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Abi Terry
May 11, 20233 min read

Finding you in the Charity Shop

Updated: May 15, 2023


‘How can you find you in the Charity Shop’


Obviously, one of the most well known ways to keep a sustainable wardrobe is by shopping second hand. This can be done in a variety of ways including in charity shops, vintage shops and buying second hand online.


The best thing about being able to do this is you can make the fashion completely your own. Buying into a fast fashion brand means you buy into a consumer collective, you are told what you need to buy, how you need to wear it, what is deemed fashionable and what isn’t. But, what empowers us most as individuals is being able to be us and be unique.


Becoming sustainable is not only good for the environment but it is also good for the soul. Sustainability and wellness is the perfect partnership, a match made in heaven. Shouldn’t our dreams as well rounded individuals be to show off who we really are, while keeping the planet we live on alive.


I have exemplified a collection of different individuals and their second hand clothing. What does this show to you? It shows you that you can keep your style you own, and own it. Be happy in who you are and don't be afraid to show off the true you. I have chosen four individuals with very different styles and photographed them with their second hand pieces. You can really see the extent of different clothing and accessories you can find to make an outfit fit you; from shoes, to bags, to scarfs, to trousers. Some of my models have found their perfect pieces but have needed to adjust the item to really make it their own (tips for this will be at the end of the article.)


Shopping second hand is a slow process, it’s slow fashion. You can take the time to pick each individual piece for your wardrobe with care. Not to mention at a bargain price. In our busy stressful everyday lives the joys of shopping can be the ultimate pick me up. You cannot walk into a charity shop and expect to find exactly what you are looking for, instead you can take the time to simplify ‘look around’ returning to a space to find ‘that’ item. Finding something of a good quality at a much cheaper price, should be the motivation for consistently looking or ‘popping into’ second-hand spaces.


This has now been made even easier with these second hand spaces moving online. Sites such as Vinted and Depop (more options will be listed at the end of the article) means you can now receive the enjoyment of shopping and getting that bargain from the comfort of your own home.


It is also about ‘Redefining Rubbish’. Different people have different perceptions of what is and isn’t rubbish. The book ‘Second-Hand Culture’ defines “The relationship between rubbish and value is unclear, complex, convoluted; transfers and shifts occur between and across cultural categories.” What one person sees as rubbish the other may see as a treasure. How can you truly define what’s a quality recyclable? “Meaning and value are constantly in a process of production/re-creation.” Nonetheless, “men and women dispose of different things, sell different things, buy and look at different things.”


The top tips to shopping second-hand is:

  • Consistency is key : you may have to visit a place more than once, don’t expect to find exactly what you are looking for straight away.

  • Visit once a month : second - hand spaces change the clothing they have on offer frequently so you need to keep checking out what is on offer.

  • If something doesn’t fit then get it adjusted. It can be very common when shopping second hand you might find something that sparks you joy but it doesn’t quite fit, it may need to be shortened, taken in or adjusted. This is easily done, either by learning by yourself or taking it to your local seamstress or dry cleaner.

  • Look for more than just clothing outfits. Sometimes all you need to spice up an outfit is accessories, looking for these in charity shops is necessary.





A list of different charity shops to check out:


A list of online site to shop secondhand:

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