Second Hand Clothing Is the Way To Shop: Here are the sites to checkout
Second hand clothing is the best way to shop guilt-free. While retail fashion satiates that quick-fix need for easy shopping. Second hand shopping can be cheaper, more entertaining, and better for finding that one-of-a-kind statement piece.
Second hand shopping or thrifting is not a new concept by any means. However, its prominence has undoubtedly grown within the past few years. Many people find themselves scouring thrift stores for hours plucking out unique and cheap finds.
Admittedly, not everyone is acclimated to the thrifty lifestyle. Maybe you don’t know where to shop, or perhaps you don’t live near a thrift store. That’s okay! Second hand shopping has been made readily accessible with online consignment/ thrift shops.
Here are the best sites to visit for great deals and even greater finds:
Photo by @Becca McHaffie on Unsplash
1. ThredUP
Don’t waste time meandering around the mall shopping for clothes that are full price when ThredUp exists. ThredUP has to be the best second hand clothing site for finding your average retail brands for an absolute must-have price. As if they aren’t cheap enough, ThredUP routinely has promotional deals on their site, as well as, on certain clothing items.
The message behind the company is to promote sustainable shopping with a conscious mindset about your clothing consumption.
They believe that,
“Thrifting is about more than just finding amazing deals on your favorite brands. It’s about shopping with intention, rejecting throwaway fashion culture, and standing for sustainability. The clothes we wear have the power to create change.”
Who can’t get behind that? With their unbeatable prices, and their message to reject fast fashion for positive environmental change. I wholly recommend ThredUP to any beginner second hand shopper.
ThredUP
1. TheRealReal
Looking to acquire more luxury accessories without the commitment to a hefty price tag? TheRealReal is the place to browse. Recently I purchased a pair of nearly brand new Manolo Blahnik’s for a killer price. You can too!
TheRealReal is the perfect site to find discounted luxury, in fair conditions. Depending on the condition, the price can fluctuate. However, sometimes you can snag an item in great condition for a great price. Much like ThredUP, TheRealReal also offers discounts on certain items using a special code at checkout.
If you’re worried about getting jipped with fake designer, you will not find this to be the case on TheRealReal. TheRealReal has staff on hand that specialize in authenticating all designer purchases—making sure that your money is being spent on an honest purchase.
If you’re looking to dump some unwanted designer items, but don’t know where to go—TheRealReal offers a service to buy your designer off your hands. You can either drop your item off at a store location, ship the item, or set up an at-home appointment for your things to get evaluated. They accept thousands of brands, so be sure to check their directory so you don’t miss out on selling any particular items.
TheRealReal
Much like TheRealReal, Vestiaire Collective is another online luxury consignment site. However, the two are a bit different when it comes to how they operate. Vestiaire’s sold items are put up for sale by the actual sellers themselves. Rather than TheRealReal who handles all the buying and selling, for you to collect 55% commission. Due to Vestiaire Collective being hands-off for the selling process the selling fee is reduced to 12%. Allowing for you garner a greater profit margin.
However, this also raises concerns about authentication. If you want a purchase to be authenticated by Vestiaire Collective’s specialized staff, there is an additional fifteen dollar fee. Not a bad price for ensuring your designer is real. Though, it might be a setback for those who are already spending a great deal on a purchase.
Other than the cons, Vestiaire Collective is strong in their luxury clothing department. Whereas, TheRealReal is great for finding accessories for low prices, Vestiaire excels in offering designer garments for a fair price. I Would definitely recommend this site if you're looking for specific luxury clothing.
Vestiaire Collective
If you are a member of Generation Z, self-proclaimed or not, you've most likely heard of Depop. From the memes surrounding the sometimes ridiculous pricing, to great vintage finds, Depop is well known in the thrifting reseller-svere.
I, for one, am a huge proponent of Depop. It's the best site to find thrifted, unique pieces without having to leave the comfort of your home. While spending hours at the thrift is fun, sometimes you just don't have the time to do that. With Depop, you can, all on your phone or laptop.
I will admit, sometimes the sellers do get a little brazen with their pricing.
However, Depop's newly implemented 'Suggested for you' feature is unbeatable, in my opinion. While scouring second hand sites for garments that fit your personal style is fun, sometimes you have to be too meticulous with your searching. With this feature, Depop will suggest a myriad of clothing pieces based on the clothes you like and view. Producing a curated closet of things to choose from with this life-saving algorithm.
Depop is also an accessible selling platform. Allowing its users to snap photos of the pieces they want to sell and upload them with a click of a few buttons. The only downside to the efficiency of the selling aspect, is the 10% cut that Depop takes. Although this is less than both Vestiaire and TheRealReal, Depop is mainly thrifted clothing, not luxury consignment. So the price cut can be obnoxious for some who would like to sell their items at a reasonable price.
Depop
The last site of mention goes to none other than Poshmark. This second hand site is used by everyone of all ages and fashion styles. You can pretty much find everything on here; Luxury items, unique thrifted pieces, retail clothes, it’s an amalgamation of all the previous sites.
Like Depop, Poshmark allows the users to handle most of the selling on their own. Making it pretty accessible and easy to sell on. The only con is their high selling fees that can make you feel like you’ve made no money.
Their breakdown is:
“For all sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. You keep the rest. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale and Poshmark's commission is 20%. Once your sale has been delivered and received by your buyer, the earnings from your sale are yours.”
Other than the annoyingly high fees, Poshmark offers easy-to-find second hand pieces, even some luxury, for a decent price.
Poshmark
I’ve gone over all the accessible second hand apps and sites. Hopefully this provides you with the proper tools to begin your second hand shopping journey. Remember: It's better to shop consciously than guiltily!
