Top Tips | Chillie London 2/2

We have just dropped our latest coats and jackets online and there are some true gems in there with more being added weekly! This week we shared our favourite trends and what Pre-loved clothes you can have to recreate them. Check out Who What Wear for the full run down but here's a sneak peek.

https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/autumn-winter-secondhand-trends

We asked the team at Chillie London to create the ultimate cheat sheet for us. Scroll down to discover their favourite trends for the season ahead as well as some pre-loved pieces we've got our eye on.

DENIM

"Another trick of the trade is layering jackets over coats. Denim is the perfect layer: It's a neutral that goes with everything. Lydia has worn her biker-style denim jacket over her faux-snakeskin Clockwork trench and then added red trainers for a pop of colour. Natalie has this amazing padded denim jacket on. We love sourcing alternative denim jackets that have extra details like padding, zips and extra pockets. Vintage denim is in abundance, so you can really find some amazing pieces. Natalie has layered her look with a vintage Japanese football top and cords."

THE MAXI COAT

"These maxi coats are statement pieces and as such don't need much styling. We love to play with colour at Chillie, and so Natalie has worn this khaki coat with navy blue. Take a risk with contrasting colours and use unusual colour-blocking as a fun way to restyle pieces you already have in your wardrobe. Lydia has this incredible padded leather coat and has styled it with browns to give a softer feel to this heavy piece."

BROWN

"Brown is another massive trend and one that is so easy to source on the pre-loved market! We are obsessed with wearing thicker jackets as jumpers and styling them with longer-length coats. Looking for unusual linings can break up the tones, too. Lydia has a statement suede animal-print jacket, which she's belted and pulled in tight to flatter her shape. She has added a pre-loved Lacoste rugby T-shirt and simple black jeans and boots. This look has a slightly '80s feel about it, so adding jeans and current footwear keep it looking relevant and on-trend."

TAILORING

"No one can deny that tailoring is big right now. We chose grey tones for this trend and are playing with texture and print to give it some edge. Lydia has this super-cool woollen St Michael skirt suit layered with a waistcoat over the jacket, which is actually a padded lining from another coat. Don't be afraid to get creative! Natalie has styled a classic pinstripe blazer with a loose boiler suit and vintage T-shirt. Just make sure the blazer is oversized."

LEATHER

"These incredible leather coats are winter's answer to the cotton trench. Look for shape in the shoulders and across the front and back. Lydia is wearing this epic red leather coat and has added loafers. Then she's paired it with simple nylon tracksuit bottoms but has tied the waist to add shape. Natalie has left her coat loose and has layered a suede jacket underneath to break up the black. We've styled this combo with Adidas tracksuit bottoms and trainers for a modern twist."

PINK

"Pink is the colour of the season, but we like to turn pink into a more universal trend by wearing the colour with pieces you may not expect. Here, Natalie wears a suede bomber and trousers, combining two shades of pink that work really well together. She adds white trainers to give it a neutral pop. Lydia has styled a simple shirt dress with a really oversized men's suede jacket. Beige and pink look great together, and combining the two is a stylish way to wear the trend for autumn."

Chillie Journal’s guide to vintage fashion for novices & newbies

When it comes to vintage clothing the seemingly endless combinations of decades and styles can seem daunting if you're yet to discover the magic of re-wearing, but trust us, there's a world of fresh style inspo to be found. The Chillie London team have put together our ultimate beginners guide to start wearing vintage.

Start With a Staple

Introducing vintage to your daily outfits doesn't have to start with a total clear out of your entire wardrobe, that would be unrealistic, not to mention expensive. Instead, start with a single staple piece, something you can add into your existing outfits; something that works well with everything and slots into your wardrobe effortlessly. Think a chic leather trench, some fabulous flared jeans or even something as simple as some classic deadstock gold jewellery.

Bright doesn't Always Equal Best

Sometimes, people tend to associate vintage with the kitschy aspects of the past; don't get us wrong we love a statement piece, but there's so much more to vintage fashion than neon ra-ra skirts and lurex parachute pants. But don't immediately feel like you have to start with the more out there pieces, start simple and focus more on finding silhouettes and materials you like.

Mix Old and New

The best outfits are always a mix of vintage and contemporary, designer and high street. So don't think that in order to wear vintage, you've got to wear head-to-toe retro looks. Instead see this as an opportunity to flex your styling skills and to create some seriously elevated looks. 70's dress? Pair it with some modern boots or trainers. Vintage Levis? perfect to style with your favourite silk shirt and jewellery.

Do Your Research

Not sure where to start? What era really speaks to you? What labels to look out for? Do some research! Start by finding your style inspiration, someone who you think always looks fabulous and go from there; whether it's Paris Hilton circa 2000 or Marilyn Monroe in her Some Like it Hot era. Love a specific luxury designer label? Guess what, you can probably find some amazing vintage pieces of theirs for a fraction of the price of their current season, and the best part? You'll own a unique piece of that brands history.

Invest in What you Love

Not a fan of prom dresses? Easy, don't buy them. Love everything to do with handbags? Then focus your efforts on finding the most fabulous vintage handbags you can find. If you've already got a genuine love for buying, wearing and collecting a specific style, item or piece then being able to find fabulous vintage versions will be even more rewarding, and will add unique pieces to your collection.

Shop Around

Vintage shopping can be an incredibly fun hobby, or more like an extreme sport at times. Enjoy spending a Sunday afternoon travelling to far flung corners of your city to root around shop basements, eagerly picking through railings upon railings of pieces, after which you'll feel amazing when you find a piece that seems like it was just made for you. And if in-person hunting isn't your thing then there's a world of amazing online content (Chillie London being one of the best ones, obviously) curated especially for vintage lovers and newbies alike.

Wear What Makes you Feel Good

When buying any clothing, old or new, the most important thing is to always ask yourself 'Does this make me amazing?' if the answer is anything other than 'Hell yeah' then it's not worth a penny of your hard earned cash. Off the hanger something might look like the most amazing piece you've ever seen, but if you're not as obsessed once it's on then it's just going to sit in your wardrobe gathering dust.