The thrill of the hunt. That’s what it usually is for me. It’s the process, it’s getting closer, it’s smelling my prey. It’s elusive…hard to find, rare. And then? There it is. Caught you. Add to cart.
My mom taught me a few things at a very young age.
- Percentage math. Just take the 2, multiply it by the 4 in $40.00, and 20% is $8. I’m talking, like, 6 years old.
- Thursday is T.J. Maxx’s shipment date.
- Never pay full price. Ever. There’s always a way.
- When someone compliments your outfit, you immediately tell them how little you paid and where you bought it.
Every single thing you see below was purchased secondhand. And now, my children, I’m here to pass on my knowledge to you. And you will pass it to your children, and we will become generations of legends.
The Beginner’s Guide To Online Resale: Secondhand Fashion, Designer Discounts + More
The internet is cool and everything, but one of the best parts is resale sites. Fashion from all over the world at a serious discount, in great shape, available to your doorstep in three to five business days. If you aren’t using resale, literally every single time you want to buy something, you’re missing out. So, let’s dig in to the how, where and why.
We all know that clothing consumption and fast fashion are some of the largest contributors to waste. The average American now generates 82 pounds of textile waste each year. So, not only is resale a great way to save money, it’s also necessary. This sustainable shopping has to be our new normal before just consuming newness all of the time.
We’re going to talk about the major players today: The RealReal, Poshmark, Etsy, eBay and Vestiaire. They can be overwhelming, but if you know when to use which one and how, you too can crack the code, my friend.
1. The Best For Higher-End & Designer: The RealReal
Let’s start with The RealReal, which is at the forefront of luxury resale.
What is The RealReal?
A resale site that caters to those shopping and selling higher-end pieces and designers. Many celebs and stylists will sell pieces here that were worn once or gifted to them. Regular people sell things too. The pricing is higher but definitely less than retail.
When do I use The RealReal?
One of the best features on the site is MyTRR. You create very specific searches that show up in your feed, so you can see what’s new, in your size, price range, color, designer, etc. For example: I have a search that shows me everyday La Ligne sweaters, in cashmere, size small and medium, below $100.
So, The RealReal, for me, is primarily proactive. I check my feeds, make my wish lists, and when I see something amazing, I buy. Usually, you can use the code REAL for 20% off.
Downsides to The RealReal:
- Pricing with shipping is still sort of on the higher end.
- Double-check each item to be sure it’s returnable. The clearance/sale is sometimes final sale.
- It’s gotten some bad press about authentication and have let some fakes slip by. I think this has improved, though.
- Descriptions of items are sometimes vague.
- You have to have an idea of what brands you love, what fits, etc. It’s more for the fashion girl who knows her stuff and less for the casual browser.
Secondhand Fashion I Purchased On The RealReal & Other Resale Sites
The Best For Scoring A Specific Piece: Poshmark
And here we have a very different beast. Poshmark is the Amazon of resale sites. It’s literally everything, and it’s so overwhelming.
What is Poshmark?
A resale site where anything and everything fashion-related can be sold. I’m talking about everything from that random Target dress you saw three years ago but didn’t buy and regretted it, to a vintage pair of Levi’s 501s in exactly your size, to a Dolce cocktail dress. It’s a lot. This can be good and bad.
When do I use Poshmark?
When there is a specific item that I want in a specific size, I go to Poshmark. For example, the other day, Laura posted about a pair of Citizen jeans. I buy everything Laura tells me to, so I checked the retail site and then checked Poshmark. There they were, in my size, $100 less.
And then, you have the ability to make an offer to the seller. I always offer less and negotiate. Usually, the seller is happy to have an offer since there is just so much for sale on the site. The items are then shipped directly from the seller.
Some of my most recent purchases from Poshmark:
I also use this site when I’m looking for something moderately specific and vintage. I collect vintage New Balances in cool colors. and searching the men’s section is primo for this. I also recently bought the coolest dad-jacket leather bomber from the ’80s.
The way you search here is by entering a search term and then narrowing it down with the filter. For example, when I was looking for the jacket, I entered “leather,” narrowed it down to the men’s section, then jackets, then to bombers. I entered size XS or S and sorted prices low to high. After “hearting” my faves, I made an offer on one, she accepted and bam.
Sometimes, if my search has to be vague, I sort prices high to low to pass through a lot of the junk.
Downsides to Poshmark:
- Because it’s shipped directly from seller, there can be quality issues — but this is rare.
- There are “boutiques” that also sell on Poshmark, but you can filter them out.
Secondhand Fashion I Purchased On Poshmark & Other Resale Sites
The Best For Something Unique: Etsy
Ah, Etsy. If Poshmark is Amazon, Etsy is your friend’s boutique that sells incense and mood rings.
What is Etsy?
Etsy is geared toward creators and vintage. Think: handmade jewelry and vintage dishware and a sweatshirt that says “dog mom.” It’s not all great.
When do I use Etsy?
I love using Etsy when I want something unique or so specific that the internet literally doesn’t have it. Believe it or not, this happens. Vintage jewelry is one of my favorite things to look for. I search in the vintage category and filter for jewelry, green, and between $40 and $100. It helps to set a minimum to weed out some of the junk.
Etsy’s leather sellers are great too — wallets, tote bags and even shoes.
One of my favorite parts about Etsy is that you can contact the shop owner directly and ask them to make something custom for you — 90% of the time, they will. I’ve had costumes created, dresses made exactly to my measurements, bags designed in different colors…the list goes on.
Keep track of your favorite items and sellers by favoriting them (the little hearts). I have heart items going back 10 years now. Looking back, my most-purchased items have been for the home. I often buy digital art and have it blown up and printed on a canvas.
Downsides to Etsy:
- It can be harder to get a very specific search and you have to weed through a lot.
The Best for International & Vintage Buys: eBay
Well, if Etsy was that little boutique and Poshmark was Walmart, eBay is North America. You know what eBay is. It’s been around since covered wagons and NSYNC. But just for consistency…
What is eBay?
A seller-buyer auction site (however most of the auction part has changed over to “buy it now”) that sells everything from furniture to velvet Elvis portraits, to Jesus on toast, to Prada.
When do I use eBay?
I use eBay in a few different ways. If I need something very cheap, I go to eBay. For example, I needed four pairs of exactly the same white pants from an adult size 38 to a kids size 25 (don’t ask). That is eBay.
I wanted an authentic Kilim rug for my living room, and I bought one on eBay from an international seller. If you want something international, head to eBay.
I wanted a vintage (old) Penn State T-shirt. I checked eBay because I could definitely see some older human only knowing about eBay and putting up an old T-shirt out of their old closet.
Downsides to eBay
- Beware of fakes. Just do your research on seller reviews, check their other items for sale, and you should be good.
- The seller sets shipping cost, so if you’re buying something large, the shipping could be astronomical.
The Best for Affordable Designer Gems: Vestiaire
Now we have that shop that’s next to the little cafe on the streets of Paris. I use Vestiaire sparingly, but it does have it’s own unique advantages.
What is Vestiare?
A primarily international higher-end resale site. Think TRR but mostly from around the world. The benefit of this is, many luxury items are cheaper in other countries and therefore are sold for less at resale.
When do I use Vestiare?
I bought Golden Goose sneakers on Vestiaire a few years back because they’re supposed to look dirty, and I’m a genius.
When you look at an item on the site, it tells you what country the item is coming from. I don’t know why, but I like to know that my Bottega bag is coming from Portugal. The item ships FIRST to Vestiaire and then to you. It authenticates it before it comes to you. However, they don’t authenticate it before it goes to the website, and this is a downside. One time, I ordered something that didn’t make it past the quality check, so the order was canceled.
Use this site if you’re dying for something, anything from a brand that you love and can’t afford. Browse it, filter it, and chances are you’ll find something cool.
Bonus: In-Person Consignment
I know, I know. We have to actually get into our car for this one, but you can find GEMS.
In-person consignment shopping tips:
Go directly to the men’s section. Look at the men’s button-down shirts first. They’ll be cheaper and better quality. Next, men’s sweaters. Again, cheaper, better. Men’s jeans are next. This is tricky if you’re a smaller size, but I have found some cool oversized Levi’s in this section. Last, men’s jackets/blazers.
After you hit that section, go back to women’s jeans. Just search in your size and a few sizes up for the brands that you know and like. Look at the wash and cut of the leg. Then, try them on.
I also look in general for cashmere, leather and costume jewelry.
Now, if you made it this far and you’re saying, “But, Amanda, I don’t know what brands fit me well and what I really like.” This is what I say to that:
Get a few friends, make a day of going to high-end stores. Try on everything. When you find something you like, take a picture of the tag. You’ll start to know what brands work for your body.
Also, I can’t forget to mention The Mom Edit Buy, Sell, Trade page. The best thing about it is the community. We love the same things, and it’s full of lovely humans.
Let me know what questions you have!
Xo,
Amanda
Hey, Pinners…
