We're Vintage Experts—These Are the Best Trends to Shop Second-Hand This Autumn

Although Second-Hand September is drawing to a close, here at Who What Wear, we practice what we preach and are constantly on the lookout for pre-loved gems that will become much-loved pieces in our wardrobes. Regular readers will know that we pride ourselves on making sensible shopping decisions, with a view that every item we purchase—whatever the price point—should be viewed as an investment. And whether you’re after an iconic piece you missed out on the first time around, a timeless classic you'll love forever or a spectacular one-off no one else will own, it pays to shop pre-loved. 

There is one category that shoppers have often discounted pre-loved fashion as a contender for, though, and that's trends. Thankfully, "this season, the trends are much broader, which makes shopping for second-hand clothes a lot more accessible and sourcing preloved alternatives much easier," explain pre-loved experts, stylists and founders of Chillie London Natalie Hartley and Lydia McNeill.

"The beauty of shopping for second-hand clothes is that even these trend-led finds are sometimes one-offs," they continue. "Our advice is to select what suits you and what you genuinely like. At Chillie London, we shop and sell by colour. This is a simplified way to fit pre-loved clothes into your existing wardrobe while also tackling trends."

To explain more about how to shop this year's trends second-hand and for all the info on what to look out for, we asked the team at Chillie London to create the ultimate cheat sheet for us. Scroll down to discover their favourite trends for the season ahead as well as some pre-loved pieces we've got our eye on.

1. PINK

"Pink is the colour of the season, but we like to turn pink into a more universal trend by wearing the colour with pieces you may not expect. Here, Natalie wears a suede bomber and trousers, combining two shades of pink that work really well together. She adds white trainers to give it a neutral pop. Lydia has styled a simple shirt dress with a really oversized men's suede jacket. Beige and pink look great together, and combining the two is a stylish way to wear the trend for autumn." 

SHOP THE TREND

2. LEATHER

"These incredible leather coats are winter's answer to the cotton trench. Look for shape in the shoulders and across the front and back. Lydia is wearing this epic red leather coat and has added loafers. Then she's paired it with simple nylon tracksuit bottoms but has tied the waist to add shape. Natalie has left her coat loose and has layered a suede jacket underneath to break up the black. We've styled this combo with Adidas tracksuit bottoms and trainers for a modern twist."

SHOP THE TREND

3. TAILORING

"No one can deny that tailoring is big right now. We chose grey tones for this trend and are playing with texture and print to give it some edge. Lydia has this super-cool woollen St Michael skirt suit layered with a waistcoat over the jacket, which is actually a padded lining from another coat. Don't be afraid to get creative! Natalie has styled a classic pinstripe blazer with a loose boiler suit and vintage T-shirt. Just make sure the blazer is oversized."

SHOP THE TREND

4. BROWN

"Brown is another massive trend and one that is so easy to source on the pre-loved market! We are obsessed with wearing thicker jackets as jumpers and styling them with longer-length coats. Looking for unusual linings can break up the tones, too. Lydia has a statement suede animal-print jacket, which she's belted and pulled in tight to flatter her shape. She has added a pre-loved Lacoste rugby T-shirt and simple black jeans and boots. This look has a slightly '80s feel about it, so adding jeans and current footwear keep it looking relevant and on-trend."

SHOP THE TREND

5. DENIM

"Another trick of the trade is layering jackets over coats. Denim is the perfect layer: It's a neutral that goes with everything. Lydia has worn her biker-style denim jacket over her faux-snakeskin Clockwork trench and then added red trainers for a pop of colour. Natalie has this amazing padded denim jacket on. We love sourcing alternative denim jackets that have extra details like padding, zips and extra pockets. Vintage denim is in abundance, so you can really find some amazing pieces. Natalie has layered her look with a vintage Japanese football top and cords."

SHOP THE TREND

6. THE MAXI COAT

"These maxi coats are statement pieces and as such don't need much styling. We love to play with colour at Chillie, and so Natalie has worn this khaki coat with navy blue. Take a risk with contrasting colours and use unusual colour-blocking as a fun way to restyle pieces you already have in your wardrobe. Lydia has this incredible padded leather coat and has styled it with browns to give a softer feel to this heavy piece."

SHOP THE TREND

For appointments or questions about the wider collection for sale, email info@chillielondon.com, and follow @chillielondon.

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