From rare designer garments to everyday essentials, these are the best portals into the world of pre-loved fashion
While we treasure the charm of going through clothing rail after clothing rail at our local vintage shop, sometimes you simply set your heart on the idea of shopping from the comfort of your own home. In the perennial pursuit of exceptional second-hand finds, you want to keep your options open – and a wide variety of online alternatives can help.
Naturally, as the love of vintage fashion continues to rise, so too does the number of prominent platforms within the field. During the last decade, we’ve seen online second-hand marketplaces rapidly grow into offering millions of pre-loved items. In addition to allowing sustainable consumption, these sites grant us the opportunity to create an entirely unique wardrobe where every item has its own story. Procuring second-hand fashion is truly an experience that everyone should make the most out of.
Here are 10 online second-hand platforms for you to fall in love with:
Vestiare Collective
Since Vestiare Collective’s launch in Paris in 2009, they’ve grown to become one of the leading online second-hand shops in the world. With 550,000 new listings every month, the store allows you to peruse a constantly renewed array of products. Those interested in fine watches and jewellery should take note in particular – Vestiare Collective’s extensive brand list includes the likes of Patek Philippe, Rolex and Cartier.
Ettresex
Ettresex, formerly known as PlugMePlease, was established in 2017 as a small physical store in Stockholm. At that time, their concept revolved around sneaker and streetwear culture, bringing a community of enthusiasts together; Virgil Abloh popped by on a whim on their opening day while he was visiting Sweden for fashion week. As the owners’ interests in fashion evolved over the years, they began to focus on a wider curation of items. A more eclectic approach led to a new name that would align with their recreated vision: Ettresex. Now, you can check out their assortment at their two physical stores in Stockholm or at their newly launched webshop.
Sellpy
If going through an abundance of pre-owned pieces gets you thrilled, then Sellpy is a must-visit. Look beyond brand names and instead focus on interesting shapes and quality materials for your day-to-day wardrobe and you’ll find absolute gems here. Promoting a sustainable approach, Sellpy lists the amount of water and carbon dioxide emissions saved for each item in comparison to if it was newly produced, helping you feel extra smug about your new wardrobe addition. Another handy (albeit less sustainable) feature is the option to return your second-hand purchase, a service you definitely won’t find in your everyday thrift shop.
Photo: @haileybieber
Photo: @haileybieber
Worn Vintage
Hailey Bieber, among other fashion connoisseurs, has a notable penchant for this Swedish online vintage shop, Worn Vintage. For those still uninitiated, Worn Vintage offers a variety of hand-picked vintage pieces with a clear focal point; leather jackets. Browse through carefully selected coats, blazers and biker jackets, all in beautifully patinated leathers.
Silver League
Based in Los Angeles, Silver League is a menswear showroom and online store specialising in designer archives of contemporary and 20th-century designers. Carrying brands such as Carol Christian Poell, Maison Margiela, Rick Owens and Raf Simons, this is every avant-garde aficionado's dream shop. Come to unearth iconic cult collections that revolutionised fashion; you’ll find nothing but the pinnacle of garment creation.
Plick
Plick is a light-hearted and young platform with a buzzy vibe. Stop by their Instagram page and you’ll receive a daily dose of second-hand fashion memes or outfits put together by your favourite Plicker. It’s a great destination for the everyday essentials that you didn’t know that you needed. You can shop second-hand or sell your own pieces through their website or app.
The Vintage Bar
Quite possibly the perfect place for vintage womenswear, The Vintage Bar offers more second-hand luxury than you could ever imagine. Since its launch in 2017 out of an apartment in Copenhagen, The Vintage Bar has taken the world of pre-loved fashion by storm. While they offer a mixed selection of pieces, with designer handbags their speciality; 1990s Chanel flap bags, Hermès Birkins or monogrammed Louis Vuitton minis – they’ve got it all.
Photo: The Vintage Bar
Photo: The Vintage Bar
Farfetch
Fashion luxury giant Farfetch’s ‘pre-owned’ section is one you don’t want to miss. Browsing the site, you’ll come across near-current designer garments as well as older vintage pieces from brands such as Gucci, Comme des Garçon, Jean Paul Gaultier and many others. A nice little touch (that surprisingly, most other shops lack) is that Farfetch often lists what decade their pre-owned item originates from.
Grailed
With more than three million product listings, Grailed is known to be the largest online marketplace to buy and sell menswear. It’s where you can explore a universe filled with everything from affordable vintage items to rare, hugely sought-after archive designer pieces. Find highly renowned items from the early 2000s by Raf Simons or browse through heaps of evocative pieces from Supreme; Grailed is undoubtedly the go-to place for those hard-to-find pieces you’ve been scouting for years. Don’t miss having a look at their ‘staff picks’ section – you’ll discover a selection of treasures curated by the Grailed team.
Rerobe
Founded in 2019, Rerobe has swiftly made its mark on the pre-loved fashion scene. Their offering consists of vibrant, in-demand Scandi brands – think Acne Studios, Stine Goya and Rodebjer – however, you’ll also find many fast-fashion items at a lower price point. In addition to their online store, you can pay them a visit at their physical boutique in the Södermalm area of Stockholm.
Photo: TheRealReal
Photo: TheRealReal
Tradera
Tradera is an auction-based site where you can find everything under the sun. If you check in regularly and spend some time looking around, it can be your answer for excellent deals on second-hand fashion. There are plenty of short-term auctions on items with a starting price of less than one euro. Plug in your maximum bid and let Tradera take care of the rest; if you’re the highest bidder by the end of the auction, you’ll only pay just above the second-highest bid.
The RealReal
American-based TheRealReal is currently the world’s largest online marketplace for luxury goods. Blissfully shop their neatly organised webshop containing everyone from Balenciaga to Goyard. An added bonus is their virtual appointment service; TheRealReal gives you the possibility to schedule a digital session with a Luxury Manager that’ll help you sell your own items through their site.