A great deal of my own wardrobe is of the pre-owned variety, but I thought I’d share the following story to highlight just how effective shopping this way can be.
Two or three years ago at one of my local pubs, a lad (early to mid-twenties) came up and asked me about something he was going to buy. I knew him to say hello to, but not more than that. He asked me as I was the only person he knew who ever wore suits.
He wanted advice on a Gomez Addams outfit for a party he was going to (his girlfriend wanted to go as Morticia, so he had no choice in the matter). He showed me something on Amazon made of cheap plastic that cost just shy of fifty quid! What a total waste of money. It looked terrible and would struggle to make it through the single night of the party.
I took him next door to my tailor’s, and although he would not be spending any money there, as I am a good customer they measured him up as a favour to me.
On returning to the pub, we fed his details into eBay and found a real suit that did exactly what he wanted for a little over half the price of what he was going to pay for the plastic junk. Although concerned about buying an ‘actual’ suit, he ordered it.
About a week later he phoned me to say it had arrived (I had given him my card) and we met up in another pub as that was closer to where he lived. He wore his new suit. The fit was spot on and he looked great. I often get pre-owned clothes to my size then get them adjusted anyway, but there was no need at all here.
Somehow we had forgotten to order a tie, so I just gave him one of mine. I worked at an undertaker’s many years ago, so have a selection of black ties to choose from. Needless to say, I also had to teach him how to tie it, but even though I personally dislike the four-in-hand knot, if you can tie your shoes, you can do a four-in-hand.
A couple of weeks after that, after the party had been attended, I walked into the pub to find several beers already paid for and ready to go. His outfit was a massive hit at the party and he wanted to say thank you for my help.
Apparently almost everybody else there was in plastic rubbish that was falling apart before the night ended and even the bits that weren’t were almost certainly consigned to the dustbin the following morning. Where he still had a very sharp suit to wear whenever he wanted or needed to.
Although he does not wear suits, I often see him about now dressed much more smartly than he used to, as he now knows just how cheaply good quality garments can be found on the pre-owned market.