Recently I went to take stock of my wardrobe, and what I found was that the beloved items in my closet, and those that always garner an excited Where did you get that? from friends, are almost exclusively secondhand. As a fashion editor, I'm constantly focusing on what's trending right now, and no, I'm not immune to the pressure of keeping up with trends by buying brand-new. But I won't lie—I have a huge sweet spot for clothes, shoes, and bags that have lived a previous life.
Whether that means I'm scoring surprisingly stylish summer finds at my local Goodwill or inheriting mint-condition designer goods from my grandmother, I relish in owning pieces that have a unique story to tell from a previous owner. Secondhand shopping is an excellent way to find cool wares that you know no one else will have, but it can also have a much larger impact than what resides in your closet.
Shopping secondhand—whether that means thrift, vintage, or consignment—is one component of the Slow Fashion movement that Who What Wear is celebrating throughout the month of July. So by shopping this way, I have the added benefit of knowing that I'm not adding any more stress to the planet than what already exists from the impacts of fast fashion.
With that in mind, I challenged myself to put together a week's worth of outfits wearing exclusively secondhand clothing items. See all the stylish (and eco-friendly) outfits below and find out what I learned along the way.
