Sevenoaks

FASHION
SECOND-HAND SHOPPING TIPS
Remember that vintage fashion comes
with a past. Isabel has this advice for
ﬁ nding a gem.
■ If you are buying vintage as an investment,
then buy the best quality you can, preferably
with a designer or even haute couture label.
■ Don’t be squeamish about the odd tiny
mark or stain - it’s all part of the garment’s
history and is a small price to pay for owning
something that is beautiful and may even
bear an iconic name.
■ Check the overall condition of the
garment. Look for moth holes by holding it up
to the light. Also check for underarm stains,
which are almost impossible to eradicate.
■ If the garment looks as though it’s going to
need serious cleaning then it’s probably best
avoided, as the cleaning may not work and
might even wreck it.
■ It’s important that you store vintage clothes
correctly. Don’t hang satin and lace dresses -
fold them between tissue paper and lay them
in a drawer. Store anything moth-prone in
plastic covers.
It’s also important to bear in mind that vintage sizes
tend to run small because women were smaller in
years gone by. If the label says that a dress is a 14,
it’s more likely to be a 12 or even a 10. My advice
is to ignore the number and hold the garment up to
you or try it on.”
VINTAGE FINDS
Scour those second-hand shops for vintage
ﬁ nds, or failing that, cheat! Remove all the hard FASHION
rummaging work by visiting an online vintage FLASH
store, but be prepared to pay a slightly higher DENIM DELIGHT
price. Start jumping for joy,
Here are Isabel’s top suggestions: “There are there’s a new jeans
some wonderful vintage websites including brand landing in
MarthasCloset.co.uk, ElizabethsVintageCloset. Topshop stores. British
co.uk, BibaLives.com, MyVintage.co.uk, denim brand Radcliffe
Devoted2Vintage.co.uk, and CandySays.co.uk. has collaborated with
“Also look out for vintage fairs which take place in DESIGNER BARGAINS Topshop on a limited
all the major cities.” Love Net-a-Porter but can’t afford the price edition range of styles
tags? Website window shop no longer. The for spring including
site has recently conﬁ rmed it is launching a trendy harem pants,
BUY IT NOW
cut-price designer fashion website called The high-waisted ﬂ ares,
Brighten up for
Outnet. Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet and ankle skimmers.
the new season
will buy in cancelled orders of designer goods But you need to be
in this Dorothy
and offer them direct quick off the mark
Perkins coral
to fashionistas with - there are just 50 pairs
batwing top, £28
discounts of up to of each style, £75
(dorothyperkins.
80%. And the bad each. The jeans will
com).
news? You’ll have to be in Topshop Oxford
wait until April for the Circus, London, from
site to go live. February.
40 | MARCH ISSUE
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