These 5 Summer Trends Look So Much Better Secondhand

Hello, my name is Joy, and I am on a one-woman mission to bring vintage to the mainstream shopping market. No biggie. While my sphere of influence is somewhat limited, I will continue to pepper secondhand items into my edits and create stories that offer pre-loved alternatives to the season's biggest trends. Vintage clothing shouldn't be a niche subsection of the fashion world. Rather, I hope it will continue to become integrated into our buying habits and accessible enough to speak to the average consumer. With this in mind, I'm looking to the summer and warm-weather staples that, in my humble opinion, look so much better secondhand. I hope this edit will get you one step closer to finding a vintage piece that works for you.

Compared to winter styles, I find summer fashion slightly harder to source secondhand. This is partly due to the fact that I'm not a massive dress wearer, but it's also because the light fabrics that dominate the warmer months don't always age as well as the heavy wools and knits of winter. However, there are certain pieces that do translate well, and I've done the hard work for you and hunted down the five trends that I would recommend sourcing secondhand this season.

Of course, the printed dress is an obvious one, and vintage stores are packed full of whimsical paisley prints, graphic checks and delicate florals. Just make sure you double-check those measurements, as vintage sizing can vary massively. Summer accessories are some of the best items to buy secondhand, and luckily, many of this season's biggest trends—think oversize sunnies and rattan totes—come 1970s inspired. So why buy a new item when you can bag an original? 

So to kick-start the summer season with a retro twist, scroll down to shop my edit of pre-loved summer trends.

1. The Embroidered Blouse

2. The Big Sunnies

3. The Printed Dress

4. The Rattan Bag

5. The Tailored Shorts

Up Next: 7 Wardrobe Classics That Look So Much Better Secondhand