For many of us, the idea of building a wardrobe out of almost all thrifted clothes seems daunting, yet Hannah Rose makes it look easy.
Hannah Rose, a seasoned thrifter, has made a name for herself by curating remarkable finds and sharing her insights on Instagram and TikTok (@hannah_____rose___). From stumbling upon the treasure troves of charity shops, to inspiring countless others to embrace secondhand shopping, Hannah’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this exclusive interview, she shares her story, tips for finding hidden gems, and the joy of crafting a wardrobe full of character and history.
Can you share the story of how you first got into thrifting? What initially drew you to it?
I had dabbled in the past but I really fell in love with it when I moved to London, found myself penniless and discovered the abundance of charity shops down every high street. It was so accessible and the clothes were so old, it was like uncovering precious artefacts. I became obsessed with the treasure hunt – my first and most prized find was a 1950s sequinned bolero for £9.
It was honestly such a relief to release myself from the way I used to feel shopping in normal stores; the pressure to spend as much as possible, to bend my tastes to suit what they prescribed for me on the mannequins and posters. I know a lot of people find it helpful to be told what and how to wear the clothes they buy by the brands they buy from but it felt really suffocating to me.
What inspired you to start sharing your thrifted finds and fashion tips on Instagram/TikTok?
I used to work in a tech start up with a bunch of boys and I thought it was such a shame to waste my outfits on them! Over time I really got excited about sharing the message of shopping secondhand. I’d found this really fun alternative to fast fashion and I thought maybe I could inspire others to come to the thrift side. I ran a vintage resale business for awhile but have ultimately just come back to sharing my love for thrifting and styling.
@hannah__rose TWINS #outfitinspo #pinterestoutfit #nz
Out of all the items you’ve thrifted, which one stands out as your absolute favourite and why?
That’s like asking me to pick my favourite child, but…when I lived in France I found some vintage check woollen Claudie Pierlot pants and a painted 80s KENZO cropped jacket that fit me like a glove, I still have them and will probably never part with them. My most worn item is probably a vintage French made stone coloured blazer – blazers are my weakness, always, and the French do them impeccably, of course!
Your “Recreating Pinterest Pics with Thrifted Clothes” series on Instagram has gained quite a following. Why do you think this concept resonates so well with your audience?
I think we can all relate with the concept of pinning street style or runway looks, inspired, with every intention to recreate them at home. But it’s never that easy, right?
And that was the heart of it – I wanted to show people it is actually doable – and you never have to hunt down the exact items and copy the looks piece by piece, you can take inspiration from the silhouette, colours, textures and really make it your own. I think that idea really captured people’s imagination. Sometimes people tell me it helped them see inspo pictures in a completely different way and that feels like a win!
@hannah__rose This leather jacket thoughhh #nz #ootd #outfitideas #outfitinspo #pinterestaesthetic
As a content creator and mum of two, what drives you to consistently produce engaging and meaningful content for your audience?
Honestly, it’s my hobby; my creative outlet. I’m probably too busy with my children and work to make as much content as I do, but I always come back to it because fashion has been and always will be one of the great loves of my life! It also feels incredibly meaningful when people reach out and tell me they’ve gone thrifting because of me, or they’re inspired to shop secondhand, or to be more thoughtful with their shopping. I think we could all do with being much more considered with our purchases.
What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out with thrifting? Any tips or tricks to share? Thrifting green/red flags to look out for?
Go on a Thursday or Friday, later in the week is always better. Go often. Try the little church op shops, the ones off the beaten track; small town stores. Look for quality above all else; natural fibres and timeless prints and colours. My motto is to search for the clothes that make you look your best, and build your personal style from there. It’s also ok to appreciate something and leave it on the rack. Trust me, if you love it but it’s way outside your wardrobe comfort zone, it’s better to let someone else have it than bust a gut trying to figure out how to wear it yourself.
When you’re not shopping second-hand, what are your favourite stores or brands to shop from in NZ?
It’s pretty rare I shop new to be honest, but I invest in good shoes, jewellery, glasses and the odd basic, classic pieces to fill gaps. I take *forever* to consider new purchases too!
I swear by Collective Canvas sneakers and Isle of Eden sunglasses, and I’m a big fan of brands like Kowtow, Dominique Healy, Rebe, Rachel Mills.
I’ve gotta also shout out my favourite consignment stores – Recycle Boutique and Nine Lives here in the Mount. There are also *so* many incredible vintage resellers locally, Fruitbowl Vintage, Continual Store, too many to name! It’s more accessible than ever to buy second hand, so why not!
You weren’t the biggest fan of our Kmart article that was published a few weeks back. Can you elaborate on why you believe it’s crucial for consumers to prioritise sustainability and choose ethical clothing practices?
Yeah, that’s right. I just don’t believe there’s ever a space in a conversation about fashion for the likes of derivative, mass-produced, poorly-manufactured clothing like that.
I think I found it quite jarring when I know how much strain our local brands are under trying to survive in this economy. And how they deserve so much more airtime for doing things the right way and also producing really beautiful, high quality clothing to love for decades, not to wear once then get rid of.
As someone who op shops frequently, I see firsthand all of the Kmart cast offs, and they’re almost always in brand new condition; someone’s rash decision amongst a haul of other thoughtless purchases. The whole ‘it’s cheap, it doesn’t matter’ attitude devalues the art of making good clothes, it’s a slap in the face for the people who are taken advantage of to produce it, it’s an ignorant assault on an already heavily overburdened planet.
I choose to shop second hand for many reasons, including budgetary restraints, but one of the biggest drivers is my appreciation of the craftsmanship and timelessness of vintage clothing. Many of my favourite items have been in my wardrobe for five, maybe ten years or more, they can be repaired and restored, and they never go out of (my own personal) style.
Shopping carefully and thoughtfully (second hand or not) can allow us to be more creative, to be sustainable, ethical, and shrewd with money; but more than anything else it just feels like the most intelligent thing to do. Anything else just feels like ignorance at this point.
Keep up to date with Hannah on Instagram and TikTok for further thrifting and fashion inspo!
Images by Phillip Mountfort.