The demand for pre-loved fashion is soaring, with recent data showing over 80 per cent of consumers aged 18-34 report wearing second-hand clothing, and a third of them purchase second-hand clothing monthly.* Collectors and fashion fans are snapping up vintage styles once seen as everyday, and prices are soaring on pieces that were never intended to be high-end. Vintage band tees, Levi's denim, football shirts and North Face puffers are all top of the list for today's buyers.
Earlier this year, The New York Times' Steven Kurutz described Bihlmaier's unexpected ascent to cult celebrity and style influencer. As Kurutz explained, Bihlmaier 'recognized the intrinsic style of certain items before others did, and mixed and layered them in novel ways.' And if you look at virtually any photos of Bihlmaier, you'll see that in action - a personal aesthetic that eludes easy description but looks amazing.
The best thrift stores feel like treasure troves, with equal parts bargain-bin finds, pre-loved designer investments, and vintage must-haves: trusty Levi's jeans folded next to Manolo Blahnik kitten heels, or a perfectly worn-in leather jacket hiding behind a rack of office basics. Time your run to your favorite secondhand location's restock hours (and skip the weekends to avoid New York's crowds), and you'll catch new arrivals as they hit the shelves: designer denim, cashmere cardigans,
Point one for Gap: no one needed to be told what was meant by "Gap hoodie." If I said J.Crew rollneck, half my time would be spent explaining the garment and its relevance. That's a data point. The second and more revelatory point in favor of Gap was a point put forward by a coworker: It's already iconic, and you just can't see it because it's too familiar.
In July, the sale of Jane Birkin's original Hermès Birkin for €8.6m at a Paris auction established it as by far the most expensive handbag of all time. "I was actually shocked it went for that amount," says Ella de Guzman, founder of Siopaella consignment store. "If this bag was being sold in the second-hand market as just another preloved Birkin bag, it would have only traded hands for maybe €5,000 max given the condition that it was in. It was completely destroyed, yet because of its incredible history, its perceived value was crazy."
After college, I worked in sales for my mom during the day and packed orders at night. I didn't have a fashion degree. I just had a deep desire to build something that felt like me - bold, global, connected. The brand's identity is grounded in that relentless hustle and the belief that women can create their own rules and lifestyles.
Hadid graced V's latest cover on Aug. 20 in an array of vintage-inspired looks, with her wardrobe provided entirely by Miu Miu. For V, Hadid ditched her wartime finger waves in exchange for a more mod aesthetic. In the cover photo, she donned a fitted red cap with seductive netting draped over her eyes. The rest of her look embraced the same cherry palette, including her lip and nail color.