For some of us, the idea of shopping secondhand is a no-fly zone. It brings to mind sorting through racks of old, stinky clothes that have been discarded for a good reason. But there’s a big difference between consignment shopping and trolling the racks at your local thrift store (though lots of treasures can be found there, for sure!). To debunk some of the secondhand myths and discover the benefit and joy in shopping consignment, we sat down with Charlottesville’s DARLING owner, Linnea White. Here she shares some nuggets of wisdom that will have you heading downtown to her shop to scoop up some serious fashion finds.
Myth #1: The clothes aren’t on-trend, in good condition or wearable.
“Boutiques like Darling, and shops that take clothing on consignment, resale, and / or by donation, have policies in place to enforce the expected condition of these gently worn secondhand items,” White says. “This is to ensure wearability and condition.” She admits that secondhand clothing shops don’t always have the current season’s garments, but that doesn’t mean the items aren’t on-trend or can’t be edited or altered to be so.
Myth #2: Shopping Secondhand Doesn’t Really Make a Difference
Some people are personally opposed to buying “fast fashion,” inexpensive clothing that’s produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. And it’s true that you will find these labels when shopping secondhand at a more reduced price. However, White reminds that your purchase of this item continues its journey and you’re not supporting that fast fashion company by buying something secondhand. “It’s already been produced, it’s out in the clothing circulation journey, and by purchasing that secondhand item, what you DO is prevent it from sitting in a landfill somewhere,” she says. “And that’s a good thing.”
“True style comes from creative exploration, and shopping secondhand is a great way to explore that skill.” – Linnea White
So why should you shop consignment?
Be your own style guru. White urges all to stop letting the fashion industry define how they dress. “We’re constantly feed trends and the latest fashions, but personal style is just that — personal,” White says. “Take time to develop it, curate it, edit it, explore it, have fun with it! Shopping secondhand, reusing, repurposing, recycling, rewearing clothing is a skill to be respected — because it’s not the “norm” of our culture’s consumer mindset.” Adding a mix of current pieces with secondhand purchases is a great way to hone your personal style.
Score affordable fashion and designer labels for less. The deals that can be found are not to be understated. “This is why I got hooked on shopping secondhand,” White shares. “Not just for cheaper pieces or trendy finds, but for discovering high-end designer pieces for so much less.”
Keep the clothing in circulation. This may sound silly, but it’s true, White remarks. Simply stated: shopping secondhand prevents that piece of clothing from becoming waste, gives clothing new life and keeps it out of landfills.
Encourage a slow fashion consumer lifestyle. Buying secondhand is one the best — and affordable — ways to practice sustainability in the fashion industry. “It’s a choice to shrink our footprints, to be conscious of our purchases, and be responsible for the clothes we no longer want,” White declares.
Stop by DARLING and visit with Linnea to discover just why shopping secondhand is a lifestyle worth embracing.