HOW TO THRIFT LIKE A PRO

The decade's fastestgrowing trend is big on style, small on spend, environmentally friendly and a bunch of fun. Apply these strategies to channel your inner Kate Moss.

- PNINA FENSTER

I've long been drawn to clothing that's enjoyed a previous life – preloved pieces that range from Crazy second-hand bargains to collectable fashion treasures.

After all, what's not to love about a blend of soul, style and substance that's the exact opposite of landfill-breeding fast fashion?

Seeking out and styling up a thrifted piece is good for the environment and easier than ever, thanks to the online boom. But it's also a cost-effective way to access beautiful fabrics, lasting quality and unique styles. It's a romantic link to bygone eras and lives once lived. And it's a fun experience - a treasure hunt, dress-up box and lucky draw all at the same time.

My own induction into the world of thrifting (we're talking about a time before the word 'vintage' was en vogue) came long before Kate Moss turned it into a fashionable pastime. I overheard my grandmother and aunt in the dressing room laughing over a shared secret: the 'London design house' where my grandmother bought the glamorous ensembles for which she was renowned was, in fact, something called an Oxfam Charity Shop.

'Imagine what my admirers would say if they knew it was all second-hand,' Gran said, giggling. 'One beautiful dress after another.'

Needless to say, I couldn't wait to visit the London Oxfam Charity Shop myself.

My mother brought her own twist to the thrifting tale. She loathed shopping and didn't give a fig for fashion. But she still managed to look stunning in a wardrobe that consisted of castoffs, hand-me-downs and finds from fêtes. Plus, she was a drama teacher, which meant my childhood was filled with crates of donated costumes: 1940s wedding dresses, Shakespearean bodices, swashbuckler waistcoats, tulle petticoats and Jazz Age slips, each with its own mood.