Since the ripe age of 12, I've been enamoured with pre-loved goods. Between the magic in the history of these pieces, the cost-effective factor and most importantly, the benefits of shopping pre-existing fashion for environmental purposes, there's much to celebrate — from the thrill of scoring a unique piece, to the drawn-out buying process, which helps to properly interrogate the why of a purchase. Whether you're rifting through hangers, hoping to find something unique, in a back-and-forth bidding war, considering offers, or harbouring the intention of searching for something with a specific requirement, there's a powerful psychology that's tangled in with the process of decision making.
Second-hand shopping has served me well over the years. During my teens, I owned a thriving eBay store-front, stocked with curated pieces sourced from local charity shops. I also have stories from time spent frequenting thrift and charity shops with loved ones. Back then, Beyond Retro was one of the few names excelling in this market but now the options are aplenty. To date, some of my favourite second-hand pieces are a botanical print Laura Ashley skirt I wore religiously during my teens, a cross-body Burberry satchel kindly passed down from my Aunty (which I had no business wearing to Secondary school), A Baserage Shaw Dress, Albus Lumen frock, and Doen’s Ischia Midi, to name a few. (Honestly, you’ll be surprised what you can find).
Luckily for me, I'm now living in one of the world's biggest fashion hubs, with a smorgasbord of thrift offerings on every corner. Vintage shops in Paris have become part of the cultural experience—with Parisians appreciating the pieces of yesteryear (namely Burberry Trench coats and Levi 501s). Unlike two decades ago when I started shopping for second-hand pieces, consignment stores and e-commerce sites such as Vestiaire Collective, Vinted, and eBay allow for a comfortable shopping experience akin to shopping new and an added benefit is it’s so much easier to share and inspire one another.
I knew my fellow editors would have beautiful pieces and joyous stories to share, so I picked their brains (and wardrobes) for their best second-hand piece to date. From vintage to pre-loved luxury, look no further for inspiring stories this Second Hand September. Continue reading to discover the team's pre-loved fashion heroes and to shop similar styles with ease from the comfort of your home. No rifting is necessary.
SEE OUR FASHION-EDITOR APPROVED BEST VINTAGE BUYS:
1. Hannah Almassi, Editor in Chief
Style Notes: My best-ever secondhand buy was a gold jacquard Fendi baguette bag—that sounds quite niche but it goes surprisingly well with a lot of outfits from daytime looks to evening ones. I bought it on Vestiaire Collective before the iconic style came back around into fashion again. It's one of those items that always draws compliments at dinners and parties, so it's not only a great accessory but an ice-breaker too.
Shop Fendi Baguette Bag:
2. Avalon Afriyie, Contributing Fashion Editor
Style Notes: You may have deduced that secondhand shopping is a love of mine, so I struggle picking a favourite. However, if I had to pick my most worn, it's by far my Vintage Burberry Trench coat. I yearned for one for years, never finding quite the right fit or colourway and I was intent on buying it in-person, as I wanted to try it on for fit and cut (there are so many variations, after all). Like many vintage buys, it comes with a sacharine backstory, as me and my sister treated ourselves to this cult classic the first time she visited me after I moved to Paris. We just so happened to find two perfect styles that very day! We walked home arm in arm with our new-found treasure in tow, envisioning creative styling options and a year later, I'm still impressed at its versatility and quality. It's the perfect amalgamation of cool-toned khaki and stone, bearing a generous drape and cocoon sleeves, as I purchased it in men's sizing. I've lost count on the amount of times I've worn it and I know it'll be in my collection for a lifetime. PS, I have it on good authority that my sister is still very much in love with hers, too. In fact, it's currently on its way home from the dry cleaner!
Shop Vintage Burberry Trench Coat:
3. Poppy Nash, Managing Editor
Style Notes: I invested in the Frankie Shop Bea blazer about three years ago and have worn it to death. So, last year, I thought it was worth adding a new colourway to my capsule wardrobe. I wanted the same style, but a lighter shade that could also be worn in summer and spring, so I hunted down the dark dove grey iteration. I knew I didn't want to buy it full-priced, and luckily for me there were plenty of options on Vinted, Depop and Vestaire for me to choose from. I ended up paying just over £100 for the grey style which arrived in perfect condition. I love it just as much as the black and genuinely think it's one of my savviest purchases ever.
Shop Frankie Shop Blazer:
4. Harriet Davey, Contributing Fashion Editor
Style Notes: My best ever pre-loved purchase is undoubtably my Prada Cleo. I got it from eBay at the beginning of 2023, and you only have to flick through my Instagram to see how hard it has worked since. Using the 'authenticity guarantee' feature on site, I was able to get the bag checked by the specialist team before I bought it, to make sure it was the real deal you can't be too careful with an online purchase. Even now, I would say it's my most-complimented item that always has people asking to try it on for size. And my favourite thing about this particular Prada style aside from the fact white goes with every outfit is that it's wipe clean, so it has stayed looking like new. I'll be on the lookout for a pre-loved Prada suede buckle bag next.
Shop Prada Cleo:
5. Florrie Alexander, Acting Affiliates Editor
Style Notes: My best second-hand buy has to be my Fendi Kan I bag from Vestiaire Collective. I love handbags and there are so many great second-hand options that are in seriously good condition. I've got a few from Vestiaire as I really like that they authenticate the designer pieces and have such a good range of styles, from vintage to pre-loved.
Shop Fendi Kan Handbag:
6. Rebecca Rhys Evans, Senior Fashion Beauty Editor, Branded Content
Style Notes: I love the story of how I came to own these crazy reworked jeans. I found them in a flea market in Tokyo on a 40 degree day (yes, you read that correctly!), my husband saw them and said I had to try them because they'd be great for fashion week events. They have a wide leg and have been reworked with deadstock denim pieces and other fabric scraps, including the iconic adidas three stripes on either side. It will come as no surprise they're incredibly heavy too, around 3kg—so, trying them on in a market in Japan where there's 100% humidity and no changing room—you can imagine the drama! But, they fit perfectly and were only £70, so it was a no-brainer.
Shop Patchwork Jeans:
Shop Other Vintage and Secondhand Pieces We're Loving:
