Second hand shopping in London
 

My 18 year old daughter has decided to limit her clothing purchases to second hand shops, as much as possible. She is not a fashionista and leans to good quality, classic but youthful clothing (I count my blessings!) She would like to purchase some things when we are in London next month. Any suggestions for second hand stores that might be good places to head to?

Some of the markets sell second-hand clothing, I think Spitalfields is one of them. Try to go on Sunday when there are more stalls.
http://www.visitspitalfields.com/stalls/fashion.html

Oxfam stores sell second-hand clothing too. There should be a number of Oxfam stores all over London.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content...e/default.aspx

Here's Timeout's list of about 20 shops

http://www.timeout.com/london/shoppi...ft_stores.html

Her best bet is to find an upmarket area of London (Kensington, Chelsea, even Islington) and raid the Oxfam shop there. The rich throw out all kinds of stuff, but the Oxfam shops know the value of it too.

I was just coming back on to mention Oxfam in the tonier parts of London. She'll find some really good things there. I picked up a Burberry handbag for 15 GBP on my last trip. And I didn;t even need it, it was just too good a deal to pass up.

Thanks for your great suggestions - I think we'll bring an extra empty suitcase - or maybe we'll find one at the Oxfam shop!

If it's a case of budget, to be honest, all the charity shops seem to charge the same as the cheaper new clothing shops, and the more interesting 'vintage' type second hand shops are definitely more expensive than just buying normal day to day wear at the cheaper new shops.

She should also have a look in Primark, New Look (excellent for cheap and cheerful but trendy stuff), Topshop, Matalan and places like that.

It's not clear whether your daughter's motivated by sustainability or personal dress sense. If the latter, nona1's right about Primark on price (though not, I'd have said vintage looks) and Topshop (especially at their Oxford Circus branch, which did have a vintage section last time I risked the place). Rokit (four branches around London) specialises in vintage. But if the former, I'm not sure either Topshop or Rokit sell vintage vintage: I THINK both sell newly made stuff that just looks old, but wouldn't swear.

There are no Matalans in central London or (I think) anywhere else a normal tourist would go. They aren't special enough to warrant trekking out to Cricklewood - though their clothes are mostly drab enough to depress any right thinking fashionista.

hi avalon, your 15GBP Burberry bag has perked my interest...where DID you get such a good buy? I do not mind buying bags 2nd hand, if u good condition... any good places to point me to? I only have 1/2 day to shop in London!!

I got it at the Oxfam shop in Chelsea on King's Rd

You're really, really unlikely to get a staggering bargain in an Oxfam shop.

Their staff are trained to avoid over-enthusiastic markdowns, though obviously things slip through. What Oxfam's good for is quirky stuff (like "vintage" fashion) reasonably cheap: if shopping's important to you, and you've only got a half day for it, you can easily spend the whole time on the off chance you might find a silly mistake - and then find you've not.

There's no equivalent in London, BTW, of New York's Canal St. If you want cheap clothes, just go to Primark

Oxfam have a sister brand - traid, which sells the better stuff.

I'd suggest a trip to Notting Hill. Firstly there's a very upmarket Oxfam shop (with prices to match) opposite the Probation Office and Odbins (this is how I find my way around London) and then there's the Clothes exchange which does birds' togs, rythms, tom*, and the like. It's near the Sun In Splendour pub (full of J arthurs - avoid).

There's also a place halfway down Portobello Rd that does second hand schmutter - and Vivienne Westwood's shop is also there for those that are radio rental or blind.

*She will need to speak the lingo. Innit.

Im not that into vintage clothes....
more of an accessories person, very big on bags, then earrings, necklaces, bracelets...
i have not really had a chance to see much vintage stuff where i am, so I thought London might be a great place...

C_W, no idea what lingo you are talking about!!
I am already in fear of my sanity by attempting Paris with no French (I am Chinese), pls do not scare me by telling me i need to know some lingo in London where I assume my English would be good enough hahaha

togs/schmutter = clothes

Rythms - rythm and blues - shoes

Tom - tomfoolery = jewelery (not to be confused with a Tom who is a prostitute)

For the record:

The dialect spoken in London's chicer second hand shops and clothes exchanges is pretty much that used by BBC newsreaders, Tory party leaders, my neighbours and similar good eggs. Try mimicking CW and they'll assume you're a merchant banker.

Which was bad enough in the days before the crash.

So your neighbours are all wearing dead men's trousers?

Not a mark of class IMHO.

lost me here... :P

Where do you think these places get their stock. It's usually Grandad's demob suit - with authentic stains.