It’s no secret that vintage and resale fashion has been on the rise. More people are embracing secondhand fashion for various reasons, from sustainability to economics to aesthetics. Recently, resale went even more mainstream with the cameo of Vestiaire Collective in the new season of hit Netflix show, Emily in Paris! Mindy, Emily’s best friend, visited a Vestiaire Collective storefront in Paris to sell her Balmain couture blazer dress in order to make funds for her career endeavours.
Since style is a main focal point of the show, highlighting resale fashion, especially in the luxury space, will undoubtedly bring extra attention not only to the featured online retailer Vestiaire Collective – but also to secondhand shopping in its entirety!
“This partnership marks a significant milestone towards the integration of circular fashion into mainstream programs, and reflects the importance of the fashion resale market today,” says Fanny Moizant, co-founder and president of Vestiaire Collective.
In case you weren’t aware of Vestiaire Collective before the brand’s debut in Emily in Paris, it’s a pre-loved luxury and premium fashion hub with more than 35,000 items added every day online. And like Mindy, anyone can sell their authentic designer goods on the site. Emphasis on ‘authentic,’ as authenticity is guaranteed at Vestiaire Collective.
“Since day one, trust has been at the heart of everything we do. We’ve pioneered pre-loved fashion authentication, with guaranteed 360° buyer and seller protection policies, comprehensive quality control, and proactive customer care. Plus, we’ve built a Collective of trustworthy fashion lovers, so you can buy and sell with confidence.” – Vestiaire Collective.
In part of Vestiaire Collective’s collaboration with Emily in Paris, the platform has released a curated collection of designer items inspired by the fashion showcased in the show.
“Even before our feature on this new season, many of the outfits from previous episodes have been sourced on Vestiaire Collective, so when the opportunity to be featured on the show came up, we felt it was a great fit,” shared Samina Virk, US CEO of Vestiaire Collective.
Shop our picks from the edit:
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With an ever-increasing awareness of the fashion industry’s impact on communities and the planet, shopping secondhand has shed its old stigma and has acquired a well-deserved following. I know you’re all fashion lovers, so you’re likely familiar with traditional brick-and-mortar consignment shops, but did you know that you can shop and sell secondhand fashion right from the comfort of your home? That’s right folks, you can save the planet and save money all while eating ice cream in your pyjamas in front of your computer by shopping from online consignment stores.
Here’s a list of online consignment stores that ship to Canada!
TheRealReal
TheRealReal is one of my favourites when looking for true luxury consignment pieces online. TheRealReal accepts and sells men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, fine jewellery, watches, fine art, and home furnishings in good to pristine condition from brands listed in the Designer Directory. Some things to note before shopping your little heart out: the RealReal applies a shipping fee of approximately $45 CAD to Canadian orders and duties are paid upon arrival (which can be a lot).
Lux Second Chance
Lux Second Chance is a Canadian luxury secondhand retailer that works with existing consignment stores from Canada, the U.S., France, and the U.K. to aggregate thousands of authenticated items. The company curates beautiful collections of high-end brands, featuring both classics and trendy items. Some rare pieces even come from private sales which have never even been available on retail shelves. Browse through lovely designer bags, jewellery, shoes, wallets, and more!
LXRandCo
Check out LXRandCo for all of your luxury bag and accessory needs. Not only can you sell your pre-loved items or make a purchase on a Chanel crossbody, you can also rent a bag for up to 6 months at a time! How cool is that?
The Upside
The Upside has so many designers to shop. From gently used clothing, to accessories, to shoes, this online consignment store has just what you need to grow your luxury item collection. Have designer items to sell? Check out the Sell With Us tab on the site.
thredUP
Don’t know if you’re after budget or luxury items? thredUP has a variety of brands for everyone’s style and budget. Prices start at $0.99 and go up into the thousands. I, myself, have bought secondhand pieces from a wide range of brands like Aritzia, Reformation, Zara, Louis Vuitton, and Dolce & Gabbana on thredUP.
What’s really cool about thredUP is its Clean Out Kit, which easily allows you to send in your clothes to sell for cash or store credit. thredUP also gives you the option of choosing to donate your clothing instead of consigning — which means that instead of receiving cash or credit, thredUP will make a donation of $5 per bag that you donate on your behalf to a charity of your choice!
Love That Bag Etc.
Love That Bag Etc. only sells exceptional quality of designer goods to its customers. The company offers handbags, jewelry, dresses, coats, sunglasses, shoes, and more. Items 10 years are older are not available here, with the exception of Chanel and Hermes, so you’re getting all the new and stylish items.
Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective is very similar to the RealReal because it also specializes in luxury consignment. However, Vestiaire is different because sellers have the option of selling items directly from their homes or the option of consigning their items with Vestiaire Collective and having Vestiaire Collective sell the item on their behalf. My favourite thing about Vestiaire is that you can negotiate up to 30% off the stated price of an item directly with the seller so you can score even more of a discount!
Some things to note before shopping is that Vestiaire Collective applies a shipping fee per product according to the origin of the item and your delivery address. On top of that, it charges an authentication fee of 2% of the price of the item up to a maximum of approximately $16 CAD. Orders from private sellers are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. However, orders from professional sellers are returnable within 14 days of receiving your order.
What Goes Around Comes Around
A favourite of the gram’s most popular bloggers is What Goes Around Comes Around. While this luxe designer store has gorgeous locations in the States, if you’re not willing to travel, you can shop all your designer needs from the comfort of home. This luxe consignment store is known for its insane selection of designer brands like Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, YSL, and Prada, to name just a few.
What’s great about shopping What Goes Around Comes Around online is that all the prices are in Canadian dollars. But buyer beware because the duties and taxes will all be calculated at checkout. Also, if you buy in store, everything is final sale but if you purchase online, they’ll let you make a return. Online for the win!
Rebag
The awesome Rebag store is online and has multiple locations in the USA. All of the designer pieces are white-glove inspected to ensure the highest quality. If you’re looking to sell, you can opt for the Rebag Credit and you’ll earn 20% more. The site sometimes has discount codes to use so be sure to keep an eye out for those!
Le Prix
If you’re after the most luxe designer items, we suggest taking a peek over at Le Prix. Formerly known as Snob Swap, this online consignment retailer allows users to both sell, and buy previously owned designer items. From Chanel to Hermès, McQueen and more, the site offers top designer items for up to 90% off. While returns and shipping is free if you live in America, but for us Canadians, the shipping fee is a flat rate of $35 and all sales are final.
Tradesy
Tradesy began in 2009 when owner, Tracy, was determined to fix fashion and lower the carbon footprint of the industry. Now a super successful shop, you can get all your designer desires here. From Chanel, to Louis Vuitton, to Off-White, to Burberry, the inventory is endless.
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We can agree that all designer is expensive, and Saint Laurent is no different as it’s one of on the most high-end designer brands out there. However, with a little bit of creativity, you don’t need to spend as much as you think to get your hands on some Saint Laurent goodies. There aren’t a ton of options for spending less than $350 on something directly from the brand, but good news is that you can still find your fix. We suggest checking out some great secondhand online retailers because that’s where you can really get the most for your money.
We have rounded up 10 Saint Laurent items you can get for under $350.
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What is one to do when ones taste in clothes and accessories far exceeds ones budget? If I had it my way, I’d shop all things luxe and designer until the cows came home. However, the cows are home and I’m still (sadly) without my huge closet filled with designer duds. That’s why whenever I’m on the hunting for luxe items for less, I head to secondhand shops, consignment stores, and designer resale websites. Chanel is one of those iconic designer brands that’s hard to find for a bargain. Because it’s so elite and exclusive, even worn out Chanel handbags, shoes, and accessories still retail for a pretty penny at your neighbourhood designer vintage consignment store. However, if you do some digging around the good old Internet, you’ll find some websites and stores with more reasonably priced Chanel goodies all available for less than $350.
Keep reading On for 6 Chanel items you can score for less than $350!
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We’ve all seen those amazing thrift hauls on YouTube and Instagram and been immediately inspired to hit up our local thrift stores. After watching someone else’s haul, you’ve got hopes of finding a coveted pair of orange label Levi’s (or whatever you’ve been coveting. You do you, boo.), only to be disappointed with the selection of items available — very, very disappointed.
But what if we told you that you don’t have to spend hours and hours sifting through racks upon racks of clothing to find what you’re after? Online secondhand shopping is a thing, y’all, and it’s so much easier to navigate than your local thrift store.
We’ve rounded up our 8 smart tips for secondhand shopping online so that you can score thrifted gems every time!
Instagram/@therealreal
1. Choose your store (carefully)!
Are you looking for luxury or are you looking for more budget-friendly brands? Vintage or contemporary? Something in between? Narrowing in on what exactly you’re looking for and choosing an online shop that reflects your needs will set a foundation for success.
There are so many great sites to shop secondhand online. We love: ThredUp, The RealReal, Poshmark, Etsy, rose girls, Depop, sororité, VSP Consignment, and the Vestiaire Collective.
Looking to spend a little bit more on a designer piece? Choose a shop that employs a team of experts to authenticate its luxury items. While you’re at it, make sure to check out each shop’s shipping and return policies. You know, just in case.
2. Make a list
…but don’t restrict yourself to it. Identifying gaps in your wardrobe and making a list will help you focus, but sometimes you’ll stumble upon a wonderful something that you didn’t know you needed. And that’s totally okay, too!
Instagram/@vestiaireco
3. Look for brands you already love
In case you didn’t know, a lot of the brands you already shop from can be found secondhand online.
Looking for and purchasing familiar brands takes the guesswork out of online shopping because you already know the quality of the clothing and the brands unique sizing. Easy peasy.
4. Know your measurements
Are you looking to explore vintage or brands that you may not already wear? Well, you’re going to need to know your measurements for that. We’re not tailors, but you can find a comprehensive guide to figuring that out on websites like The Chic Fashionista. Once you’re armed with that knowledge, make sure to check your measurements against the measurements of each item you’re considering to ensure a great fit!
Instagram/@swapsoiree_
5. Take advantage of each online store’s search filters
Searching specifically for a red midi dress from Reformation? Same, girl. We recommend using your favourite online secondhand store’s filters (clothing type, colour, size, etc.) to find exactly what you’re looking for in under a minute. Bet you can’t do that at your local thrift store!
6. Put it all into your virtual cart
Do a quick scan of items available and (virtually) grab everything that catches your attention, even if you’re not sure about it — this is especially important when shopping from online stores that reserve your items for a specified period of time. Your first look through is not the time for making final cuts. If you don’t grab it when you first see it, there’s a chance someone else will snag it from right under you.
Instagram/@rosegirlsvintage
7. Always double check
Enlarge the photos of the item and scrutinize them. Read and reread the description of the item. And then do it again. You don’t want to be surprised when your secondhand item arrives and it’s not in the like-new condition you envisioned it in.
8. Don’t buy it just because it’s cheap
For the love of all things thrift, don’t buy something just because it’s cheap! When you buy something you’re not one hundred percent into, you risk filling up your closet space with items you don’t end up wearing. Not to mention, you could be taking away the opportunity for someone else to love that piece to death. Just let them have it.
Instagram/@thredup
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