PHOTOGRAPHY Jasmine Engel-Malone
The first time I attended London Fashion Week, I didn’t have a single ticket, I didn’t have a cousin or a housemate working backstage or on the door, and I wasn’t interning or assisting anybody. I simply put on my best (attempted) outfits and stood outside, hoping enough photographers would take notice that the eternally intimidating, clipboard-wielding PRs would let me stand at the back and catch a glimpse of the magic.
I was 18, an eager fashion student, and found selecting these outfits to be the single most anxiety-inducing experience of my year, especially as I wasn’t wealthy or connected enough to clobber up in designer labels or showroom samples. Instead, I would pour over pages of ‘best dressed’ round-ups and try to emulate the silhouettes and colour stories worn by celebrities and OG bloggers like Susie Bubble, Tavi Gevinson, and Blair Eadie.
Nearly a decade on, my relationship with fashion week dressing has changed dramatically. Maybe it’s because my entry to these exclusive events is no longer determined by my peacocking prowess, but this is also down to developing a love for sustainable style. So this season, when eBay reached out to offer sustainable style advice from its Pre-Loved Style Director, Amy Bannerman, I jumped at the chance.
“Fashion week is all about newness – but we don’t always need new things,” Bannerman explains. For London’s AW25 show season, she dressed an illustrious list of magazine editors and industry experts to show off just how stylish pre-loved fashion can be. “If you really look at the runway, you’ll notice that most trends are just modern takes on pieces that have come before, so why not shop the originals and save money? I love that eBay is showing up on fashion’s biggest stage and proving that authentic designer fashion doesn’t have to be out of reach!”
If you really look at the runway, you’ll notice that most trends are just modern takes on pieces that have come before, so why not shop the originals and save money?
When she’s not styling Dua Lipa and Sophie Turner, or selecting lover-girl looks for the Love Island villa, Bannerman works with eBay to champion responsible shopping and sustainable fashion. In September, eBay opened the official London Fashion Week schedule with its Endless Runway, showcasing exclusively pre-loved designer garments.
As aesthetic fatigue hits gen-Z the hardest – who have grown up with the fastest fashion industry yet – a return to cultivating personal style and rejecting trend cycles is only natural. According to global environmental action NGO WRAP, new research has revealed that pre-loved businesses are displacing sales of new clothing. The data found that for every five times people repair existing items of clothing, four new items of clothing are ‘displaced’ by people no longer buying them. In addition, for every five items bought second-hand online, three new items are subsequently not bought on average, as a result.
Additionally, across red carpets and street-style round-ups, fashion’s insatiable appetite for archival designs shows no signs of slowing down. In her role at eBay, Bannerman has indulged her eye for finding rare designer pieces. To support my pre-loved looks, eBay sourced a Miu Miu Micro Hobo in blush pink and a black brushed leather re-edition of the iconic Prada tote bag from 1995.
“So many runway looks are directly inspired by vintage pieces, which makes blending preloved fashion into high-fashion outfits feel completely seamless,” says Bannerman. “I’ve found so many wardrobe staples on eBay – classic leather jackets, vintage jeans, and men’s t-shirts – which I love to style with more statement, modern pieces. For example, I wear my vintage finds with something unexpected, like my Dauan Jacari skirt, to create a unique look.”
For Day 1 of London Fashion Week, I paired the Prada re-edition bag with my 10-year-old prom dress, lovingly purchased in a French Connection sale in 2015. The dress came in two parts – a navy blue mini slip dress, and a black long-sleeved maxi mesh overlay complete with velvet flower appliques and beaded adornments. I chose to wear the mesh layer over the top of some dark blue Bimba Y Lola jeans (my first-ever PR gift), and a simple black bra to enhance the dress’ details.
I’m proud to admit I’ve become an outfit repeater (thank you, pioneer Lizzie Maguire), and this has undoubtedly altered my approach to self-styling, no longer concerned by whether or not I wore an item or clothing combination to a previous season’s fashion shows. As I carefully curate my dream wardrobe, the garments that most frequently reappear in Fashion Week fits are the most practical, which also makes them the most stress-free.
Comfort is also Bannerman’s top priority when dressing for London Fashion Week or any busy occasions – avoiding anything too tight or restrictive, especially pieces that feel progressively less comfortable throughout a busy day. “I love layering, so I can strip back if it’s too hot inside a show, and when I’m not wearing a layer, I’ll tie it around my waist to add extra detail to my outfit,” she shares. “Sunglasses are also a must, and I always bring a bag big enough to carry everything I might need throughout the day.”
But just because an outfit is comfortable, it’s not to say it doesn’t have aesthetic appeal. For Day 2, I styled my Chopova Lowena carabiner skirt with a Senja by Maddie t-shirt I made at one of her workshops, a cardigan I stole from my Grandma, a brown leather jacket sourced from Vinted and some stomping brown leather boots from Dr Martens via Schuh. I paired the look with my new-to-me ruby Coach Brooklyn bag, adorned with bag charms courtesy of Dreamland, the Scandinavian pick-n-mix accessories hub that recently opened in Covent Garden.
Bannerman encourages customisation as the ultimate styling hack to add personal touches to any pre-loved item. “For eBay’s Endless Runway show last season, I completely transformed a Mulberry bag by adding charms and chains—it instantly felt cooler and more personal. I’d definitely recommend accessorising preloved bags this way, and eBay has an incredible selection of pre-loved designer bags and unique key rings to make it your own,” she explains. “I also love buying vintage varsity jackets and collegiate sweatshirts that mean something to me and already come personalised with appropriate initials —I’ve even added my son’s initials to one which feels very special! I recently came across an eBay seller who custom-embroidered trainers, and I love that idea too.”
For my final day running between runways and presentations around the British fashion capital, I paired the Miu Miu Micro Hobo bag with, a floral applique shirt from French Connection, a salmon suede suit jacket swiped at Peckham carboot, a charity shop bubblegum tie, some sparkling silver Alohas trainers via Schuh, and an extra-comfortable pair of vintage, extra-wide blue denim.
My suede jacket and denim jeans both needed some serious TLC upon first purchase, but Bannerman explains that caring for your pre-loved finds doesn’t have to result in extortionate dry-cleaning bills: “Denim actually needs to be washed far less than most people think, and leather can be air-dried if it ever feels musty. One of my favourite tricks for refreshing vintage leather is using a spray bottle with water and a few drops of essential oils – it makes such a difference.”
What made me feel so comfortable each day was the confidence I felt in these outfits, as I already knew I loved the pieces and felt excited to show them off – even in more maximalist pairings than my day-to-day style. This has also been a reminder to continue experimenting with the clothes I already own if I’m ever feeling stuck in a style rut. And in the most dramatic of instances, when my existing wardrobe truly doesn’t suffice, something new to me doesn’t have to be newly-made to unlock endless possibilities of innovative outfit ideas – oftentimes, the trendiest items are pre-loved, as it’s that love that determines their sartorial value.
As for Bannerman’s own fashion week wardrobe, she shared the items she’s currently seeking out: “Right now, I’m on the hunt for a vintage satin or silk men’s polka dot pyjama shirt to wear with blue jeans or my black satin mini skirt. I’m also buying more trainers – I love incorporating a sporty element into my wardrobe, and comfort is key. eBay has such an amazing selection, plus the Authenticity Guarantee gives me total confidence when shopping for designer sneakers. Leather jackets are also having a major moment, so I’ve been investing in some really good ones. That said, my all-time favourite is still the vintage Gap bomber I found on eBay for just £40!”
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