How I Style 2026’s Top Throwback Trends With Only Vintage Clothes

Upcycling, recycling, going green, resale, vintage markets, and thrifting. If you’ve been in and around the fashion industry in the past five years, you know that the secondhand market continues to gain momentum. The Real Real and Depop are commonplace shopping sites for anyone in the know, as well as Poshmark, Vinted, Grailed, eBay, Etsy, and the like. Depop just named Gabriella Karefa-Johnson the Trends Spokesperson for their company. The secondhand fashion marketplace, which boasts more than 43.5 million users, was acquired by eBay in February for $1.2 billion in a cash deal.

To say the secondhand market is, well, a big deal, would be an understatement. Folks have realized that you can source exactly what you’re hunting for on the secondhand market. Clothing waste and pollution are some of our industry’s biggest hurdles—and I’m of the mind that a secondhand focus on fashion is a very simple way we can work on this issue. Of course, it’s not the only way! But small habit changes do help. If you are looking for ways to find exactly what you want, my favourite secondhand shopping app is Gem. It accurately aggregates search results from all over the internet! I have many saved searches, and I’ve found some very excellent gems while avoiding doomscrolling.

For my fashion-y purposes, it’s also exciting to see repurposed clothing garner attention as vintage trends circle back into style. Y2K, 80’s power dressing, jewel tones, and Indie Sleaze (and her little sister, twee) are all coming right back into the zeitgeist. This month, I’ve styled some secondhand favorites of mine that fall into each trend! Keep scrolling to see exactly how I styled them with some pre-loved staples.

Indie Sleaze/Twee

Lydia Okello's twee street style inspiration looks from Getty Images

Oh, I could wax poetic about this era. My halcyon days were squarely at the height of American Apparel and indie band tees. It’s been sweet to see the style of this era making a hard resurgence. I’m particularly drawn to a second era of twee—a sub aesthetic of the indie sleaze era that traded in overtly feminine, almost childish styles. The delicate details and nostalgic features spoke to me very much at the time; I’m happy to take another crack at it in 2026.

Lydia Okello styles a twee look with a tailored shirt under a crewneck, textured tights and loafers

I’m wearing a J. Crew striped shirt, Reformation Cove Sweater, Vintage skort from Shop Berriez, Joe lace tights, Baggu bear bag, and Vagabond shoes.

(Image credit: Lydia Okello)

ELOQUII

Oversized Sleeve Top

Reformation

Cove Cashmere Oversized Crew

J.Crew

Fairfax Scalloped Mini Skirt in Gramercy Linen Blend

MeMoi

Swirl Net Thing High Tights

Anthropologie

Vagabond Shoemakers Linn Double-Buckle Loafers

80’s Power Dressing and Jewel Tones

Lydia Okello's jewel tone street style inspiration outfits

The Fall 2026 runways gave us a lot of bold colors—in a palette we have not touched on for a while. For me, seeing rich purples and bright teals again reminds me of the bombast of the 1980’s. Strong shoulders, opulent finishes, and a particular maximalism are so joyful to see. I found this suede blazer at a secondhand sale last year, and I’m very much looking forward to it getting the proper attention this spring.

Lydia Okello styles an '80s look including a lilac jacket over a patterned button-down

I’m wearing a vintage suede blazer, a Basquiat x HM shirt, Penningtons trouser, Naturalizer loafers.

(Image credit: Lydia Okello)

Marina Rinaldi

Conagro Wide Leg Pants

Lauren Ralph Lauren

Stripe Sailboat Print Crêpe De Chine Camp Shirt

Jessica London

Leather Blazer

ASOS Curve

Faux Suede Car Coat in Olive

CJ Banks

Womens Faux Suede Shirt Jacket Size 3X Purple Button Up Long Sleeve Top

Bernardo for Nordstrom

Green Suede Snap Front Jacket 3X Fully Lined Hip Length

Y2K Everything

Lydia Okello's Y2K street style inspiration outfits

Although there are, uh, some moments of Y2K style I would prefer not to revisit, I can admit there was a certain irreverence and fun during that time. I think these are the elements that speak to me the most—the camp, the ridiculous layers, the bored “duh” of it all. I’ve come around to believing in the aesthetic value of the clothes of that time.

Lydia Okello styles a Y2K look with a lace babydoll top over a neon pink tee

I’m wearing a vintage Vegas souvenir tee, a vintage torrid babydoll top, vintage flared Levi’s, sunglasses from a random boutique, studded belt and Nike Air Max 97s.

(Image credit: Lydia Okello)