I was privileged to receive a copy of The Secondhand Wardrobe for review, and I found it to have an amazingly broad scope.  The book begins with a chapter about the advantages of shopping secondhand, from finance to fashion.  It addresses some common concerns.  Most of my readers already shop secondhand, however, and will not need to be convinced. 🙂

For those who have decided that they are willing to go this route, the author then discusses the various secondhand options.  The remainder of the book focuses on thrift stores.

Before we get to the actual shopping, though, we need to make a plan.  A whole section is devoted to explaining, step-by-step, how to plan a wardrobe.  Knowing what you do need can help you avoid wasting resources on pieces you don’t need!

Finally, about the second half of the book is devoted to time in the store itself.  The tips for making the most of your time when it’s limited are helpful.  There are also tips for recognizing pieces that aren’t really any good and are best left behind.  How to check for fit is explained, as well as how to launder your finds (and whether you really need to be as cautious in laundering as the label claims).

Overall, I found this to be a very good “how-to-dress-well” book from a secondhand shopper’s perspective.  It also has a somewhat “green” or eco-friendly slant.  The book itself is small so you can carry it with you to the store.  It’s pretty basic, but it’s thorough.

It would make a great coming-of-age gift for a young lady, as it addresses both fashion and frugality and it isn’t an overwhelming read.  Of course it is also helpful for grown-up “girls” new to secondhand shopping, which is the original target audience. 🙂

Disclosure: I received a free pdf copy of this book to facilitate my review.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.