Written by Dan Skinner in Trends on the 4th October 2017

Wearing vintage has been around for years. There was once a stigma of wearing someone else’s old outfit in the mid-1960s - vintage clothing was simply looked down upon. The people who wore it were seen as the unfortunate who didn’t have the luxury of wearing brand new clothing. Having recently endured WW2, the world was obsessed with consumerism due to the prior years' of rationing and restrictions in the workplace. Thankfully the Mod and Hippy subcultures came along and revived cast-off clothing in order to form vintage fashion.

Apps and websites have completely revolutionised the way we buy and sell items of clothing, from second hand suits to almost new T-shirts, all at a reduced price that are easily accessible across the globe. There are thousands of vintage enthusiasts out there always looking for pieces that may no longer fit or you simply don’t want to have in your wardrobe anymore. Inspired by an inexpensive, improvised age of anti-consumerism, these vintage hunters thrive off of the chase for a new piece, driven by an honest desire of love of workmanship or the details presented on older garments.

At the moment, the vital point to being stylish is originality. The turn of 2017 has inspired a new area in vintage pieces, from button up shirts to retro jackets all made in the 1990s. Brought about by the rise of skate culture in streetwear, fuelled from the owners of brands like Supreme, Off White and Palace who grew up in the late 80s and early 90s. Brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Gant to name a few have sky rocketed in price, and all have similar styled pieces that perfectly fit with modern streetwear. With big name pieces going for as much as £70 for a button up shirt and £200 for jackets, it’s probably worth sifting through those plastic bin bags stored in the loft at your parents’ house. With prices fluctuating constantly, there is never a set price for you to sell your old threads, so always be open to offers and if you follow these rules you’ll do just fine. 

The main priority when selling vintage is, “is the item still intact?”. Far too often are rare garments listed way below average price because they have buttons missing or threads coming unwoven. Ensure your garments are washed and fully repaired before selling, as the item is always going to drop in price if not in near-original condition. Always display measurements too - today's items are much larger than years gone by, so it is crucial to include all measurements when listing an item. The general fit that the garment is, be it slim, regular or a larger fit should be stated. A detailed description should describe the age of the piece, original retail price, how worn it is and where it came from. Be sure to include all imperfections as well as unique features to really outline yours as the best vintage find on the market.

Use online payment sites such as PayPal who offer safe and disclosed transactions that will ensure buyer and seller safety. This purely ensures you don’t end up in prison with a criminal record for fraud and false representation. Positive buyer reviews will also help you out overall as more references means a safer service that people can rely on. Whether you’re looking to make a quick buck or become a vintage kingpin, these websites will be very useful: 

DEPOP: Probably the best website we recommend you use is DEPOP. This mobile app is easy to use, easy to navigate and has a large following when it comes to vintage items. 

ASOS Marketplace: Super safe, easy to search and a trusted brand name that has a global reach. It features all the big names and will allow you to gather a price range for your item. 

Facebook Groups: Incredibly useful and very specific, these groups are full of people wanting your old clothing. Here you can get appraisals, bids and buy now specifics. With thousands of vintage groups out there it’s a guarantee you’ll find a buyer, plus these groups are excellent for recommendations and positive seller reviews. 

Bonanza: Cheaper than eBay, with no hidden charges for listing items or advertising. This site is flawless for vintage items as commission is a lot less and you end up with more money in your pocket. 

Instagram: Whether it’s your own shop or you sell to bigger pages such as FriendsNYC, Procell or truevintageclothing, these larger sellers will happily snap up your product for a lower than average price.  

Be sure to list your items on as many websites as possible in order to increase exposure and be sure to tag us in any vintage pieces you have so we can see what you're selling. You never know, I am personally after a 90s Hilfiger logo denim jacket.

We take a look at 90s logo T-shirts and vintage menswear and investigate how your old designer gear is now in demand and worth money.