Alicia in her $5 dress that she bought in 1996 and wore on her wedding day. Photograph: Alicia Siegel
To mark Oxfam’s Second Hand September, here are some of your best thrift discoveries and the stories behind them
Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign encourages people to avoid buying new clothes for 30 days and choose preloved pieces instead. From £28 Prada skirts to £5 wedding dresses, we asked people to share their favourite fashion finds and the stories behind them.
‘It arrived crumpled like a tissue’
Nisha in her pink-and-red Prada skirt. Photograph: Nisha Daneil
I bought this pink-and-red Prada pleated silk jacquard skirt in 2022 for £28 on eBay and it arrived crumpled like a tissue. But for just under £32, including postage to my then London address, I didn’t complain. It took about three hours and as many rounds with an iron before the worst of the wrinkles were gone and the pleats restored. It’s a classic style but distinctive and unusual, thanks to the colour and pattern. Definitely no basic. Nisha Daniel, lawyer, Kolkata, India
‘This blue 1960s number called my name from the rails of a shop called Shag’
Deb Grant at the Brit awards in her secondhand dress. Photograph: Deb Grant
Hunting for cool vintage clothes is a huge passion of mine, particularly when I’m travelling. I was in Melbourne last summer, and this blue 1960s number called my name from the rails of a shop called Shag. It cost $50 and I was so pleased to have an occasion to wear it when the Brit awards came to Manchester recently. It felt really special to wear something so unique. Deb Grant, DJ and radio presenter on BBC Radio 6, Manchester
‘My son was very much into hat-wearing for festivals so I bought it for him’
Graham bought this hat for his son. Photograph: Graham Berridge
This hat, which I bought from a BHF [British Heart Foundation] shop in Epsom, cost £2. My son was very much into hat-wearing for festivals and often wore burgundy and red, so I bought it for him. It’s a bit like a newsboy cap, with a small peak. But instead of the usual round top, this is arranged in a series of peaks, a bit like a crown. It’s quite a heavy knit, and very warm on the head. Sadly, a few years later, he gave it to his then girlfriend. When they split up, she kept the hat. Graham Berridge, retired academic, Epsom, Surrey
‘A few months later, we got married. I had this dress in my bag, so that’s what I wore’
Alicia wore a $5 dress on her wedding day. Photograph: Alicia Siegel
I bought this dress for $5 in 1996 from an opportunity shop (op shop) in Orange, New South Wales. I met my husband in New Orleans and, a few months later, we got married It worked out, and we have been married for 21 years. I had this dress in my bag, so that’s what I wore. It’s from the 70s, is still in good shape and I absolutely still love it. From a distance it looks pink, but as you get closer you realise it’s swirls of pink dots creating an optical illusion. Alicia, works in politics, Adelaide
‘It turned out not only to be sterling silver, but by the Italian designer OP Orlandini’
Rachel’s necklace. Photograph: Rachel
My mum found a choker at an op shop in Armadale, Western Australia, when I was a teenager. She was pretty sure it was real silver, and liked the design, so she paid the $5 asked and took it to a jeweller to be cleaned. It turned out not only to be sterling silver but by the Italian designer OP Orlandini. The jeweller was so impressed he didn’t charge her. I wore it for years and now my daughter wears it. Rachel, teaching assistant, Tasmania, Australia
‘I was torn between considering it glorious versus ghastly’
Jane: ‘I discovered that the suit is from Altuzarra, a luxury New York brand, and worth at least £2,000 new.’ Photograph: Jane Tremlett
I bought a startlingly orange suit from one of Lewes’ great and varied charity shops, hesitating for a while at the £50 price tag and torn between considering it glorious versus ghastly. I thought it might add a little flair in my special educational needs role in a state secondary school. Subsequently, I discovered that the suit is from Altuzarra, a luxury New York brand, and worth at least £2,000 new. It turns out that even the most grumpy maths teacher loves it, and the kids complain when I dare to turn up in anything different. Jane, secondary school SEN teacher, Lewes, East Sussex
‘Eighty years after somebody first made it, it is still being worn rather than sitting in landfill’
MJ wearing her shearling wrap. Photograph: MJ
My 1940s shearling wrap has shoulder pads so big they enter the muddy field several seconds before I do. It was a long while ago that I found this in a charity shop and really cannot believe that I ‘ummed and ahhed’ a bit over the £15 price tag wondering ‘would I really wear it?’ Of course, I would. Mostly, I wear it to walk the dog or it occasionally makes an appearance at a party. Eighty years after somebody first made it, it is still being worn rather than sitting in landfill and doing a considerably better job of keeping me warmer than most things I could buy new. MJ, executive coach and education advis er, Norfolk
‘I often wear it around the house as it makes chores so much more enjoyable’
Josie in her pink dress, bought for £15. Photograph: Josie Brooks
I bought this pink dress in a charity shop off Lavender Hill in south London 15 years ago. It was £15, which remains my highest charity shop spend. I’m known for my secondhand successes. It was initially for a friend’s 40th, but I’ve worn it as a zombie bridesmaid and Miss Piggy, and often just around the house as it makes chores so much more enjoyable. The crazy thing is that I went back to the charity shop two years ago when visiting London and they had the same dress in turquoise. Of course I bought it. Josie, works for an assistance dog organisation, Sheffield
‘I knew I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a synthetic dress I would wear only once’
Nicola, wearing her thrifted wedding dress, and her husband on their wedding day. Photograph: Ilaria Marchione
My best find has to be my wedding dress. It was such a joy to wear. It’s an early 70s cotton Edwardian revival in broderie anglaise with a short train. Having organised a lot of weddings, I knew I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a synthetic dress I would wear only once. My dress was £175 from Oxfam online (plus another £100 in alterations and cleaning). Seven years later, I have indeed worn it only once. But I have plans to have it shortened and the train turned into cushion covers so I can continue to enjoy it. Nicola, academic, London
