My first foray into the world of secondhand shopping — or “thrifting” — was an adolescent attempt to source an early 1800s French peasant outfit for our local community theater’s production of Les Mis. I was ten, and it was very serious business.
Over the last two decades, there’s been plenty of change in the secondhand shopping market. Thrifting transformed from a niche hobby to a tech driven, mainstream pursuit and today, every It Girl has a list of a growing list of “obsessions” on The Real Real.
To make sense of the madness, I decided to take inventory of every purchase I’ve ever made on both The Real Real and Vestiaire. I created my accounts in 2015, so needless to say, it was a horrifying and hilarious journey that exposed both my own frivolous spending patterns — should I really have purchased a $250 Dolce and Gabanna dress with no where to wear it? — and the incessant ups and downs of online vintage shopping.
Let’s dive in…
The Real Real
Best for brand names, vintage designer clothing, browsing, saved searches, and customer service.
Pros:
The app’s user friendly interface makes it a breeze to browse, create super specific searches and add to your favorites.
Alerts for when items in your “obsessions” go on sale.
Customer service is very responsive and always makes the issue right. They accept returns on most items.
Cons:
Pricing is set and you don’t have the option to negotiate, so sometimes its hard to find a good deal.
Nothing looks great on the mannequin, sourcing a great piece requires a bit of vision.
My tips:
Create a VERY specific search (use as many of the search parameters you can) and always, always, always sort price from low to high.
The app is super easy to use and a lot of fun to browse, but I always try to shop with a plan — for example, “green silk drop waist dress” or “suede manolo sling backs”. I’ve had a lot of Real Real fails because of doom scrolling.
SAVE. YOUR. SEARCHES. I never find anything the first go-round, the good news is The Real Real has an insane amount of inventory, and they upload new items multiple times a week.
They are notorious for clipping clothing items to fit the mannequin, so pay attention to the measurements and do research on the brand’s sizing.
When I would hesitate to purchase from The Real Real:
Any investment bag over $400. Their handbags are already a touch overpriced, and you can’t communicate with the seller to negotiate or ask questions about the bag. I do trust their authentication process, but I trust Vestiaire’s more.
Denim. I don’t have to tell you that denim sizing is absolutely all over the place. Brands, styles and the degree of wear all effect size and fit. Shopping for denim secondhand is best done when you can talk to the seller or see it modeled in person.
Investment jewelry. There are better deals to be had!
Items under a year old. Their pricing is terrible on these pieces. You are better off using Poshmark or Depop.
Vestiaire Collective
Best for designer items, rare vintage pieces and handbags.
Pros:
Their authentication process is the best. Read more about their impressive stats here.
Interface with sellers and option to negotiate on price. You’re likely to score a better deal and make a more informed purchase.
Unique designer items. Vestiare is based in France but the sellers come from around the world, so you’ll find a vast selection of European and international designers not readily available on other sites.
Cons:
Lags in shipping time. Vestiaire doesn’t hold their merchandise unless it is specified as “quick ship.” Once you order an item, the seller sends it to Vestiaire, where it is authenticated and shipped. Delivery times vary, and they cancel items if not sent to their headquarters within a certain # of days.
Duties not included. Depending on the cost of your purchase you may be subject to covering duties.
Their notifications are really annoying. Unless you have a saved search for an ultra rare item, turn them off ASAP.
You can’t return the items, but you can re-list them for 0% commission within a 14 day window. (You can also report an item or a seller but only for flaws with the item)
My tips:
Always offer at least 15% off of the listed price. I have never paid the listed price for an item on Vestiaire. Negotiation is all part of the process!
Ask for more photos if you need them. No returns and international shipping means you better be sure you know what you’re getting!
Always opt to have the item authenticated.
Create saved searches.
If someone is a similar size to you or has beautiful stuff, follow them. This is how you can find great pieces before they get snatched up.
Depop
Best for following fun accounts, finding out of stock items, and funky thrifted finds.
Pros:
Good algorithm makes it really fun to scroll.
Option to message sellers.
Cons:
Customer service is not great.
Mark up on items.
No authentication process.
My tips:
Stick to low $ purchases.
Always negotiate price.
Look here first if you are looking for an item that is recently out of stock or out of season.
Follow users who have enviable style and browse through their liked items. Public likes are the best thing about this app.
Poshmark
Best for getting a deal, mid-luxury brands and quick shipping.
Pros:
Price negotiation.
Once an item is shipped, expect it at your doorstep in 2-3 business days.
Huge selection of wedding guest and formal dresses that have only been worn once.
Cons:
Search function is clunky.
You have to look through a lot of junk to get to the good stuff.
No authentication process.
My tips:
When I’m looking for a specific mid-luxury item or something more vague — say “brown cashmere sweater” — I tend to always check Poshmark first.
As always, negotiate the price down! Be patient once you send an offer, sellers have 24 hours to respond.
Always look for wedding guest dresses here! Even the ones that are in season. So many people sell right after wearing.
Wouldn’t do high end designer from here unless it is an insane deal or a trusted seller.
Tips for online secondhand jewelry?
Can you share a few examples of searches on the real real? Love your style!!