New (Old) Additions

Apologies for the long silence, Paris unfortunately signalled the last few days of freedom before end of semester madness descended, but I thought I’d quickly share some second-hand bits and pieces I bought back in February.

A gingham smock dress that saw me through what appears to have been a very fleeting dip into spring.

A blue shirt for a slightly subtler alternative to double denim, which I’m still not brave enough to attempt.

Finally, a leather rucksack that came very handy in Paris. Although the small bag/big coat combo didn’t quite go to plan, hands free made snacking on French treats a whole lot easier.

   Anyone else found some good second-hand buys recently?

Battered Bags and Oversized Coats

My top vintage bargain to date has to be this burgundy bag, which I found in a second-hand shop in Nottingham. Although it looked well loved (the front pocket is fairly battered) it still functioned perfectly and turned out to be an absolute steal at £5. I literally haven’t put it down since as it’s sturdy, structured shape makes it the perfect University bag. Despite being constantly overladen with books and a laptop it’s weathered all student storms and has received many a compliment.

Harbouring a strange obsession for all things oversized, my go-to winter staples are my beloved oversized coats. I have two of them; a red tartan beauty that will appear in a blog post very soon (and also features in the style section of Impact magazine’s November issue) and this grey number pictured. This is a slightly more understated version of the first and was another amazing second-hand bargain at only £10. I love its more structured shape, particularly the cuffed wrists and the pleats that go over the shoulder. Both coats have become key pieces for the colder months, not just because of the rapid decrease in temperature, but because one of them will always complete any outfit. Hence my slight tendency to hide under them all season…

Perhaps its because of the current economic climate, but people seem much more impressed by a lucky bargain than by an expensive purchase. Although the prospect of rummaging through the rails of a charity or vintage shop can seem daunting, more often that not it’s worth it as you can walk out with pieces that are of a higher quality (and guaranteed to be cheaper) than the high-street alternative.

Photos taken by Jamie Biles