If you’re like me, your closet contains some fabulous and unique vintage pieces and consignment store finds. I thrive on the hunt and reward of scoring a gorgeous garment. Though the Salvation Army and Goodwill were my stores of choice in college, I now lean towards consignment shops with more curated selections. So, what happens if you don’t live in a place with great vintage and luxury resale shops? Enter online resale.
It is a booming market and seemingly the wave of the future especially for luxury goods. Those without access to great brick and mortar second-hand shops don’t have to feel left out anymore! Additionally, resale plays directly to the concepts of sustainability and circular fashion which, in a nutshell, means to responsibly design and produce high-quality garments and accessories intended to stand the test of time (read no fast fashion), distribute said goods responsibly, and make sure they are used to their full capacity, repurposed or resold before they are returned to the biosphere. That’s a mouthful. Additionally, buying used goods cuts down on the pollution and waste of producing new ones.
I did my research by visiting several resale sites including The Real Real, Thred up, Vestiare Collective, Cudoni, Vide Dressing, and Depop. Each of them has a unique niche but the overall concept is the same. You can buy gently used, methodically categorized fashionable clothing and accessories at a fraction of the cost of buying them new. This is huge for those seeking luxury brands and high-end goods. Oftentimes, the original buyers don’t want to wear past season collections. They can unload their perfectly wearable and coveted fashion items so that others, like myself, can scoop them up at a discount. Win-win. I’m not too good for last season’s Zimmerman’s collection or a five-year-old Gucci bag.
I suggest have a sense of purpose when visiting these sites or you will disappear down a retail rabbit hole and spend the entire day shopping. Browsing these sites can be fun if you have time to kill and want to dig for hidden treasure. Whatever your shopping methods are, you really need to be educated about brands, quality, and pricing so you can recognize a good deal. Things can disappear quickly, especially well-known labels and luxury goods. Depop and Thred Up offer the most affordable options catering to everyday shoppers though they do have some higher-end pieces. The other sites focus primarily on high-end and Luxury.
In general, you’ll want to attack the sites with objectives and parameters. Are you on the hunt for a new handbag? Then have an idea of the color and style you want or you will have to sift through thousands of bags. Are you hunting for specific designer labels? Great. Just type the name in the search bar. If you’re looking for a formal dress, go straight to that category and select your specifics. Keep in mind that most items are one-offs so I suggest searching by size to avoid finding the perfect piece other than it being two sizes too small. That is super frustrating. I speak from experience. On the flip side, when you find something great, that checks all the boxes, it feels pretty rewarding. I searched by brand and size and found an Isabel Marant dress that the seller never wore on Thred Up, and a cute printed pre-owned Ulla Johnson jumpsuit on Tradesy. Score!
I admit, early on I wrote off online resale shopping but after revisiting some established sites and discovering a few new ones, I may have been converted from an in-person seeker of gems to an online treasure hunter.
As mentioned above, the resale sites I checked out were The Real Real, Thred up, Vestiare Collective, Depop, Cudoni and Vide Dressing. The last two are based in the UK and EU respectively. Though they do ship internationally there are added shipping costs. You’ve been warned.
Two other sites, with slightly different platforms, are Stitch Fix and Rent the Runway. With Stitch Fix, you fill out a style quiz then a stylist puts together pre-worn pieces from their enormous inventory for you, ships them so you can try on at home, and then you send back what you don’t want. I can see how it would work really well for people who don’t like to shop, don’t have the time, or just don’t feel confident picking clothes and putting outfits together and like that personalized experience. I, for one, am far too controlling to let someone else curate clothing for me. Rent the Runway is great if you don’t feel a need to keep the clothing you wear. Basically, it’s an online closet with thousand of garments, mostly from brand names and luxury retailers which you can borrow for a monthly fee. It’s like your paying dues to share an awesome wardrobe with thousands of other women. After perusing their site I can say that they have a pretty amazing and diverse collection so I absolutely see the appeal. I would likely rent the clothes, bags, and accessories, fall in love with them and then end up wanting to buy everything. So again, not for me.
Every now and again, The Real Real has sample sales to clear their inventory. Prices are up to 80% off retail! The sale is currently happening. To shop the RealReal sample sale click here
Lest we forget, we are in the midst of a global pandemic. Hunting for vintage, consignment shopping, and going to the mall are probably not great ideas right now. Certainly not when a legit alternative is shopping from the comfort of your sofa, trying on at home, and shipping back what you don’t like (though some items are final sale).
It’s the cycle of shopping but reduced in time with increased convenience. FYI, most resale sites will require you to create an account before you can search but on the plus side, they usually offer promotions for first-time shoppers. Price points and products do vary from site to site so explore until you find a match. I personally love the Real Real experience because it is so well-styled, branded, and put together. They also have a great assortment of luxury brands, not that I’m buying a ton of luxury goods. I also liked Thred Up because of the affordability factor and their insane inventory. Remember these sites are continuously updated with products.
To summarize, resale shopping is a great option if you don’t like to, want to, or can’t shop in-person, you prefer recognizable labels and luxury brand items, you like the idea of scoring a great deal or finding a unique item and you’re cool with buying previously loved pieces and bonus, let’s not forget the huge environmental impact shopping second-hand can have. Most sites offer gift cards so you can share the joy of resale shopping with your friends this holiday season!
I’ll note that if you have clothing that you’ve moved on from, particularly pieces from well-known labels, you can use these site to sell your goods. Some will allow you to sell directly while others will pay for your items or sell them on consignment once conditions have been met, like authentication of luxury goods and examination of clothing condition.
All in all online resale shopping seems like a good proposition. Happy shopping!
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FIONA FINDS 