Celebrate Second-hand September by meeting Sharon Thomas aka ‘Rebel with A Vintage Cause’

But is there an element of shopping in person that’s lost when buying online? Is shopping ‘fast fashion’ always the best option? Recently we were lucky enough to speak with Sharon Thomas of ‘Rebel With A Vintage Cause’ who has gained a large following online by visiting charity shops locally and sharing her finds. Sharon videos herself in the charity shops on the hunt for vintage clothing and gives a different view. 

Sharon, also known as ‘Rebel With A Vintage Cause’ has a large following on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok even though she only started sharing her love of bargain hunting earlier this year. Her videos are a joy to watch as she immerses herself in the physical experience of shopping in charity shops and shares her finds with her followers. 

When we asked Sharon how the idea for the channel came about, she said it came to her after being on a cruise where she saw many people in wonderful, colourful clothing. Sharon shared that after losing her mum, she fell into a depression and wore mostly dark and boring clothing. However, she had always been interested in fashion and decided it was time to change the narrative. She notes how she admired others who dressed to express themselves and she wanted to do this too. Sharon shares that she wanted to dress ‘flamboyantly’ and her social media channels have allowed her to dress without fear of judgment. Even if she gets negative comments, she carries on regardless.

Originally, Sharon told us that she created the page on Facebook as a side hustle for a little more income. Yet, what started as a little idea quickly grew into something much more. With over 5.5K followers on Facebook, Sharon began to create a community of others who share her interest in vintage clothing. 

Sharon tells us ‘vintage’ means something over ten years old. Sharon told us that she never intended for the page to become such a success so quickly, but that it gave her something that belonged to only her and that her time in the shop is vital because it’s her version of ‘self-care.’ 

Sharon said when she was younger, her brother used to call her ‘tatty’ because she often seemed mismatched, but little did she know, her interest in clothing and fashion would become her superpower. Sharon told us she completed a degree in Illustration and has always loved to be creative. But as with many of us, different times in life can distract us from our passions and it took losing her mum to take the decision to live life to the fullest and embrace her colourful identity.

We asked Sharon why she chose to call the page ‘Rebel With A Vintage Cause’ and she said after brainstorming with her husband, she wanted to choose a name that reflected her personality. She intentionally chose the word ‘rebel’ because she often feels she doesn’t fit in and she likes to break the rules. 

We all know when it comes to fashion, some people can be a little ‘snobby’ and can turn their nose up at shopping second-hand. When we asked Sharon for her take on this, she told us that charity shops aren’t what they used to be and there are some that have a real boutique feel about them. She says she’s not really into designer items and is more attracted to colour and material.

Sharon also says she looks for items with potential and that stand out. She says the best thing to remember is not to look for labels but to look for colour, material and texture. Sharon also said that sadly some people will have their views and will not agree with shopping second hand, but if that’s the case then they won’t be her people anyway.

For Sharon, it’s about having a wardrobe that’s exciting. She encourages others not to be set in their ways. What really hit home for us, was when she said this gives her motivation and an excitement to get dressed every day. Sharon also took this opportunity to talk about the challenges she faces in her sixties and that many women feel they can’t be bold at this age. Sharon’s clear message is that beauty and fashion don’t have an age restriction and that you can choose to stand out from the crowd, regardless of what others think. 

We asked Sharon for top tips for shopping second-hand and this is what she said:

1. Make sure you look up and look down. Don’t just look at the displays. Look beyond the front of the store. Look everywhere for bargains.
2. Don’t stick to just your size, sizes can vary. Don’t discount items too quickly.
3. Look in the men’s section! You never know what you’ll find!
4. Go for sale rails. Look for bargains. Look in the bins and underneath items. 
5. Don’t be afraid to rummage or make a mess.

We asked Sharon what she would say to someone who is thinking of starting out online and her words were ‘Just start. Don’t overthink it. You’ll learn along the way.’

We can all get caught up on labels sometimes but the thought of spending £40 on a jacket when she knows she can get something just as good in a charity shop, has encouraged her to make better spending decisions. Over the next year, Sharon plans to continue with her channel and hopefully find more exciting opportunities by sharing her passion online. 

However, you engage with second-hand September, there’s no denying that it’s better for the environment and cheaper. I personally think we could all take a leaf out of Sharon’s book.

You can follow her Facebook page @Rebel with A Vintage Cause

Her Instagram handle is @rebelwithavintage

Or you can connect on TikTok @rebelwithavintage