Vintage For Kids By Miranda Porter
Lets get the kids some second hand garms.
So, this article has been handed over to my sister who not only has a vintage clothing platform, Lines, but also happens to be a mother of two extraordinarily cool dudes and my two best friends (although I have a slights suspicion that I’m not theres). We both believe deeply in the reuse market and it seems especially important when it comes to those little tykes who seem to grow every time the move. So I asked her to rustle through her filo fax and find us some old school threads for the next generation.
As I reach across the coffee table to jealously scrunch the woven sleeve of my friend's toddler, enjoying the luxurious density between my fingers, I become aware of something. Slowly and quietly, like a thief in the night, children's clothes have become quite important, and in some cases, (knitwear) very.
My boys don't share the same interest in preloved finds, favouring stained fleeces with teddy bears. If you see me hurtling from one of North London's soft play horrors to the next, you'll notice that their wishes/ tantrums are my commands. However, there are those brief moments, let's say, a judgmental grandparent or competitive friend, when breaking out the good stuff is necessary.
To do this, you can either spend a small fortune on brands like Bobo Choses or La Coqueta, or you go second-hand and fight for real beauties. ‘Fight’ is only a slight exaggeration because as soon as these drops come, they get snapped up. But here, to add to the competition and make us all feel that bit much more alive, is my list of online favourites.
Obviously, the first place to look is your local charity shops. My favourites are Oxfam and Fara, which often have some excellent finds, especially for outwear. They both have limited stock online but its best to browse in person.
Next up are eBay and Vinted. No big revelation, but they’re filled with bundles of clothes based on age ranges once a family has got through them. More often than not, as kids grow so quickly, the clothes tend to be in great nick.
Excellent quality, unique and a good eye for detail, some lovely pieces to invest in.
A sweet curated collection, my favourite is this beautiful 1950s cowboy set, pictured below.
This is all about giving second-hand designer clothing another chance at life. A very good option for sports/athleisure wear.
Since 2015, Petit Pays Vintage has been committed to rethinking children's fashion through an ever-changing collection of immaculate mid-century vintage clothes.
A good no-nonsense option for maternity, baby and kids' clothes
Manchester-based vintage, handpicked straight out of the 80's and 90’s, with dungarees galore.
E&E kids vintage is excellent if you want to find that little flair to make sure your little’un stands out in the playground, all at reasonable prices.
This is a lovely little store run by four sisters (!).. It has some of my favourite pieces, especially these striped dungarees.
Monkey Threads proclaims itself to be French Pre-loved clothes and ‘old’ but in a good way. There is nothing to disagree with here—especially this green wool coat.
A lovely one to follow on Instagram for stock colourful stock updates.
Focusing on some of my favourite brands, including OshKos and Bobo Choses, there is a wide range of pre-loved pieces and an excellent ‘box’ service where the founder will source anything from a few items to a complete wardrobe refresh after a 1-to-1 consultation.
14. One More Time In Circulation
This is a one-stop shop for the preloved, vintage and small brands to ensure all tiny wardrobes are ready for summer.
