Second-hand Rose - post no 100!

When I realised that this post was going to be my 100th, it was obvious that I needed to choose the subject very carefully.  My 100th post couldn't just be about me and my outfit of the day, it needed to be about something a bit less trivial. I have already written about considering Fairtrade when buying new clothes, but do we really need new clothes? If we decide that we have to buy a new dress, maybe because our favourite dress is past its best, does it have to be brand-new or could we buy second-hand?

When I was younger there was a certain stigma associated with buying second-hand clothes, but then vintage clothing became fashionable, and we grew aware of environmental issues, so nowadays most people are quite happy to shop in charity shops - or thrift shops as they are sometimes called outside the UK.

As the mother of three growing children, I didn't have much money to spend on myself when they were young.  I was working full-time, so when I needed a "new" suit for the office I would pop down to my local Oxfam shop. People would sometimes comment: "Is that new? I haven't seen it before."  I didn't mind admitting that it wasn't new, as I was pleased to have found a bargain.

One of the advantages of buying vintage and second-hand clothing, apart from saving money, is that you are less likely to see someone wearing an identical item of clothing than if you buy the latest look from your nearest fashion store. That's one thing that I miss about no longer living in London, which is a shoppers' paradise if you like second-hand or vintage clothes.  Where we live in Spain there aren't any second-hand shops, and buying on-line can be a bit hit and miss, so I will have to wait until my next trip to visit my family in London and trawl around the second-hand shops there.

I found the dress above on the Oxfam website: it is a Vintage 80s dress by Innovators. It's in my size, and I love the bright colours, but if I buy it will I look young and vibrant (the look aimed for) or will I just look frumpy? It's a fine line for those of us who are over 60.

For inspiration to dress more sustainably, why not look at The Citizen Rosebud, written by young Bella Q (she's a mere child, as she's only 40+)?  Another inspiring blog, with the emphasis on both vintage and hats, is the Style Crone. I'd tell you how old she is, but you wouldn't believe me! Both of them prove the point that style doesn't have a "best by date" and that you don't have to buy new clothes if you want to create a new and different look. Next time you get the urge to shop, why not become a second-hand Rose and buy yourself some second-hand clothes?