Shopping in your 20s

Posted: 01.02.24

A sustainable choice

By Sabine Petkevica

A shelve of various shoes in a charity shop with clothing rails behind

Charity shops today feel like a hidden treasure map, where you never really know what you might find. Sure, years ago second-hand clothing would still be looked at as nothing more than ‘outdated fashion’, but those days feel far behind us. Charity shops are full of high-quality garments and wonderful pre-loved pieces waiting to be snatched up. And in a world dominated by fast fashion, with trends coming and going at lightning speed, charity shops offer a refreshing change: the chance of creating a wardrobe that reflects your individuality without sacrificing your budget.

Like many people in their 20’s, I often find myself on a tight budget, and I’m always looking for an affordable shopping alternative. ‘Stylish and affordable’ is my motto. When popping to my charity shop, I’m always on the lookout for a nice pair of baggy cargo trousers. They are the statement piece in my wardrobe. The pale green pair I found in The Salvation Army Wilmslow boutique were the perfect find.

A young girl holding up a purple cropped jacket from a charity shop

As soon as I walked in, I had to second guess if I walked into the right place. It truly did feel like the boutique it was made to be, with beautiful décor and equally-as-impressive clothing rails. The highlight for me were the jackets, which came in all shapes, colours and sizes to suit every outfit. This cropped lilac jacket was definitely the value-for-money piece of the day.

I was looking for a comfortable but trendy travel outfit, and it didn’t take me long to find. I never really shop with an outfit in mind, instead I leave it up to the imagination and luck on the day. Sometimes this means I go in looking for a pair of jeans and come back with 4 new summer dresses in the middle of the winter. On this occasion however, I was fortunate. I love a good colour combo, and I found the perfect black silk top to match the cargos. Paired with some funky retro sunglasses, I felt ready to jump on that plane and head straight to the Italian sunshine.

 

This article has been taken from the 6th edition of our Restyle magazine.

Click here to read the full magazine