10 Things I’d Always Buy Vintage Rather Than New

I’ve worked in fashion for more than 30 years and have been buying, wearing, styling and selling vintage for more than half that time.

September is when Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign happens - a campaign to encourage us all to shop second hand rather than new.

So it seems like the perfect time to share the pieces I will nearly always look for vintage or pre-loved before heading anywhere near the high street.

There are certain things I simply don’t see the point in buying new, but I’m slightly biased towards vintage as I launched Lovely’s Vintage Emporium back in 2011 because I genuinely love vintage.

But buying vintage isn’t just about sustainability for me. It’s also about finding something different.

Fashion has always looked backwards for inspiration. Every season we see designers and high-street brands rediscovering another decade. It’s the 1970s one minute, the 1980s the next and suddenly we’re all talking about the 1990s again.

So my philosophy has always been that I prefer not to buy repro when you can hunt down the original. My best things to buy second hand are below.

Here are 10 things I’d always consider buying vintage rather than new.

1. Statement Jewellery

Obviously this had to be number one, as anyone who joins me for my Monday night Jewellery Live sales on my @LovelysVintage Instagram knows how much I adore vintage jewellery.

This is one of the easiest ways to start wearing vintage.

You don’t need to wear vintage head-to-toe. Take a simple white T-shirt, jeans and a blazer and add a fabulous oversized 1980s necklace or a pair of vintage statement earrings and suddenly the whole outfit looks different.

Vintage costume jewellery can have so much personality. Look out for chunky chains, fabulous clip-on earrings, colourful beads, brooches and anything that makes you smile.

My rule with jewellery is that if it makes an outfit more interesting, it’s worth trying.

2. Leather Handbags

A great vintage leather handbag is difficult to beat.

I love finding bags where the leather has softened beautifully with age and the hardware, clasp or lining tells you immediately that it wasn’t made yesterday.

And don’t dismiss a bag just because it isn’t from a famous designer.

Some of my favourite vintage bags have no recognisable designer name at all. I’m far more interested in the quality, shape and detailing.

Look for good stitching, sturdy handles, interesting hardware and don’t forget to check the state of the interior.

A fabulous vintage handbag can make even the simplest outfit look special.

3. Blazers & Jackets

If you read my last blog about the vintage fashion trends worth buying for Autumn 2026, you’ll know I’m very excited about jackets at the moment.

This is one area where vintage really comes into its own.

The tailoring, shoulder shapes, buttons and fabrics can be fabulous and particularly on pieces from the 1970s and 1980s.

And please don’t be frightened of shoulder pads. A good shoulder can completely transform your silhouette.

Wear an oversized vintage blazer with jeans and trainers, or throw a fitted 1980s jacket over a dress.

The trick is to style it with modern pieces rather than looking as though you’re wearing a costume from a particular decade.

4. Suede

Suede is having another fashion moment, although those of us who love vintage might argue that it never really went away.

Vintage suede jackets, waistcoats, skirts and bags can be a stylish way to add texture to an autumnal outfit.

I particularly love the colours you find in older suede: tobacco brown, tan, rust, chocolate, burgundy and even moss green.

A 1970s suede jacket worn with a simple T-shirt and jeans still looks edgy more than 50 years later.

5. Evening Bags

This is one the one category where I would always check vintage sites first.

Why buy a plain new evening bag that’s expensive when there are beautiful vintage examples covered in beads, sequins, embroidery and satin and with fabulous clasps?

They’re tiny pieces of fashion history.

And because an evening bag isn’t generally used every day, you can still find older examples in remarkably good condition.

I also love them displayed on a shelf when they’re not being used.

6. Knitwear

Good vintage knitwear is another category worth hunting for.

Look beyond the label and check the fabric composition. Wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca and interesting blends are all worth buying, particularly if the piece has been well cared for.

But always inspect knitwear carefully. Check under the arms, around the cuffs and waistband and hold it up to the light to look for tiny moth holes.

A little repair wouldn’t necessarily stop me buying something fabulous.

Which brings me to one of my biggest vintage-shopping rules:

Condition matters, but perfection doesn’t. Vintage pieces had a life before they reached you. That’s part of their charm.

7. Belts

Never underestimate a vintage belt. They’re one of my favourite styling tricks because they can completely change the proportions of an outfit.

Put one over an oversized blazer. Add one to a floaty dress. Use one to give shape to a cardigan. Or simply wear a fabulous leather belt with jeans.

Vintage belts can also have brilliant buckles and detailing that are much harder to find on the high street.

And because they don’t take up much room in your wardrobe, I’m going to argue that you’re allowed quite a few…

8. Occasion Dresses

There is something particularly satisfying about wearing vintage to a wedding or party and knowing you’re unlikely to see anyone else in the same dress.

We’ve all been to an event where two guests turn up wearing the same current-season dress. It actually happened at my wedding. Two guests arrived wearing the same pink floral dresses. See them below!

With vintage, the chances of that happening are pretty slim!

Don’t become too obsessed with the size on the label, though. Vintage sizing is completely different from modern sizing.

Always look at the actual measurements. I regularly find vintage dresses where the label size bears almost no resemblance to what we’d call that size today.

Measure a dress you already own that fits beautifully and compare those measurements when you’re shopping online. It makes vintage shopping SO much easier.

9. Scarves

Possibly the easiest vintage purchase of all.

A fabulous scarf can be worn around your waist (current huge trend), your neck, tied to a handbag, worn in your hair or even framed as a piece of textile art if the print is particularly beautiful.

I had a client (who was an interior designer) buy designer scarves from me that she would then frame and sell as wall art to her clients.

Look for real silk, interesting designer pieces, hand-rolled edges and fantastic prints.

They’re also brilliant if you love vintage but don’t necessarily want to dress in vintage clothing. One little accessory can give a modern outfit a completely different feel.

10. Statement Coats

Finally, the big one. A fabulous vintage coat.

If I’m going to invest in one piece for autumn and winter, I’d much rather find an amazing vintage coat with personality than something I’m going to see everywhere on the high street.

For 2026 think 1960s geometric prints, 1970s suede, dramatic 1980s shoulders, faux fur, checks, minimal 1990s shapes…

Why Second Hand September Matters

I loved vintage fashion long before the words ‘circular fashion' and ‘sustainable fashion' became part of our everyday vocabulary

Oxfam’s 2026 State of Style research found that 32% of our wardrobes are never worn, while 57% of people say they feel pressure to update their wardrobes and keep up with changing trends.

The truth is that people simply buy too many modern clothes.

Second Hand September isn’t about never enjoying fashion again. For me, it’s about enjoying fashion MORE. Buy something because you genuinely love it. Wear it repeatedly. Style it differently. Repair it if you can. Pass it on when you no longer love it.

And perhaps most importantly, don’t feel that you have to buy something simply because an algorithm has told you it’s the latest must-have.

After three decades working in fashion, one thing I know for certain is that trends always come back around.

I’ve watched things I’ve styled the first time around disappear, become horribly unfashionable and then suddenly return as the hottest thing of the season.

That’s why vintage is so much fun as you can follow fashion without being a slave to it.

How to shop vintage is to find the eras, shapes, colours and pieces that work for you.

And if everyone else is buying a brand-new version of a 1970s suede jacket, a 1980s statement necklace or a 1990s minimalistic blazer. I’ll be over here looking for the original.

Happy Second Hand September 2026 and are you now ready to go vintage hunting?

Browse my latest vintage and preloved finds at Lovely's Vintage Emporium or join my live selling shows on Instagram every Monday and Wednesday at 7pm.

Lynnette x

Founder, stylist and vintage obsessive at Lovely’s Vintage Emporium

How Do I Know If Vintage Clothing Is Worth Buying?

Look first at quality rather than the name on the label. I check fabric, construction, condition, buttons, zips and seams, then ask myself whether the piece still feels wearable now. With vintage clothing, always use the actual measurements rather than relying on the size label. Most importantly, buy something because you love it and can imagine wearing it — not simply because somebody has told you it’s collectible.