11 Chic Vintage Fashion Websites to Shop this Second Hand September

I have a sentimental relationship with second-hand wares and vintage shopping is one of my favourite pastimes. I spent my teen years frequenting charity shops with my dad, who was an expert at sifting through charity shop rails and sourcing luxury treasures. He arrived in the UK in the '80s with a modest wallet and the desire to dress like a distinguished gentleman; therefore, he sought an attainable method to satiate his desires and took to pre-loved and vintage shopping as a sport. Each time, he'd pluck out hardly worn premium labels whilst teaching me the art of patience, discernment and curation. I was privileged to have an expert lend me tricks but it never escaped me how daunting vintage shopping can be as it's considerably oversaturated. With the terms thrift, pre-loved and vintage bandied around the fashion space, the language can be bemusing, so it's worthwhile knowing how to differentiate between them before embarking on vintage shopping.

What is the difference between vintage and second-hand fashion?

Second-hand and pre-loved refer to items with a previous owner. A seller could very well purchase a new item today, resell it a few months later and on receipt, it'll qualify as a second-hand buy as it'll have been passed through a chain. For this reason, vintage clothing is inherently second-hand but it fits into a second category referencing its age. Vintage denotes the items is between 20 to 100 years old, through which it represents styles of the era in which it was concieved. Purists may also refer to the term "true vintage" with items aged 50-plus. The classification of vintage drives the price increase as the value increases with historical and rare items. This explains the price disparity between pre-loved and vintage (particularly designer goods).

Over the last decade, interest in vintage has grown resulting in a surge of online spaces and you no longer have to rummage through countless racks to find unique pieces. The vintage shopping experience has elevated considerably and we're now in a new and sophisticated era of vintage shopping online. Shopping for designer and affordable vintage clothing and accessories online has become easier than ever before—thanks to the rise of Instagram accounts, expert curators and chic and easy-to-shop website interfaces. In addition, digital platforms dedicated to pre-loved items, namely eBay, Depop and Vestiaire are also becoming increasingly popular. Whether you're interested in minimalist Dior suiting from the '80s, spirited rockabilly dresses from the '50s or runway-appropriate '00s pieces, I've borrowed 11 of the chicest places to buy vintage clothing from my archives.

1. Vestiaire Collective

Vestiaire Collective offers both high-end vintage designer pieces and unlabelled, rare finds at reasonable prices. I'd recommend checking out its range of vintage jewellery and handbags since these pieces often retain their value and are universally flattering. Vestiaire Collective's authenticity team routinely checks the item before it's dispatched, so be assured you'll never receive a counterfeit item or an order that's in less-than-great condition.

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2. Retold Vintage

Retold Vintage specialise in simple, understated pieces for minimalists. It boasts one of the most impressive vintage selections I've witnessed to date. Their arsenal proves you can pair pieces from different decades whilst achieving uniformity.

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3. Curate and Rotate

Curate and Rotate is a favourite among theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK team. Based in Brighton, founder Melanie boasts an expert eye, through which she sources both pre-loved and vintage apparel for lovers of contemporary style. Each piece is noughties-tinged with a minimal aesthetic which is incredibly alluring.

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4. Farfetch Pre-owned

Farfetch pre-owned features vintage pieces from various boutiques across the world so if you are looking for a fast track to retro designer goods, this is a great place to start. Use the filters to find items that are within your specific size and budget, then peruse the selection and be prepared to find treasures.

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4. Depop

Depop has become one of the most widely used platforms for pre-loved goods and one reason for this is its ease. Simply type in your request—no matter how niche—and stand by as the options roll in. Depop currently house separate vintage boutiques (including Hannah May Vintage), where you'll find wallet-friendly pieces courtesy of curators with an eye for vintage. Whether you're searching for the perfect pair of authentic Levi's jeans, tinted sunglasses, '80s party dresses or old-school sportswear, this is your one-stop shop. According to Hannah May, "customers’ attitudes towards shopping have changed. People now want to look individual and have ‘one-off’ pieces, rather than following mass-produced fast fashion trends. This is true whether it’s buying vintage or buying from smaller, independent brands. People are valuing quality over quantity as there’s longevity in quality. I see this shift even in my own shopping attitudes: I’d much rather save up and buy one quality piece than buy several cheaper versions of the same thing."

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5. eBay

Some of my favourite vintage finds have been on eBay, a platform with many vintage wares. Here, you'll find all of your thrift and vintage needs and the site features include filters through which you can fine-tune your search. From intricate, delicate pieces from the 1940s to the noughties delights, you won't be disappointed.

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6. Sign of the Times

If you're a vintage-designer connoisseur who's looking for rare, luxury finds (especially handbags), then make Sign of the Times your destination. The shop offers a selection of vintage Hermes, Chanel and a host of high-end designers.

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7. Imparfaite

If you've ever shopped for vintage in Paris, it's highly likely that you've heard of Imparfaite and immediately wanted to try everything on (it has a particularly impressive collection of vintage Levi 501s). Here, you'll find moderately priced French-approved gems, including basket bags, leather and shearling coats.

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8. Beyond Retro

Any Londoner who considers themselves a lover of vintage has plenty of experience sifting through the racks of Beyond Retro's many stores. The buyers often tap into trends before they've begun, so expect to see the virtual shelves stacked with items you didn't even know were cool yet. What's great about the online store is that you can return most items—a true rarity in the vintage world.

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9. Atijo Store

Concieved in May 2029 by London-based stylists Anu Odugbesan, Londiwe Ncube and Safiya Yekwai, Atijo was founded to provide a curated and premium shopping experience for lovers of vintage shopping. Their mission: spotlighting the landscape of preloved pieces and championing diversity. Each piece is expertly curated for the modern, discerning shopper.

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10. Downings

Downings' USP is vintage and vintage style footwear, namely '90s style pointed toe mules and slingbacks. If you're looking for smart footwear you won't be disappointed with its chic offerings that are suitable for office and off-duty days.

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11. Mies Preloved

Established by Parisian-based Noora Vesterinen, Mies Preloved stocks a sumptuous curation of high-end vintage goods with a particular focus on Hermès by Margiela. Inspired by Noora's adoration for streamlined and refined clothing, you'll discover a wealth of timeless and quality clothing to integrate into your forever wardrobe.

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