Travelling in secondhand style - Guest blog by Gabby.

My friends Gabby & Calum left the UK to backpack around Asia & New Zealand in 2018 & I have been checking the instagram updates religiously ever since. They both work creatively while on the road through there own instagrams and a collaborative called Gouda Creative, I have linked there website below- go check it out! Gabby is as much into second hand clothing as I am and I thought it was really cool that she kitted herself out through eBay, depop & charity shops because so many of us run of to the high street stores for our holiday wardrobe and this just shows that you can dress fucking boss for less.

OVER TO GABBY ...

Hey!

Packing for an unknown amount of time was a stressful task back in June, when it comes to packing I’m usually a pack everything including the dog kind of person. This resulted in me packing my bag three times, I learnt, after trying my backpack on and not being able to walk the length of the house, that less is actually more practical. With lots of “Do you really need that?” from my boyfriend I managed to pack a limited wardrobe for our trip across Asia and onto New Zealand. 

Nearly everything I bought for the trip was second hand in some form, with saving for the trip, paying rent and trying to have a life I was on a tight budget. Charity shops, Ebay and Depop were saviours for my bank balance. I found some absolute gems in my hours of scouring the internet and charity shops, yes, these things take longer but theres nothing better than knowing you got a brand new pair of £80 trainers for 15 quid. 15 POUNDS! That happened! I needed a pair of comfy trainers that could be worn for exploring as well as look decent for bars etc, so I spent a while on Ebay and Depop watching various unworn pairs. Somehow I lucked out on a pair, which a girl had bought but were too small and missed the return date.They’ve latest me 6 months and are still the best trainers I have ever owned!

My three stand by travel items have to include said trainers, a retro sports hoodie which I got in the Beyond Retro ‘Garage Sale’ cheap and has been my saviour so many times (it was the warmest thing I had until I got to New Zealand).  The third has to be my Levi cut off shorts which I found in a charity shop a few years back and have worn on many holidays since. They go with everything, literally everything; I’ve worn them hiking, on the beach and to bars with a nice top. They're a bit big but I cinch them in with a belt and they don’t show my butt cheeks. Win!

Travelling with a limited wardrobe has been a challenge, as at home I have a double wardrobe bursting with clothes, so now I have to get creative with my outfits. Layering is key! My favourite vintage Miami t-shirt goes with so many things, I dress it up for going out buy putting a knot in the front making it a cropped top with a body con midi skirt or wear it super casual with a pair of jeans or under my dungarees. I recently tried it out under a black vest top for a 90’s vibe which seemed to work. It’s also been on a few hikes with shorts or leggings too! I do wash it in between and wear one of my other few t-shirts, I swear! 

I have learnt since going travelling that a ‘capsule’ wardrobe is better, I don’t find myself thinking the classic ‘I have nothing to wear!’ with a full wardrobe in front of me. Having less options means I have had to get more creative and wear things I wouldn’t usually wear but I think it’s made me more brave just to wear the things I like rather than follow the latest trends. When I get home I will definitely be slimming down my wardrobe with a rather big donation to my local charity shops.

https://goudacreative.com