how do i get good quality clothes for cheap?
Posted by Icy-Ambition4781@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 68 comments
i dont own much clothes but all of it is from shein but i really want proper clothes that feel nice and not some elasticity fabric. im not really clued up on clothe shops but i know i like the 2000s look but most of that stuff is expensive or discontinued. id love to thrift but im like a uk size 20 so there isnt much my size second hand and definitely not good clothes.
Ambitious_Agent20@reddit
Charity shops, depending on the charity and shop location you can get some decent clothes for cheap
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
but i dont see them having any good looking clothes in my size and i care too much about what i wear
Ambitious_Agent20@reddit
I used to work for a charity shop/donation centre as a paid member of staff and had done for many years, size 20 isn't uncommon and we were based in a posh area but I had worked around different shops in different areas some more rough and still had some nice size 20 + clothing. A few shops had a lot of overflow so we reduced clothing prices and after two weeks took them off hangers and put them in £1 tub just so it didn't go to waste. Your ruling it out before even trying, you might surprise yourself other then that you best start saving.
AdAffectionate2418@reddit
Honestly- I'm not sure you can get the quadfecta of good quality, cheap, right size, and too your taste without sinking a significant amount of time.
I use to trawl charity shops for hours to find one or two pieces when I was a student and had much more time than money. That was almost 20 years ago - most charity shops nowadays (assuming savvy volunteers) will be putting all the good stuff straight in vented or the like anyway...
Psychological-Bag272@reddit
Vinted. Go just accept you will have to spend a bit to get a good quality clothes. It is worth spending for clothes that last a long time.
Proper-Throwaway-23@reddit
Seconding this. Travel to a "posh" area. You will pay a bit more but you will also find cast offs from people who spent money on decent stuff. It has long been my go-to for decent clothes.
kittydrinkstea@reddit
Definitely Vinted but also might be worth a post in a local Reddit/Facebook group, see if anyone has a pile of stuff waiting to be sorted. I definitely have 20 years of clothes that need sorting! (Not the right size for you unfortunately)
Also, Uniqlo and M&S would be my pick for places for good quality basics to pair with more directional pieces.
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
i dont live near a uniqlo or an m&s sadly
DifferentWave@reddit
The internet exists you know.
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
yeah but the sizes are all tiny and have you seen the price on half of that shit? it’s unbelievable, nobody is paying £15 for a plain crop top
DifferentWave@reddit
Well they are. That’s what clothes cost. You can’t have it all ways.
Besides, size 20 isn’t exactly out of the field. I run 16-18 and see plenty of clothes in sizes larger than that.
mu5tbetheone@reddit
Have you tried a shopping outlet place? They have loads of designer stores for a fraction of the cost.
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
what does that mean?
mu5tbetheone@reddit
Designer Outlets. Google what's close to you. McArthur Glen has quite a few, but there are others and they have stores like Next, to M&S, Boss, Nike, Radley, allsorts of different places
DesignFar6251@reddit
For second hand I've found Loopi.com to be pretty good. Avoids all the crap that comes with dodgy sellers on eBay/vinted/etc
LayingInBracken@reddit
How are the Loopi sellers with listing the correct materials, because the amount of sellers on Vinted who confuse satin with silk or knitted with wool (yes really) makes me weep and fear for humanity's future.
DesignFar6251@reddit
I've only ever received things how they're actually described. I'm not sure on the ins and outs, but you aren't buying from private sellers, but from loopi themselves. I know you can sell stuff to them, but from what I can gather everything goes to their warehouse to be checked before being sold on again
LayingInBracken@reddit
Ah right! Thanks for explaining!
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
Second hand? Ebay, vinted, FB market place
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
the sizing is all off on there though?
ukreader@reddit
Why do you say the sizing is off? You can normally see the label in the photos
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
because ill filter it to my size and everything is nowhere near my size, im putting in 20 and every result is 16 or 14 or 6 which isnt my size, i scrolled for hours and everything i came across was far too small
dlg194@reddit
you seem to be replying this to every suggestion, not sure what you want them to say!
if you want decent clothes for cheap the only option is second hand, you do have to sift through things and there will be times you’ll buy something and the sizing is off, that’s the nature of buying secondhand, just resell it and keep looking
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
what i wanted was where am i supposed to buy clothes? what brands are people buying clothes from, i dont own anything branded at all or anything thats good quality, where do normal people shop???
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
I don't think so? Just check the label, most listings do show the label, and obviously charity shops you can do on person
worldworn@reddit
You seem to be really negative about some great suggestions, not sure what you want to hear.
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
where im supposed to get good clothes like all normal people wear, i dont get where people get clothes from, i only last year started buying clothes, i just accepted not having proper clothes before then and would just borrow clothes from my family
Sea-Still5427@reddit
What do you mean by 'the 2000s look'? Trying to think what I was wearing then.
CrossCityLine@reddit
Vinted
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
i doubt theres much decent in my size? the sizes are always wrong on there. i bought a jacket in my size and it came back size six
LayingInBracken@reddit
Filter on brands you think are good quality, or that people here have said are good quality. Filter on colours that suit you. Filter on the material you want. Even on style if you want. Then trawl through the listings, and only consider those pieces that show the size label in a photo. Double check the size against that brand's website because a size 20 of brand A will not be the same as a size 20 of brand B.
If a listing does not include a photo of the size and a readable photo of the materials label, I will not touch it no matter how good it looks. Writing down the correct materials seems quite difficult for a lot of Vinted sellers...
YouWascallyWabbit@reddit
Vinted have messed up their sizing lately, so message and ask to clarify size of measurements, or you might hopefully find a photo that includes the size label.
UK sizing is bonkers anyway, so always with charging measurements.
If you don't want second hand, maybe Uniqlo, or M&S in the sale has some bargains.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Over 500 items in 20-26 listed from mid to high end stores from next and M&s to Seasalt and Boden !
Icy-Ambition4781@reddit (OP)
those are really ugly im sorry
LiliWenFach@reddit
Then search for styles and brands you like. The poster was only showing you that a search in your size returned positive results.
I'll second what others are saying about looking for photos of the size label, and buying brands/styles you know will fit and flatter you. If I find a style I like, I search for it in different colours.
You mentioned liking Y2k style... be aware that a lot of sellers are buying Shein/Temu clothes cheaply, cutting out the labels and selling them as 'vintage'. Do a reverse image search before buying any 'vintage' clothes. Rather than search for 'y2k' it might be easier to get genuine items by looking for brands that were around then. We were restricted to high street stores mainly. I got my ebay account in 2001 and internet shopping wasn't anywhere near as easy as it is now. Look for New Look, Etam, Next, Topshop, Miss Selfridge (although the last two I don't recall carried many plus sizes), Dorothy Perkins, Punky Fish.
Also be aware that vanity sizing means that sizes have become more generous. For example, I kept the top I was wearing the night I met my husband, in 2002. It fitted me at a size 18/20... but the label says 'Etam 26'. That ers was all about skinny. Ask for measurements if in doubt.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Its just a screenshot of the first few results of literally hundreds and hundreds of items !
Search for what you actually want from your chosen shops but remember Y2K was seriously skinny era !
ButtercupBento@reddit
I ask the seller what size it is before buying and only buy from brands that I know fit me in whatever size. Seriously do a try on day in some physical shops so you can search easier
Voodoopulse@reddit
Why have you bothered asking when clearly you know better than everyone?
BarSalt970@reddit
Hes simply answering that he's tried that option? Relax man
Vegetable84@reddit
Recently Vinted changed their sizing system and it meant that everything was in completely the wrong size very briefly. This has now calmed down, although the new sizing brackets can be irritating. Most sellers are understanding if you message to double check the label size. Vinted is absolutely the best way to buy quality clothing for a fraction of the retail price.
halfemptyoasis@reddit
Any good Vinted seller will have the size in the description and have a photo of the size label or you can easily message the seller to ask for any information about the sizing.
Ok-Entrepreneur-6706@reddit
Maybe only buy clothes with label sizing clearly visible in the pictures then?
CrossCityLine@reddit
My wife’s a size 20 and is constantly buying stuff from there. Worth a look at least.
atsevoN@reddit
I use Vinted and Loopi for specific brands or pieces are no longer in production, for example Karl Kani or Starter
sennalvera@reddit
Cheap, quality, nice. Pick two.
LiliWenFach@reddit
I don't know why you think there are 'no good clothes' in a size 20. The average clothing size of a uk woman is a size 16, so a good percentage of those will be a 20. You just need to look in charity shops, car boot sales, Vinted, Ebay, Depop etc. Obviously, thrifting means you're going to have a narrower choice than if you were shopping online and had access to everything- but for me, part of the excitement of thrifting is finding genuine bargains and experimenting with new styles.
The downside of being a plus-sized thrifter (and I speak from personal experience) is that just because something is in your size, this doesn't mean it will fit you well. I have re-sold or gifted plenty of clothes that hugged me in the wrong places. Unless you find a place with a changing room or only buy familiar styles or brands, it's a risk you take, I'm afraid.
Rough-Chemist-4743@reddit
Charity shops in posh areas.
omghiemma@reddit
Vinted or charity shops but if you want properly new then Shein is your best bet. It's not worth the hassle going on usually expensive website's sale sections as they won't have your size and finding discount codes is too much work for like £2 off lol
dexington_dexminster@reddit
If Shein is her best bet, I'd consider naturism.
Vanblue1@reddit
Check the rails at your local TK Maxx.
I’ve had some lovely quality clothes at knock down prices there.
Scratches_at_lvl_10@reddit
Uniqlo is probably the best for staples quality wise that are a reasonable price and not fast fashion - though dont bother w their wool stuff really. For that sorta thing ur gonna have to use charity shops, vinted and a lot of browsing, helps if u can mend clothes/ are comfortable sewing
Sad_Bastardo@reddit
Vinted, but before buying go to shops like zara, h&m, next, river island, uniqlo and find out your size for those brands, reduces instances of buying the wrong size when you can’t return
Tiny_Cauliflower_618@reddit
Weird fish. Pick the stuff you like, and buy it on sale - but be aware the sales tend to go lower and lower as the season goes on.
cegsywegs@reddit
Crew Clothing are good quality and always have a sale on
somesortageezer@reddit
Uniqlo
Conscious_Guess9637@reddit
The reality is there is no such thing as cheap when it comes to quality, unless there are slaves involved I guess.
I recommend buying less frequently and higher quality.
Cotton traders is a British brand which accommodates for a wide range of larger sizes.
jez_24@reddit
Marks and Spencer for basics.
Whodeytim@reddit
M&S outlets are a gold mine, I picked up an autograph jacket for about £30 last week and its so nice
GoanGeek@reddit
Primark
AshaAsha123@reddit
Mostly second hand from places like vinted and Ebay, you just have to doublecheck the sizing. Get the brand and label size and look on the brands website for the sizing guide. You won't really get anything new that's both good quality and cheap, things are cheap because the company cheaps out on the material costs and labour making it worse quality
allthingskerri@reddit
Go charity shops! Go a few towns away from where you actually live the 2000s stuff will be from the 2000s if you pick a more upscale place you can get mid to high brands for reasonable prices and pick a few bits that will go with everything not just trend focused and that will last you years then. Get a good mix of basics that will be staple pieces and a few trending pieces too.
Minute_Low6579@reddit
Maybe try some outdoor shops, passenger or go outdoors do some nice relaxed fit clothes
KittyHalfEyes@reddit
eBay. Setup specified search, and wait.
caligula__horse@reddit
Get used clothing from vinted or charity shops, but first learn what makes a good piece of clothing.
Learn what good sewing looks like, look what good finishing touches are like, look what good design looks like. This feels daunting, I know I get it, but you learn it once and it lasts forever really. You can search on YouTube, or you can just go to high end shops and see what they do.
Alternatively, make some of the clothes yourself if you have the time/patience and a simple taste. Making a t-shirt or a skirt, or a dress is super easy. Knitting a scarf or a hat it's relatively easy. Knitting jumpers is not too complex but also I don't see it as saving money really.
Also, super important, learn how to take care of your clothes. Not everything needs the same treatment, the vast majority of your clothes is not nearly dirty enough to need washing at 40/60° after every use. Wash less, wash at lower temperatures, wash less aggressively (use more delicate cycles to reduce friction and fibre wear)
Popular-Jury7272@reddit
How do you get good quality anything for cheap? You don't, if you're buying new. Buy second hand if cheap and quality are both requirements.
Busy-Doughnut6180@reddit
I like uniqlo.
knightsbridge-@reddit
Try local charity shops for now, and check Vinted later.
Even as a size 20, charity shops will still have a decent amount. A lot of what they're selling will also be Shein crap, but they'll have good stuff too, especially if you go to charity shops in semi-affluent areas.
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