By Amalie Meland and Charlotte Mair
The current cost of living crisis is impacting people’s lives in so many ways, and shopping for clothes is one of them.
But never fear: as we enter a new season, here are some tips on shopping Spring/Summer trends on a budget.
The fashion weeks in October showcased which trends we will see this Spring/Summer. Among them are double denim, sheer dressing, metallic, cargo pockets and cobalt blue. A place to look for these is at charity shops. You find them everywhere, you just have to take your time when looking.
Sandra Salvatella, 20, and Marta Ereiba, 20, both students, said they shop at charity shops often and that it’s becoming more popular. “Yes, it’s really easy to find trendy clothes,” said Sandra. Marta followed up: “Yeah, and now it’s getting more trendy. Lots of people buy there for being cooler, and to get more special clothes.”
In fashion, we see trends come back all the time from earlier decades, therefore charity shops are the perfect place to look. Denim was everywhere in the 90s, and early 2000s and is one of the most accessible trends to find in charity shops. Either you do a full denim outfit with shorts and a jacket like Givenchy and Off-White, or you do a skirt over the pants like Marine Serre.
According to Glamour Magazine, Cobalt Blue is a colour you will see everywhere this season. On the runways of Off-White, Alexander McQueen and Cecilie Bahnsen, the colour was worn from top to toe. Here is a variation of the trend you can find at your local charity shop.
Not everyone has adapted to the charity trend yet. Chelsie Eaton, 21, sales assistant and Abbie Edwards, 20, student, both said they don’t shop at charity shops.
“Not a lot of people do it, but it’s becoming more popular,” said Chelsie. Abbie was not persuaded that you can find trendy clothes in charity shops: “I think it’s more old clothes you find in there.”
Charity shops have a great selection of shoes that also fits the trend predictions for the upcoming season. Either it’s black high-knee boots like seen on Givenchy and Sacai or a cross buckle flat like seen at Miu Miu and Ganni.
Ellie Robinson, 19 a student and advocate for charity shopping said: “I used to volunteer in a charity shop, so I know how difficult it is to manage stock and for all stock to sell.
“I think it’s great that more people especially younger people have more of an interest in buying from charity shops,” she added.
According to inews, charity shopping has increased by 22% higher than pre-pandemic levels due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Ellie added: “I’m noticing now that the clothes are becoming more expensive, and I’m not sure why, it’s a lot harder now to find good pieces that aren’t overpriced.” There is, however, rising pressure on these stores to support themselves during the cost of living crisis along with competing with online marketplaces such as Depop, Ebay and Vinted.
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