Stroll through any major UK city and check out what everyone’s wearing – you may feel you’ve been transported back to the 90s. That’s when Hollywood stars were Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt; Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders were on TV in AbFab; and we were listening to Madonna and the Spice Girls.
And what were we wearing? Slip dresses, cargo trousers, slingback heels and combat boots which are all now back in fashion. Those clothes in your wardrobe you’ve thought little of for the past three decades – now called vintage 90s wear – could actually make you some money as fashion fans devour them in charity shops and online.
Susie Nelson, of vintage boutique Modes & More in Westminster, says: ‘Gen Z and Millennials can’t remember the 90s but this resurgence in fashion from the decade means they can incorporate these past styles into their contemporary wardrobe.’
And this longing for 90s designer fashion from Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier to Armani and Yves Saint Laurent could boost your bank account by several hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, experts say.
Elena Jackson, of Ewbank’s Auctions, says: ‘Look at what real people are wearing on city streets. There are rainbows of savvy fashionistas sporting their own perceptions of what is in vogue in places like London, Bristol and Manchester.’
Stars and stripes: Clockwise from left, Italian brand Moschino is loved for its bold colours; the ‘Diana’ Dior handbag; and a pair of floral Dr Martens are all from the 90s
For a free valuation of 90s gear, try auction houses such as Lawrences Auctioneers in Somerset and Buckinghamshire-based Bourne End Auction Rooms.
Cash in your old clothes
If you still need some inspiration to start rootling around in your wardrobe, four months ago a red Yves Saint Laurent mac sold at Ewbank’s Auctions, in Surrey, for £485 after an estimate of £150.
The Italian brand synonymous with the 90s is Moschino, much loved for its funky designs and bold colours. Now, a 1992 duvet jacket with patchwork colours and patterns is going for £715 on online marketplace Etsy. The design is much like the quilted fast fashion coats now sported by Gen Z, so a vintage original will make a tidy sum online.
But if bold colours were never your style, Moschino’s tamer tailored pieces also prove popular. A black double-breasted jacket sells for £1,033 on e-commerce site 1stDibs – not a bad return on an old blazer you’ve forgotten about.
Also on 1stDibs is a Jean Paul Gaultier wraparound cashmere coat, at £1,938. An Yves Saint Laurent black short jacket sells for £545 online at London-based vintage clothing store Circa Vintage.
Vintage pieces from Armani will also be a hit with younger dressers. An early 90s woven crepe jacket with a ruched waist is going for £175; a pair of brown pointed Armani kitten heels for £96; and a black Moschino slip dress for £155 on online marketplace Etsy.
Well-heeled shoes fly
Young fashionistas also have shoes high on their wanted list.
Chanel has always been synonymous with understated chic but its leather combat boots from the 1992-93 Autumn/Winter collection are right on trend – and a knee-high pair sold for £2,200 in Kerry Taylor Auctions in Bermondsey.
Staple 90s footwear Dr Martens is still trendy but vintage Docs are hot property. A pair of 90s floral boots are one of the better designs you could find tucked away, according to Lynnette Hecker, who runs Lovely’s Vintage Emporium, based in Bath. Some boots with floral prints go for more than £100 on reselling websites such as Depop and Vinted as young fashionistas race to find a pair that has a history. Not a bad return when a pair of Docs cost £45 in the 90s, according to independent shoe shop A.G. Meek.
Most 90s pairs of Doc Martens prove popular on reselling websites, so if there’s an old pair you’ve forgotten about, it’s worth digging them out. And don’t forget, says Lynnette, all shoes will fetch a higher price if in their original box.
Handbags are hot
Handbags are some of the most lucrative 90s pieces you could find tucked away, according to Ms Jackson. She says: ‘I can’t express this enough. Use them and love them but look after handbags – keep all the receipts and original boxes. Plus, handbags fit everyone, so size is not a restricting factor for keeping them as with clothing.’
Chic: Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders
One of the most sought after is the dinky black quilted Lady Dior Lambskin handbag by Christian Dior. Made popular by Princess Diana, it also comes in hot pink and red. While Dior still sells the bag for around £5,000, pre-loved bags in pristine condition hold their value well. One sold last October at Ewbank’s Auctions for £1,560, including fees – hundreds more than its estimate. Online sites such as bella-ling.com sell them for around £2,950.
Even high-street bags from trendy brands like Kookai, Accessorize and GAP will sell for £30 to £40 on sites like Depop.
High street favourites
Upmarket high street brands such as Red or Dead, Evisu or Morgan are regulars on second-hand clothing sites like Vinted or Depop.
Ms Hecker says: ‘High street items have held their value as much as high fashion. It’s all about quality as they will always sell even if they’re more than 20 years old.’
She believes a puffer jacket from high street label The North Face is a hidden gem. That’s because the brand now runs a line – Nuptse 1996 – inspired by the retro jacket. One of these new puffer jackets sells for £315 but any vintage The North Face coat could pocket you £200.
St Michael is collectable!
If you were around in the 90s (and earlier) you might remember Marks & Spencer’s old brand St Michael as staid and rather old-fashioned but it is being snaffled up by Gen Z.
While selling these items won’t net you big bucks, Emily London, a vintage fashion expert who runs a self-titled website, believes they will appreciate in value with their continued popularity.
St Michael clothes have the production year on the clothing label so it is easy to spot if you have a 90s vintage. Emily also cites Wallis to rise in value. She says: ‘The quality of 90s Wallis coats is hard to beat. Oversize tailoring, languid silhouettes and subtle finishing details makes items easy to wear with modern pieces.’
How to really clean up…
Clothes are made to be worn so some wear and tear is natural. But to optimise their value, ensure they are laundered – invest in a steamer for as little as £25 from Argos and check all seams and buttons.
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