Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops

by Christa Weil

Fun, funky, and fabulous, this is the first personal buying guide to help you get in on the resale craze that is sweeping America.
Would you like to find a mint-condition Yves Saint Laurent jacket for $25...a brand-new, pleated wool skirt still bearing the original $40 price tag, for $7...a genuine Dior suit for $75? Now you can! In Secondhand Chic you'll discover where to look, what to look for, and how to buy quality. In fact, you'll get all the secrets of spotting a valuable bargain so you can shop brilliantly whether you're in a consignment, thrift, or vintage store. Expert shopper Christa Weil shares the insider information that will help you buy the best clothes you've ever owned...at a fraction of the retail cost.
Learn
Spotting quality -- which you will know immediately from buttons, pockets, seams, and fabric
Labels...big names, department store brands, exquisite foreign lines -- and fakes!
Finding your size when there are no labels or tags
Flaws you can fix and the ones you can't -- from wrong lengths and wrinkles to stains and shininess
Unearthing handmade shoes, silk scarves, name jewelry, and other elegant accessories
Buying what you really need -- and caring for the clothes you've got
The styles that make your body look best
From domestic to international stores, from New York to London, from Memphis to Paris -- no matter where you buy, you can buy secondhand chic.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Reference

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really not a huge fan of this book. It gives good advise on how to shop for designer clothing in consignment shops, but it really looks down on Thrift stores, which I personally love, more than consignment and vintage shops since their prices can be outrageous. It tells you how to measure and try things on without a tape measure or fitting rooms, tells you about how to spot good fabric, etc. It's really not for someone who just buys things because they think it's cute and it fits, whether or not it has a designer label.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loads of good advice for anyone interested in secondhand fashion. Advice such as clothing that work best for body shapes, the care of the clothing, indicators of great quality clothes, etc.
I thought it was interesting the author included top names in clothing (if you're interested in the label) and how to pronounce them.
I liked the end of the book that included big name designers for each fashion era.

[Sondra Caserio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly in depth! Just finished the chapter on fabrics. Not only does it explain what to look for in a good quality garment, it explains the histories of fabrics and explains the different characteristics of each kind of fabric including the best way to care for them and wear them.

[Gianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tips on everything from what to look for in quality clothing to where to go to find the best deals. After reading this book I was able to score some amazing high end labels at great prices. I thought I knew how to shop secondhand until I read this book ... now I really do.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about finding designer clothes than what I'm looking for. Good advice on checking fabric type and how to care for clothing though.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reference book, a bit out dated, but worth the read.