And this is or was a real pivotal moment for me in my own journey with creating a more intentional, purposeful style and life, to be honest. When I first started thinking about changing my shopping habits, it must've been about seven, maybe even coming up to eight years ago. And it was when I was pregnant with my daughter and you might have already heard some of this story. So I'm going to skip over some of the details, but essentially I was pregnant with my daughter and I was thinking about what I was putting in my body, what I was putting on my body, basically what I was consuming. And I ended up down this huge rabbit hole on sustainability. And it really showcased to me how I was a huge part of the problem being a buyer within the fashion industry. And really slowly and intentionally I started to change my habits. And secondhand September was such a pivotal moment for me because it really showcased to me how incredible it could be to shift those habits from having a lifetime in the industry, shopping probably, let's be honest, on a weekly basis, I would go inspirational shopping in. incredible cities like New York, Hong Kong, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, all these amazing places where I would shop for work, but would also end up shopping for myself. And I was constantly like bringing in newness into my wardrobe that I really didn't need. And when I started to slow down my habits and be more intentional, I hadn't realised quite how good that would feel. I'd kind of been thinking all about you know, it was going to be a bit of a sacrifice and I was going to find it quite difficult to get off that fast fashion train. But actually in reality, secondhand September was something that really supported that shift because it showed to me that platforms at the time, so we're going back, you know, seven or eight years now, but platforms like eBay and some of my favorite pre-love sellers that I found through Instagram, I could find the most incredible pieces that were often brand new with tags and I could, you know, sometimes save up for things. So I remember really clearly actually an item that I bought that was one of the first things that I bought secondhand on eBay was a Ganni bright green jumper. And I'd wanted one for ages, but I think they were about 400 pounds new. And I thought that's a little bit too much for me. And I searched it on eBay and managed to find one brand new with the tags. And I think I paid about 150 pounds, something like that. So it was well, well below, you know, 50 % of the retail price. And I have loved and treasured that jumper ever since. And there's all of these kind of key items, if you like, that have become really significant pieces in my wardrobe that were really a big part of that shift and a big part of that, you know, change. in my habits and being more intentional. And it's also really helped me to create a more individual and unique style. And it's been a big part of me kind of expressing my personality rather than just being a slave to the trends and just following what, you know, the catwalks and the high street are telling us that we need to buy. I have taken a step back and my personal styling training was a huge part of this for me as well, was really getting to know myself again. and really thinking about what really lit me up and showcased who I am as a person and my values and everything else. And it's all just kind of fallen into alignment and it's made showing up so much easier. It's made connecting with people easier. There's been so many positive knock-on effects and you know, my confidence has flourished as a result of that as well. And the way that I show up on a daily basis in my life and for my business has just flourished. So I wanted to use this timeframe and this secondhand sustainable September as an opportunity to share some of the kind of tips and advice that I have learned over the last seven or eight years. And I'm sure a lot of this you've probably heard before, but I think it's always a benefit to hear these things again and hear them in a different way and perhaps hear about some pre-love sellers that you haven't heard about before. And I'm going to try and link quite a few in the show notes so that you can kind of have a little glimpse of my little black book of my favorites. But more than anything else that I could share with you, I wanted to share that there's a version of getting dressed and of personal style that has nothing to do with newness or with trends. It's the jumper that you've had for years and you still reach for first. It's the coat that you saved for for months. and you really treasure it as a result and it feels incredible against your skin. It's the dress that already belonged to someone else before it became unmistakably yours and you've given it a second story. Most women are taught to want the next thing. The drop, the trend, the piece that everyone's wearing this month. But it never quite satisfies you because the thing that actually makes you feel like yourself was never about being new. It was about being known, about being worn in, about being chosen slowly and kept for years and even repaired because you loved it so much that you didn't want to let it go. And secondhand September is a really powerful moment to notice which of your clothes have earned their place in your wardrobe. And they're often not the ones that you bought in a rush on impulse because you didn't have anything to wear to that event. they're the ones that you'd buy again in a flash tomorrow because you had such intention with it and you, you know, as I said, maybe saved up for it. And that is where your style actually lives in the pieces that hold like who you are long before you said a word. And that's where real personal style lives. So today I wanted to share with you. as I said, some of my top tips that I have learned over the last few years. Okay, so let's start with just why join in with more intentional purposeful style. So obviously with Secondhand September in mind, you can support charities like Oxfam or your local charity shops by reinvesting your money into vital work that's being done for... charitable organisations whilst also reducing your carbon footprint on the planet. So it's total win-win situation. It gives you a kickstart into slowing down your habits. It encourages you to fall back in love with your own wardrobe and maximise what you've already got. And also just as a point on re-wearing your wardrobe, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, if the number of times a garment is worn were doubled, the greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime would be 44 % lower. I'll leave that one with you to settle in. It promotes reuse and circular fashion. So reducing clothing being sent to landfill and in turn reducing CO2 emissions. And if you donate to local charity shops, it also keeps the local economy going as well. So you're reinvesting in your local area. So moving on to my top tips for buying pre-loved and in charity shops. If charity shops aren't for you, because they're not for everybody, it's not always the same shopping experience as being on the high street, you can find some beautifully curated selections from online resellers. And I'm gonna share some of my favorites in the show notes, but just wanted to give a shout out. to one of my ultimate favorites, which is Rebound Store in Brighton. So she's got a store actually on the seafront, if you prefer shopping in person, but she also has an incredible online shop and she does Sunday drops every week, which are very popular. So be speedy if you see something that you like. But finding these pre-love sellers that really fit your style personality and your signature style can be really powerful because it means that you don't have to have that kind of endless search and hunt on platforms like Vinted It's already created for you and it's the kind of brands that you love and the colours and all of that kind of thing. So really finding those pre-love sellers that fit you and your personality can be really powerful. The other thing when shopping charity shops as well as to look for the more kind of upscale boutiques. So for example, where I am in St Albans, have various different charities that have, for example, Renny Grove have their, I think they call them like Relove boutiques, but they tend to have the kind of optimal stock in there. They have like the designer pieces and the more premium pieces and the things that are new with tags on. And it's a much more premium shopping experience as if you were shopping in a boutique. So if you can find those within your local area, like the Mary's Living and Giving in London is a really good example of that as well. It's a much more curated kind of aspirational shopping experience than your standard charity shop. And then don't just shop in the section for your size is another big tip that I would give you because you can often find items that fit you with a different size label on and that could be because the previous owner has shrunk the garment or it's been put in the wrong section or just because that particular retailer didn't size things very well so it's always worth trying. I've tried things in like a size eight or a size ten before and I'm a twelve or a fourteen so it's always worth trying. And if you can't try in store, buy it, take it home, a lot of charities now you can return but obviously you can then re-donate if you don't feel comfortable returning. And check out the men's section. Honestly, you can find some incredible things like cashmere sweaters. I've bought an incredible vintage blazer in my local charity shop before for 10 pounds, which was absolutely exquisite like wool. And I always get so many compliments on it because the fit is just perfect. But the other thing about men's is you can obviously have it altered. So don't be put off in shopping outside of your section. there's often more flattering kind of modern silhouettes in menswear as well than you often imagine. The other top tip I would give is keep in mind your wishlist. So I always say to my clients, if you can create a wishlist at the beginning of each season, do a bit of a wardrobe edit at home and you'll see quite quickly what are those kind of key items that you're missing and then create. a wish list and don't be drawn to things just because they're a bargain. I've made that mistake so many times over the years. Do you really need it? Can you think of three or four different ways that you're going to wear it? Just because it's 4.99 doesn't mean that it deserves a space in your wardrobe. So have in mind at least four different outfits that you can create from your existing wardrobe with whatever you're going to buy, whatever you're going to add in. The other thing is, and this is kind of twofold advice, you can aim to stick to your color palette that works for you. But if you do find something that works in a color that doesn't work for you, you can always consider dying it at home in the washing machine. So using like a Dylon die that you can buy, you know, anywhere in your local supermarket, online, on Amazon, that kind of thing. So if you find something and you really love the shape and it works in every other way apart from the color, do think about whether you could dye it at home yourself. You can get some really great premium quality pieces for an amazing price. So have a look out for things that are investment pieces that are missing from your wardrobe. So things like jeans, leather jackets, coats, handbags, and designer shoes. And one of my favorites for this has to be Phoenix Style. So they have... shops in Wimbledon and Cobham and they also have an incredible online selection. They do live sales on eBay. Paige and her team are just incredible at curating the most amazing designer pieces, especially handbags. I'd say that is a real strength for them as well. So if you've always wanted that designer handbag and you've got a special birthday or something coming up, then do check them out. will link them in the comments as well. And if you're listening to this before Thursday, the 24th of September, you can also come and meet Paige at my Style with Purpose event. She's going to be sharing her story and her mission and her advice on building a purpose-led female founded brand. And I'm also going to be showcasing some of her incredible pre-loved pieces on three of my clients as part of the styling showcase. So if you are looking for some inspiration for the new season, but you are wanting to be a bit more intentional with the brands that you're buying, then do come along because we've also got Air & Grace there and we've got Nudea, the underwear brand as well. And you'll have the opportunity to meet the founders, to see the pieces styled by me in a live showcase and also to shop the brands afterwards as well. So I will link the link to book your tickets to that in the show notes as well. The other really key thing when it comes to second-hand September is planning ahead. So buying off season is often the best way to pick up a bargain and to find what you're looking for in a less competitive marketplace. So think about any special events that you've got coming up, whether that's birthdays, weddings, anything like that where you are going to want something. new to wear like a new dress or some new heels or accessories that kind of thing and plan ahead. So I quite often buy my coats in August which sounds mental because obviously August is normally quite warm but I've always found that it's such a good time to invest in coats because nobody else is thinking about buying a coat in August so you can get really good deals but there's also a lot more availability for it especially if you're shopping online but bear in mind that if you're shopping you know, physical charity shops and that kind of thing. Sometimes they don't bring out their autumn winter stock until September. So you've got to kind of bear in mind the seasonality if you're shopping in store, but obviously the world's your oyster if you're searching on Vinted or online preloved sellers and that kind of thing. So I wanted to share a few other of my favourite preloved resellers who are online. So there is the preloved edit. which is Sarah who's based in St Albans. She has got such a great eye and she quite often does pop-ups locally as well. There's the Green Muse, which is actually Bristol based, I think, but she has again an incredible online selection. She's also really good on Instagram as well. Who else is there? One Scoop store. They have a store in East London and also a great online presence as well. really good price points and again great eye for curating amazing pieces. There's so many others that I could mention but I think what I'm gonna do is just put a list of my favorites into the show notes to share with you so that you can have a rummage through those and find what resonates with you and what works with your own individual personal style. But another thing that I wanted to just mention in terms of top tips is make sure that you're starting your season, as I mentioned, with that wardrobe clear out to start off with. So take everything out of your wardrobe and try it on. And if you can't do it all in one go, then do each product category, you know, on its own, one a weekend or something like that, even if it takes you like a month to do it all together. And be really honest with yourself about, know, if things don't fit, are they going to fit? Do you need to get them altered or do you need to let them go with love? Because we can often have, you know, 80 % of our wardrobes that we're just not wearing and it's just not worth it from a self-esteem perspective, but also from taking up space and, you know, opening that wardrobe every day and just beating yourself up because you've got so many things that you're not actually wearing. move it to a charity pile or a resale pile and just move on. The other tip that I would say is like review your summer wardrobe before you put it away. So did you wear it this season? Does it still fit and flatter you? Does it still suit your lifestyle? And pieces that you didn't wear, you don't love or that don't fit you well anymore, same thing, move them on. So when you are editing your wardrobe, be really intentional. Only keep what really excites you and what supports your lifestyle and spot gaps as you go. So whether that's, you know, a statement coat, some knitwear in colours that flatter your skin tone, some better boots, make a wishlist to refer back to when you're out shopping. And whilst you're trying on these outfits, make sure that you're taking photos of them as well. so that you've got those easy outfit combinations that you can just fall back on. And you can even stick them inside your wardrobe door for that instant inspiration when you've got busy mornings coming up. I would also, once you've done all of that wardrobe edit, start with some style inspiration to give you some fresh ideas for your existing wardrobe as well. So once your wardrobe is edited, use the trends as a lens to refresh what you already own. So for this season, for example, and every autumn season, let's be honest, heritage checks and leopard print are some of the key prints that are coming through. So think about does that suit you and your... style personality and if it does, have you got any of those pieces within your wardrobe already and have a look at things like Pinterest, some of the magazines online, Instagram and see which styling of those particular trends suits you and what you're drawn to and then see if you can recreate that in your existing wardrobe as well. So, that is my kind of whistle stop tour of Secondhand September and some top tips for you. If all of this feels quite overwhelming and you would like some personalised support, you can book in for a freestyle strategy call with me and we can talk about how I can support you with that through my transformational styling programmes, whether that's my style identity blueprint or identity to impact. And we can find out what is the best fit for you. I will also link that in the show notes as well. There's going to be a lot of links in this show notes section this week, and I will see you next week.