It’s Laundry Day and I want to be your second hand love.
Consignment, vintage, thrifting — I love it all. I told you, I’m not a snob when it comes to shopping so when I say I look everywhere, I mean it. I love second hand shopping for a host of reasons.
1. It’s great for the environment. Buying second hand gives life to something that may otherwise hit the landfill.
2. I like clothes, accessories, shoes, you name it. My wallet does not. I can’t afford all that luxury I lust over, so consignment and vintage allow me to feel fancy while satisfying my thrifty side.
3. I love being able to learn about vintage designers from yesteryear or smaller designers I haven’t yet discovered. I also love being able to still love and support items from past seasons. Brands can look very different over the years and not just due to the changes in fashion. Artistic and creative directors can stay with brands for years or can change frequently. My Celine items designed by Michael Kors are very different from my Phoebe Philo-designed Celine items, both equally loved. The gist of it is, some of my second hand and vintage items have a unique story and history lesson woven into the seams and I think that is amazing.
4. The hunt, the hunt, the hunt! Yes, I admit it I get a thrill, a rush in my body, my heart beats faster and I might even sweat a little when I find something so fucking amazing or fantastically unique. I literally dart my eyes around the store to make sure it isn’t an illusion or breathe heavily into my computer to myself in total shock that this item is available for ME to own. Yes, I have problems.
There are so many places to shop vintage and consignment these days it is hard to keep track, so here are just a few online consignment and vintage stores. Check out my suggestions below or get lost in their offerings. I am happy to help if you are overwhelmed, I know how one can get cross-eyed easily. Remember these are not fully stocked items with tons of availability so if you want it you better act fast.
Good vintage and second hand guidelines to always note:
1. Always check the return policy. Most vintage stores are final sale and consignment stores are usually final sale on handbags and accessories.
2. Know you own measurements in your favorite pants, jeans, shirts etc. Vintage items tend to run small, so a size 4 in Gap is not the same as a vintage size 4. Make sure you are aware of all measurements before buying.
3. Some dealers may offer pictures of the garments on a body, if not feel free to ask. My general rule is ask as many questions as you have so you feel good in your purchase. If you buy multiple items from a dealer they may even offer a discount.
4. Duh… consignment and vintage items are not new, so always clean prior to wear and be open to appreciating your slightly loved item
5. When buying luxury consignment, note that if you take care of your garment it still will hold resale value, which is always good when you need the extra dough.
Tradesy This online luxury consignment site is peer to peer, so you are directly buying from another person. The price is fixed, they do offer communication with the seller and returns, however I ever never been through that process. Their photos are user generated so sometimes you get what you get. However, with some digging you can find some great items.
ReBag This online consignment site focuses on buying, selling or exchanging luxury handbags and accessories. They do offer returns if you are not happy with your purchase. They also have stores in various cities where you can see a handful of the bags in person.
The RealReal Probably the most famous in the consignment space. Their inventory is massive and they have stores popping up everywhere. They offer luxury consignment in women’s, mens, kids, jewelry and furniture. You have to create an account in order to view their items, which allows you to easily save them to your favorites folder for a later date. When purchasing you only have 20 minutes to complete your transaction. Return policy is 30 days, anything over 30% off is final sale or credit.
1st Dibs Not just your place for vintage and antique furniture. 1st Dibs can be a great place to find vintage clothing. Often from dealers that have brick and mortar stores as well. Dealers are located from all over the world so always check shipping. You can also make an offer on most items. Note, if you do make an offer and it is accepted you will be automatically charged.
Luxury Garage Sale This online luxury consignment shop also has stores in Chicago and Dallas. I’m unsure how often the update their site vs. what is in their stores but they have some gems. The do offer returns but not on handbags.
Vestiaire Collective This online luxury consignment and vintage site is direct from seller to buyer, however still carefully curated and overseen by luxury experts. Most items are based overseas which is great for finding unique items but does come with duties and shipping costs. They have a ton of inventory but the content is user generated so sometimes photos can be limited. You do have the option to make an offer on most garments and if accepted you decide if you want move forward with the purchase. All items purchased go through quality control with a Vestiaire employee.
ReSee Founded in Paris by two stylish women. ReSee offers a very tightly curated selection of luxury consignment and unique vintage. They do offer returns but they are shipping from Europe so costs may not be covered. Nevertheless. they offer a beautiful selection that goes fast.
Na Nin This online shop offers vintage finds along with their own in house line. Their vintage is rooted in sweaters, sweatshirts and shirts that are classic and tomboy in feeling.
ebay You know the drill —and if you are willing you can find some major scores. eBay has an option that bids for you (whatever your set limit is) so you don’t have to stare at your computer all day to get the goods.
Roam Vintage Started by the beautiful soul Natasha who is also a friend. She has a great eye for casual and cool and her Instagram is not only inspiring but if I don’t act fast I miss out on her found goodies. She has started to offer vintage home goods and accessories as well.
Etsy Far from the place where it started selling handmaid pillows and craft supplies. Etsy has an endless supply of vintage and designer goods. In order to get through the thousands of pages I always set my preferences, price, location, color, size, etc.
Consignment Brooklyn Started by industry veteran Eva Dayton who years ago had her own boutique selling new and beautifully curated items. Based in the Boerum Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, her consignment shop offers racks and racks of items on consignment that can appeal to a range of sizes and ages. Her instagram seems to be the place for frequent updates if you can’t make it to her store.
VSP Consignment Based in Canada, this online store has beautifully curated their consignment with some brands I was not as familiar with. They do not offer returns but do ship to the US.
Tip: What ever city or town I am in, stateside or abroad, I always look into what the local vintage and consignments stores are and I go. I have found huge success because I am willing to go outside the normally trendy shopping areas and look through the racks and racks of clothes to learn, try and explore.
As always send your questions or comments to sarahsdirtylaundry@gmail.com. If you end up purchasing any item from my newsletter I would love to see how you style it! If you feel stuck after your purchase let me know, I am here to help.
x Sarah
Love this post -- and the new places I will begin to explore!
Loved being introduced to some resale brands I've not heard of yet. Just bought the Kimberly Taylor blouse. Excited to style that when it arrives. Loved this post!