Preparing for my very first Mercedez Benz fashion week in Stockholm this week - rather lately, as in the weekend before, as I often find myself underprepared - I turned my attention to Stockholm's second-hand and 'vintage' clothes shops.
First port of call was Myrona near the shipping port of Frihammen. Here sits a rather a mammoth charity shop like nothing I've seen before back in the UK with three floors of second-hand clothes, furniture, books, bric-a-brac, fabrics - you name it.
Amongst the tired t-shirts and worn leather soles of 80s heels I came across an oriental-style powder blue dress for 105 kr (that's around a tenner in British Sterling). It was actually more than I wanted to spend believe it or not but the allure of this eastern wonder got me. It's the second second-hand oriental-style piece I'd bought in as many weeks without meaning to.
It's mid-length - sits just on the middle of the calf - that lovely slimming, womanly length and although I'm not really one for pastels, I am one for change, something different.
Spurred on by my Myrona buy, I headed to Beyond Retro in Stockholm's Sofo district; an area of cool hangouts, retro stores and a major hipster population.
There's a great range of vintage, retro and re-made items using old fabrics. The prices range from cheap to H&M prices but what's great about this and many other second-hand shops is the choice and the potential to look different.
I mentioned recently about my fear of becoming a Stockholm clone (http://stormonthecatwalk.blogspot.se/2013/08/i-think-im-turning-swedanese-i-think-im.html). Buying vintage is one great way around this. One man's rubbish is another man's treasure, and another woman's chance to buy something different. If fashion is about showcasing personality, it follows that buying only high-street brands where items are made en masse, the risk of losing one's personality amongst the clothes rails is high.
That said. Heading to high-street stores with sales that are hanging on for dear life after weeks on discount is another good place to head to. These are the heavily reduced items that utimately no one else wants - sometimes for good reason - but that are available to you for but a token.
I got a cute tee from Zara yesterday and a mottle green chunky knit jumper from Bik Bok, both for 49 kr each (that's a fiver each).
Don't say I don't ever share my secrets.
Enjoy MB Stockholm Fashion Week lovely people.
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