Vestiaire Collective – How to Buy & Sell Quality Second-Hand Clothes Online

When I am not at the markets, I hunt online, on Vestiaire Collective. The platform was started in Paris in 2009, and it is where I buy and sell second-hand luxury.

Instagram trends

If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen me sell boots and shoes that were brand new and that I was never going to wear. For me, it is not about the profit. It is about making room. I am in my fifties now and my wardrobe has to change with me.

So how do you buy well? What I like about Vestiaire Collective is the peace of mind. You pay a small fee for authentication, and for that you know that what arrives is the real thing. Let’s face it, trust is hard to come by when you shop online.

Why choose preloved clothing?

Why do I choose preloved? Because a good piece deserves a second life. It means less waste, and it means quality that lasts. And the hunt for a one-off is half the fun.

Who needs fast fashion when there is vintage Gucci, Prada and Chanel to be found?

Customer service reviewed

Buying and selling on Vestiaire Collective is simple, and the system protects both the buyer and the seller. Something I had bought was lost in the post. Vestiaire refunded me, and that was the end of it.

When a parcel is on its way you can track it. Once it arrives, Vestiaire gives you 72 hours to check that the item is what you expected.

One piece of advice: don’t undervalue what you sell. I once let a pair of Jimmy Choo boots go on Vestiaire for less than they were worth. I should have been more patient. Trends come and go, but quality stays in demand. The latest film can send everybody looking for Gucci, and Versace is always wanted. So know what your piece is worth and hold firm.

Markets are great too. But ask yourself: are the goods real or fake?

The stalls in the photographs are at the market in Lucca.

Vintage is fun and unique in style

Wear a vintage dress and you are wearing something that nobody else in the street has. It turns heads and it starts conversations. That is what I love about it.

The shopping is a hunt. You go through the racks, you open dusty boxes, you scroll through pages online, and then there is the one piece that belongs to you.

Wooden handbags

Vintage pieces have a craftsmanship that is hard to find now: the fabrics, the cuts, the hand-sewn details. They were made to last longer than a season. And you can mix them. Wear one era with another, or an old piece with something new.

My wooden handbags are a real hit when I walk the streets of London or Milan.

I have seven of them now. The newest is by Rocio, a brand from the Philippines, and it took six weeks to make.

Vintage is also the better choice for the planet. Nothing new has to be made for you to wear it.

Find the pieces that speak to you, and wear them.