I love clothes, and I definitely still enjoy shopping. But the way I shop has changed a lot over the years.
I used to think that if I really liked something, I had to buy it there and then. These days, I’m much more patient. I wait for sales, check Vinted, pay attention to fabric and quality, and think about how much I’m actually going to wear something before spending my money.
It doesn’t mean I don’t buy nice things anymore. Actually, I think my wardrobe is better now because I buy fewer things and choose them more carefully.
I’ve already shared how I shop Vinted like a stylist and find hidden gems, and second-hand shopping has definitely changed the way I look at fashion. There are so many beautiful clothes already out there that I rarely feel the need to pay the original retail price.
Here are 7 things I almost never buy full price anymore — and why.
1. Quality Knitwear
Since winters can get pretty cold in the Baltics, I believe that warm, high-quality knitwear is essential. But good quality definitely doesn’t have to mean an expensive or high-end brand.
I would much rather buy a good wool or natural-fibre jumper second-hand than pay full price for something synthetic that might lose its shape after a few washes. Good-quality knitwear usually looks better, keeps you much warmer and, if you take care of it properly, can last for many seasons.
One of my favorite examples is a beautiful long M&S cardigan that I found on Vinted about three years ago. I think I paid around €8 for it, and honestly, I still love it! I can wear it with almost anything, and even after three years, it still looks like new.
It’s one of the reasons I always look at the material and quality first — not the price or the label. I wrote more about the little details I check in How to Spot Quality Clothes Before You Buy (Even in High-Street Stores).
2. Jeans
I LOVE jeans. They are probably the most-worn pieces of clothing in my wardrobe. Dark blue jeans, light blue jeans, white jeans, denim sets — I have plenty of them! 😀
Denim simply never goes out of style. I can wear jeans to work, at the weekend, while travelling or dress them up for an evening out.
One of my favourite finds is a denim set I bought on Vinted. What I particularly love about it is the quality of the stitching. It has strong white contrast stitching that makes the whole set look more expensive and, more importantly, feels like it was actually made to last.
Instead of only looking at the brand, I now pay much more attention to the fabric, stitching and overall construction.
Good denim can stay in your wardrobe for years, so I would much rather wait until I find the right pair for the right price than rush to buy something new at full price.
3. Blazers
I love blazers because they are one of the easiest pieces in my wardrobe to style. I wear them with jeans, skirts, simple trousers or as part of a full suit.
One of my favourite examples is a Zara suit set I bought about five years ago. It was actually a gift, and at the time it felt like one of my more expensive fashion purchases. Even on sale, I paid around €110 for the set.
But honestly? It was worth every cent.
Five years later, I still love it and wear it regularly. That’s much better value to me than buying something cheap that I only wear once or twice.
Would I buy the same suit in the same way today? Probably not. 😀
These days, I would most likely search for the same set — or something similar — on Vinted first.
It’s also why blazers feature so heavily in my simple outfit formulas I wear again and again. One structured piece can completely change a very basic outfit.
4. Coats and Jackets
I’m not going to lie — I am quite addicted to nice jackets. 😀 But over the years, I’ve learnt how to both buy and sell on Vinted, which helps me enjoy fashion while being much more conscious about how much I spend.
A few articles ago, I shared one of my favourite trench coats. Unfortunately, I recently realised that I’ve lost its belt, so I probably won’t be wearing it this season.
And because I absolutely love trench coats, naturally I started hunting for another one.
This time I wanted to try a different colour, and I found a beautiful Unique by Only trench coat made from 80% cotton for just €11 on Vinted.
I haven’t even worn it properly yet, but I’m already excited to style it. I’m sure you’ll see it again in one of my future fashion articles. 🙂
For me, that’s the beauty of second-hand shopping. There are so many good-quality pieces already out there. Sometimes you just need a little patience to find the right one.
5. Trendy Pieces
I’m not the biggest fan of buying or following trends. I usually prefer clothes that I know I’ll still want to wear several years from now.
But sometimes a trend comes along that looks fun, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to try it.
I just don’t think you need to spend a lot of money doing so.
Firstly, you don’t actually know whether that trendy piece will suit you. Something can look amazing on Pinterest or Instagram and then simply not feel like you once it’s in your wardrobe.
Secondly, some trends disappear almost as quickly as they arrive.
If I want to experiment, I would much rather look for the trend second-hand or find an affordable version first. Timeless pieces are worth investing in; trends are where I prefer to experiment.
That’s also one of the principles behind my approach to How to Build a Timeless Capsule Wardrobe.
6. Shoes and Trainers
I am actually quite strict with myself when it comes to shoes — mainly because I need some rules to control my little shoe addiction.
These days, I try to buy what I call capsule shoes: pairs that have a clear purpose in my wardrobe and that I know I’ll wear again and again.
For example, white trainers for everyday outfits, good-quality boots for colder months and high-heeled boots for special occasions.
Shoes are also one of the areas where I prefer good quality. But good quality doesn’t mean I need to pay the full original price.
My favourite trick is simply to wait for sales, especially out-of-season sales. You might be buying boots when everyone else is looking for sandals, but that’s often when the prices are best.
That’s exactly how I bought my favourite Love Moschino trainers on sale from About You.
Patience is probably one of the easiest ways I’ve learnt to save money on fashion. I’d rather wait a few months for the right pair at the right price than buy something immediately just because I want it now.
7. Occasion Clothes
Clothes for weddings, birthdays, holidays and other special occasions are often the pieces we wear the least.
You might absolutely love a dress, wear it to one event, take lots of beautiful photos in it… and then somehow never reach for it again.
That’s why occasion clothes are something I particularly recommend buying second-hand.
A perfect example is this beautiful brown dress. I bought it for just €6, wore it once, and now I’m trying to sell it so somebody else can enjoy it rather than leaving it sitting in my wardrobe.
And the funny thing?
It’s actually the most-liked dress I’ve ever worn on my social media.
I think that’s such a good reminder that an outfit doesn’t have to be expensive to look beautiful. Nobody looking at a photo knows whether your dress cost €6 or €600 — and honestly, it doesn’t matter.
It’s something I’ve also talked about in How to Look Elegant Without Spending a Fortune. Looking put together has much more to do with how you choose and style your clothes than the number on the price tag.
Buying Less Doesn’t Mean Enjoying Fashion Less
I think I’ve actually started enjoying fashion more since becoming more conscious about what I buy.
Finding an €8 cardigan that I’m still wearing three years later or an €11 trench coat that feels like a little treasure is much more exciting to me than constantly buying new things.
And when I do spend more, I want it to be on something I genuinely love and will use for years.
I haven’t stopped buying nice things — I’ve simply stopped believing that I need to pay full price to have them.
And I think my wardrobe — and my bank account — are both happier for it.
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