Swap till you drop (in your own closet!)

Claire Daemen

Claire Daemen

Hospitality Host at Wonders of Work & Photographer

Clothing Swap Wonders of Work

Written by Claire

Scrolling for hours on Vinted or scoring that one authentic blazer at the thrift store: vintage shopping has been all the hype for a while now. But in 2021, that trend took a new turn. When the comedy drama And Just Like That - the follow-up series to Sex and the City - came out, fast fashion chains in particular benefited extra from the vintage items worn in the series.

Why. The fashion trends from the series became wildly popular among Gen Z and millennials via social media. So the chains did what they always do: copy what works. That resulted in not the vintage sector, but mainly the fast fashion industry benefiting the most from the Carrie Bradshaw revival.

Dupe after dupe appeared on the internet. Take, for example, the cute little heel called the kitten heel - also called mules. Retrieved from TikTok stand thousands of counterfeit copies under the search term Kitten Heels Carrie Bradshaw, but then on sale at various fast fashion chains. Even Vogue Scandinavia wrote a trend report on Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2024, headlined: ‘Carrie Bradshaw heels were all over Copenhagen Fashion Week’.

Believe me, the hype is real.

Don't get me wrong - I would kill for Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe. And of course, the fact that dupes of trends are being made in the fashion world is not suddenly due to the new season of And Just Like That. The thing I am trying to tell through this story is this:

Wardrobe
Continue to be inspired by the modelooks from series like this - they remain by now anyway iconic. But when you think: Oeh, I want that item too’, don't immediately grab your laptop. First rummage through your own closet and see what you still have. Or the wardrobes of your family, neighbours, friends or acquaintances. You will often find the nicest surprises!

Indeed: ELLE predicts that rummaging through your own wardrobe will be the trend for autumn: ‘Dive into a mountain of clothes and see what sticks - at first glance, that's what this fashion trend seems to imply. But a trained eye can really see that there is a thought behind this eclectic mix of colours, textures and prints.’

Upcycle
You know what's also a fat trend? Upcycle! Make that one blouse tailored yourself, or wear your Adidas shorts as an off-shoulder top - totally hip! Just ask TikTok.

What I'm trying to say is: be creative with that wardrobe, because there's so much more to it than you think! Would you like to join too?

Then come to the Clothing Swap at Wonders of Work on Friday 3 October from 17:00 to 19:00. Swap your old clothes (or vinyl records) for something new - absolutely free! Come along, bring your old items and browse around to find your new favourite item.

Claire Daemen
Claire Daemen

Hospitality Host at Wonders of Work & Photographer

I am a journalist with a heart for fashion, people and stories. As a hospitality host at Wonders of Work, I make everyone feel welcome,...

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