Recyling Made Cool: The Best Ways to Buy Secondhand Online
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Luxe: The Real Real
A members-only site dedicated to high-end pieces, you can certainly find a bargain here if you're willing to spend a little more. The site regularly features both established and sought-after brands like Chanel, Prada and Hermes, as well as less-expected (but still crave-worthy) brands like Rag & Bone and Alex Wang.
The Real Real takes the time to group its offerings in ways that help to lure you to the site — like grouping together pastels or florals or work-appropriate gear, which can give it a nice stylized, editorial feel. Prices fluctuate but there are definitely some deals to be had — like Etoile Isabel Marant dresses for $145, Chanel sandals for $225, an embroidered Stella McCartney top for $95. They've also recently started selling art, too, so if you're in the market for color/texture for your home's bland walls, look no further.
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Luxe: LXR & Co.
LXR & Co. also focuses on luxury, but it's mainly an accessories purview. This is the site you'll want to visit to shop for Céline luggage bags ($1,995 for a nano, $2,795 for a phantom), classic Chanel flap bags (just shy of $4K) and tons of great Louis Vuitton, whether you prefer your handbags logoed or not. Itching for Hermes? Great — there's a dedicated brand section, and you'll find anything from a red Birkin 30 (for $14,995) to a black Constance (for $5,495.) Not only handbags, you'll also find luxe jewelry — classics and vintage novelties from Hermes and Chanel alike.
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For Cool Kids: Vaunte
Wishing you could shop the closets of your favorite fashion personalities? Well, Vaunte's made it a reality. Go on the site, choose an insider — from shop owners to stylists and more — and go wild. It's a mixed bag of what you'll find in each "closet" — as the personal styles vary, so do the brand offerings — but it's fun to browse. Some examples? A Raquel Allegra sleeveless button-up for $90, a cool Kenzo jacket for $270, Proenza Schouler flats for $280. You can go through the separate closets or shop by brand/type — the latter is a bit more realistic but less fun.
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High and Low: Twice
Looking for rock-bottom prices and everyday brands? Twice might be more your speed. Think: Gap tees for under $15, J.Crew tunics for $33, a romantic Joie dress for $60. There are some higher-end designers thrown into the mix, like Michael Kors (a neat black halter dress goes for $310) and 3.1 Phillip Lim (a plaid top is selling for $51), but that's less of a focus. It's got less of a curated feel than some of the other sites but what it lacks in polish it makes up for in pricing and selection.
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Your Everyday: Threadflip
Threadflip kind of toes the line between everyday brands and luxury. The site features both great prices for cool indie brands (a Zadig & Voltaire dress for $109) and your regular go-tos (a peplum faux leather frock from H&M is selling for $27). There's an exhaustive amount of goods here — everything from booties to brooches — but your browsing time will be well rewarded.
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Anything Goes: Etsy
Etsy is not just the ultimate handmade marketplace with a great arts and crafts feel — it's also an invaluable vintage source. The sheer number of sellers — and ease of searching for exactly what you want (or what you never knew you needed) — means you'll find just the piece. Prices range from rock-bottom to straight-up crazy, and designer labels can be found, though authentication can't really be verified. Shop at your own risk but browse often!
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The Old Standby: eBay
Ah, the thrill, the rush of eBay shopping — it can't be beat. eBay has a few advantages over all the other resale sites, and it has a few disadvantages, too. It rules because you're able to search for any random old brand (like something super up-and-coming) or random designer piece and you just might find it. You can also set up alerts to be notified when a new piece from your favorite designers go up for sale. The downsides? Bidding, of course — it sucks to lose out at the last minute (or pay a crazy bid-influenced inflated price) but sometimes that means that the prices start out super low to begin with, a real coup. eBay also means you're gambling with the authenticity of pieces, so be careful what you buy if you're looking to go luxury designer, like Chanel or Louis Vuitton.
