Encore

More recently I have become obsessed with finding second hand treasures through dress agencies and online swap shops. I am very particular and often sceptical of the photos and quality of descriptions, as not many details are provided and you never know how well cared for they may be. So, more often than not, I end up just selecting the unworn or BNWT items to save both time and that broken-hearted feeling you get when you fall head over heels for something that just doesn't work out.

It all began as an opportunity to get my hands on collections from past seasons- you know, the few pieces you wish you had bought, like that Isabel Marant broderie anglaise dress you would have grabbed off the rails, were it not for your bank balance and inclement British summer weather preventing you. Then, before you know it, it's sold out everywhere and that plan you had about getting in in the sales? No chance.

My first purchase were a pair of Christian Louboutin Formentera 130, where the red sole was untouched, yet the price was a bargain and very much worth the risk of buying online (something I would never recommend with Louboutin, as sizing varies between styles). They have proven very handy this summer, and the ribbon tie has a knack for making your ankle look very narrow and ladylike (I bow down to you, Monsieur Louboutin).

I was also incredibly lucky to land my second steal, a pair of never-been-worn polka dot Miu Miu sandals from the summer 2011 collection. In a stunning lime green, they truly are a memorable piece; so memorable, in fact, that after 18 months I still couldn't get them off my mind. So, after too many hours scouring every website known to man, I managed to track them down. One pair. Green. In my size.

Paired with a simple slogan tee, tuxedo jacket and the boyfriend fit Phoebe jeans from MiH, I managed to wangle more compliments at a girly get-together than one person's ego can handle in one evening (being English and receiving compliments somehow doesn't mesh too well). In the space of 30 minutes they had more than earned their stripes- and I knew from that moment on that I had gotten my money's worth.

So, the moral of this story is that sometimes it really is just as exciting to find that odd special item you never forgot about as it would be getting brand new off the shop floor. Finally, if you still think that pre-loved isn't for you and you need more convincing, it also sounds good when you say: "Oh these? Well, I had them shipped over from Paris, darling".

Photo credit: Net-a-Porter.com; Goody Two-Choos