All About Potential: A Stylist’s Guide to Making Vintage Look Fresh

Preloved fashion is having an all-time boom. Roughly 86 per cent of Australians are buying second-hand, as sustainability and affordability increasingly guide consumer choices. Plus, the thrill of thrifting for a gem is unrivalled. But seasoned treasure-hunters know that's only half the feat. The next? Pulling it off.

That’s where Sydney-based stylist Jana Bartolo comes in. Her client list spans The Wiggles, Rita Ora, Sam Kerr and the Heartbreak High cast – and second-hand has long been part of her approach. Here, she visits the newly-opened Vinnies shop, curating a series of looks using only preloved pieces. The opening sits within a broader expansion for the charity, which is rolling out new shop formats across the state alongside the recent launch of its online platform, Vinnies Finds.

Below are Bartolo’s tips for buying and styling second-hand fashion.  

Look for potential

At Vinnies, Bartolo isn’t led by labels or condition alone. Instead, she starts with a simple question: can this piece live multiple lives?

Spotting a handful of original Ksubi pieces alongside a Juun J T-shirt, she builds a look that can shift easily between casual and more elevated settings.

“Potential is everything,” she says. “It’s about seeing beyond what something is and focusing on what it could become.”

Use your intuition

When it comes to second-hand shopping, Bartolo suggests tuning out trends – and even outside opinions. “Working with preloved pieces forces a different approach. You have to be intuitive. It pushes you to be more considered,” she says.

Rather than following what’s current, she recommends leaning into instinct: responding to colour, shape and texture, then refining from there.

Play with range

Second-hand doesn’t mean compromised quality. In many cases, it offers the opposite.

Bartolo pulls a Ganni dress from the racks – a piece that once held strong currency in the fashion cycle – and reframes it in a new context.

“I love mixing high and low, new and old, and encouraging clients to see value beyond trends”, she says. “A big misconception is that second-hand fashion is limited, outdated, or doesn’t feel elevated. If anything, it gives you more range. You’re not pulling from the same pool as everyone else.”

Say yes to the coat

Outerwear is a constant in Bartolo’s wardrobe. While browsing, she finds a vintage Moschino coat – the kind of piece that instantly anchors a look.

“It frames everything. You can throw it over something simple and it completely shifts the look.” It’s the one item she doesn’t hesitate to take home.

Enjoy the process

For Bartolo, thrifting is as much about the experience as the outcome. “I love the chase, the finding, the moment you come across something unexpected or exactly what you’ve been looking for,” she says.

When styling clients, the process often involves reworking what already exists rather than starting from scratch – a constraint that encourages more creative thinking.

Make a difference

Shopping second-hand comes with a broader impact, too. Every purchase at a Vinnies shop helps fund their NSW programs supporting people in need with essentials like food, clothing, housing and financial assistance.

“There’s something meaningful in giving a piece a new home and extending its life, while supporting a greater cause,” she says.

New Vinnies shops are now open in Balmain, Tanilba Bay, East Maitland, Avalon, Penrith Mega and Terrigal. You can shop in-store or donate quality clothing to support circular fashion, as well as Vinnies’ services and programs.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Vinnies NSW.