Where I Buy Pre-Loved Designer Fashion

I love fashion and I love designer pieces.

As a designer myself, my love of fashion comes out of the respect I have for designers creating new pieces, innovative silhouettes, new modes of production. Unfortunately, my wallet does not always agree with this love of mine, so instead of buying new, over the years I’ve mastered the art of buying the designer pieces I love in a great pre-loved condition.

In addition to saving a lot of money, buying pre-loved is a fantastic way to show your commitment to the environment, purchase from brands the sustainability practices of which you may agree with (but not be able to afford otherwise) and to slow down the fast fashion cycle that in 2020 we desperately need to break.

Here are my top 5 websites for buying pre-loved fashion.

eBay

Good old eBay has been around forever and it is still kicking. There is just such a variety of sellers and items sold on eBay that it really doesn’t have a direct competitor in 2020.

The upside of eBay is that it is relatively cheap and easy to use — it is accessible to normal people selling their pre-loved fashion collections as well, as professional resellers. I’ve found some fantastic pieces from people who are selling the pieces that bought in the 90s and have become “cool” again.

The biggest downside is that there is no verification mechanism, so you do have to be incredibly careful.

Vestiairie Collective

Vestiaire Co has solved the very issue that I listed as the biggest worry of buying from eBay — all designer pieces are verified.

Vestiaire Co are quite picky with the brands that can be listed, so what you purchase will be quality and a worthwhile. There is a huge selection everything from the most sought after vintage pieces to latest collections that you may have just missed out in stores.

The con of this place is that there‘s cute a lot of hype — the best pieces sell quickly (definitely sign up for updates and check the New tab) and prices can be inflated + the delivery fees and import taxes really do add up, so you end up paying extra for the quality control.

AirRobe

AirRobe is basically an Australian version of Vesieirie Collective — you know how I was talking about massive delivery fees and import taxes? Well, the sellers and buyers are both located in Australia, so it is a lot cheaper to ship.

This marketplace is growing quickly, so their collection of pieces and lists of sellers are constantly expanding. It is a great place to find Australian designers and it is definitely worthwhile keeping an eye out for this place as it grows.

From Bloggers & Blogger Re-Sale Platforms

We all know that bloggers have a lot of cool fashion — usually too much cool fashion which is why they will often to market sales either at an actual second hand market or online. If you have been following a blogger for a while you will generally know if you trust them and their taste in fashion and quality.

Keep an eye out for bloggers promoting what they are selling through their social channel because they often have some really great deals.

There are also many smaller online stores that focus exclusively on selling celebrity/blogger pre loved fashion. I really like Pre Loved Closet as they stock some great pieces from Australian bloggers; check it out here.

Facebook Marketplace

Last but, not least Facebook Marketplace is great for recent collections and Australian fashion labels. I would not recommend buying high end expensive pieces on this site, as there is no means to verify the authenticity and very limited seller reviews, but it is great for pieces from the lower end of the fashion spectrum.

Before purchasing something brand new I usually will check if this item is already for sale on Facebook Marketplace. I often find pieces that have been worn a handful of times, are in a great condition and significantly discounted.

So, here it is, my most frequently used sources for buying pre-loved fashion. As always, when buying pre-loved I would recommend you do your research or pay a little extra for the item to be verified – always stay on the safe side.

Have you ever bought pre-loved? And if so, was it ever high end designer pieces or fashion from the lower end of the spectrum and why?

Xx

Lena