15 Best Online Thrift Stores For Every Budget
Shopping secondhand is one of the best ways to build your wardrobe sustainably, and often times you will end up with a more interesting and personalized closet than if you had gone to the same trendy fast fashion store everyone else shops at. However, shopping secondhand is not without it’s challenges.
Not everyone has access to great thrift and consignment stores like those in major cities, so online is a great place to look! Even I’m a fan of scrolling through online secondhand stores in search of a gem! These sites are a great way to curb that shopping bug, while finding some amazing pieces that are better for your wallet and the planet!
If you’re new to online thrifting, here are a few tips before diving in.
Create bulk shipments for low cost items
Thredup has a great feature where you can ‘bundle’ items until you’re ready to ship, so they can process multiple items in one shipment. This lowers the carbon footprint of the items and often the'’ll ship for free with this method. We’ve ben conditioned to think that shipping/returns should be free, when in reality shipping is expensive and adds on to the carbon footprint of an item if you’re returning often or placing multiple shipments of single items.
Find somewhere that offers returns on higher-priced items.
For more expensive pieces however, you may want to look for a retailer that offers returns in case the fit or quality is not what you expected. Almost all of the sites below offer returns unless something heavily discounted.
Narrow Your Search
If you’re just scanning the new arrivals, it may take some time to weed through the bulk and find something great. However if you narrow your search to a specific type of item you feel is missing from your wardrobe, or you search by a particular brand/designer you love, this can often cut through some of the mess
Know Your Measurements
Sizing is one of the biggest reasons for returns, and with measurements varying so widely between brands, it can be hard to gauge your own size based on the tag. Below are the four basic measurements for women’s clothing. Write yours down so anytime you’re online shopping, you can quickly pull up the brand’s sizing chart and find your size.
Bust/Chest: Arms relaxed at sides, measure around the fullest part of the bust.
Waist: Measure around the natural waistline, smallest part of waist
Hips: Standing with legs together, measure around fullest part of hips.
Inseam: Measure inside length of your leg from crotch to bottom of ankle.
Accessible
These sites are accessible to any budget, and you can find some great options at a fraction of retail costs.
ThredUp - This is one of my favorite online thrift stores. Prices range widely, and you can find tons of mass market brands like J.Crew, Gap, and LOFT as well as Designer names at great prices. In fact, the Maje dress and Gucci bag in the photo above both came from Thredup!
Urban Renewal - This is Urban Outfitters section that highlights items that are upcycled, recycled, made from deadstock fabrics (fabric leftover from production) or individually made by artists. It’s not the cheapest option, but you can find some very unique and creative pieces.
Poshmark - This is a peer-to-peer resale app can be great if you're looking for something very specific. If you’ve been hunting for a new Reformation dress or a Gucci Jackie bag, this is a great first stop. You can check out my closet on the app as well!
Depop - Anther peer-to-peer resale app that skews younger and trendier than most. There’s a lot of secondhand fast-fashion, but it can be a good way to extend the life of these items and dabble in trends!
Mercari - This site has a wide range of items for men, women, kids, and home that’s sold peer-to-peer. Similar to the two above, this is better if you’re searching for a specific item or brand.
Vintage
Persephone Vintage - a beautiful collection of modern vintage. You can find designer slip dresses, cozy knits, and unique jewelry that has been carefully selected.
Retro Rhapsody - My favorite online vintage store for accessible, quality vintage styles with a minimalist Parisian aesthetic.
Imparfaite - This French vintage site has incredible pieces that are hunted down and selected by a small group fashionable French women. Prices are accessible, but not cheap. I love this site for finding unique vintage forever-pieces.
High End
These sites are best for secondhand luxury goods. You can find amazing deals on designer bags, or even just shop your favorite pricier labels at a discount. If you’re in the market for high-end, I’d choose these over peer-to-peer resale since they typically have more expert authentication.
TheRealReal - One of the best known designer resellers, RealReal is a good staple to scroll through, however items can sell very quickly and are usually a little pricier. They do have a dedicated authentication team though, which can give you confidence that you’re buying an authentic product.
Tradesy - This is one of my favorite secondhand luxury sites. They have a wide assortment that’s very well curated, reasonably priced, and easy to navigate.
Vestiaire Collective - This site is typically better for edgier / trendier designer. If you’re looking for Isabel Marant cowboy boots or a gucci bucket hat, head here.
Luxury Garage Sale - LGS is a smaller collection of high end items, but they have an excellent personal shopping service that’s perfect for those who struggle with finding the right pieces for themselves.
A Second Chance - This store used to be one of NYC’s best kept secrets, but now they’re a major retailer for designer resale, especially luxury handbags.
Designer Revival - Another NYC staple, this site has everything from Everlane to Chanel. This is where the Upper East Side ladies take thier last-season wardrobes, so definitely worth browsing for some interesting finds.
Rebag - As the name suggests, Rebag specializes in secondhand designer bags. They also stock jewelry and accessories, but this is often my first stop when searching for handbags.
Happy shopping!
Best,
Audra
