I am a big fan of giving second life to pre-owned pre-loved items. Particularly luxury goods that are well built and manufactured to last. I’ve bought and sold several luxury items over the years and have saved money and reduced waste for a more sustainable economy. I’m a supporter of buying gently used luxury goods when it allows you to look stylish while saving money and helping the planet. That is called a WIN – WIN – WIN!
With millions of luxury pieces waiting to be rediscovered and re-loved, scoring that coveted Gucci handbag is literally a click away. When buying luxury goods second hand make sure to go through verified second-hand resellers that will help make sure you get quality items with proven and genuine authenticity. That is key! To help get you started, here is a list of my favorite places to buy pre-loved or past season designer pieces online.
Where to shop
Fashionphile
They make pre-owned, ultra-luxury goods accessible. Rare pieces? They have them. They are all about guaranteed-authentic products in great condition, and also do quick buy-outs on pieces you’re ready to sell.
Website: www.fashionphile.com
Rebag
Second-hand luxury designer handbags, clutches, pouches, totes, and everything else in between. They offer the option to return your purchase within 6 months if you don’t want to keep it in exchange for credit worth at least 70% of its purchase price. If you like to change bags regularly, this is a site for you! Experience different bags without having to purchase them at full price.
Website: www.rebag.com
Luxury Garage Sale
Offers authentic, pre-owned luxury brand pieces. Site is updated daily and some items sold for up to 80% of the original price. Everything is verified and validated by their team of experts to guarantee quality and authenticity.
Website: www.luxurygaragesale.com
The Real Real
Another online luxury resale site that also has three physical stores in New York and Los Angeles (in June 2019, they went public and raised $300 million through its IPO). They are a luxury consignment site with a large selection of second-hand designer items like handbags, shoes, apparel, accessories, and even home-goods and fine arts at up to 90% off retail prices. The Real Real has a team of over 100+ experts that authenticate all the consigned luxury pieces.
Website: www.therealreal.com
The scoundrels
Buyer always beware! The scoundrels are out there and they are 100% willing to take your money and sell you a counterfeit. There are tons of luxury fakes and counterfeits sold at online consignment stores. For example, Poshmark and eBay are open platforms where anyone can sell anything without proper authentication. eBay used to have a Guaranteed Verification program (I bought my first pair of Manolo’s through the eBay GV program) but they have since discontinued it and only verify watches now. For high-end designer bags and luxury items I recommend only buying from online stores who do their own verification.
Tips for buying used luxury goods
Most important thing to remember in order to have a good experience buying pre-loved luxury items online is that you need to always be AWARE and ATTENTIVE. It’s unfortunate but there are so many unscrupulous sellers out there who will try to sell counterfeit goods. To avoid any pitfalls, here are five essential tips to keep in mind when shopping online:
- Always do your research and ask lots of questions. It’s ultimately your responsibility to make sure that the item you buy meets your expectations.
- When buying second-hand, go to handbags, purses, accessories, home decor, and high-end mechanical watches. These items age better when maintained.
- If you want to buy second-hand clothes, ask for photos of the actual garment to verify its quality.
- You should avoid buying pre-owned shoes online as shoes tend to adjust to their owners’ feet. The only exception is if you buy second-hand shoes where the previous owner barely or never wore them and sold new in the original box.
- When buying from a resale website, check the return policy and their process to determine the authenticity of the goods they sell.
gingham shirt / 9″ highrise jeans / Manolo Blahnik ballerina shoes in camo and Louis Vutton Neverfull MM bag both purchased pre-loved from luxury resellers / similar camo shoes I love HERE and less expensive option HERE
