The 7 Best Apps For Shopping Vintage and Secondhand Fashion From Home
Shop sustainably and safely in honor of Earth Month.
Earth Month has officially kicked off and with quarantines in full effect around the world, one way to show your support and shop sustainably — and safely — is through vintage and secondhand fashion apps. In case you need a refresher, “vintage” refers to anything over 20 but under 100 years old, while “secondhand” counts as anything re-sold. By focusing purchases on vintage and secondhand items, consumers contribute to a circular fashion system (all trends are bound to make a comeback) and reduce the need to manufacture new garments, a process that often contributes to carbon emissions and wastes water.
Heroine, the womenswear-specific offshoot of Grailed, operates as a community marketplace for rare designer vintage. A brief scroll through the app reveals a treasure trove of mesh Jean Paul Gaultier dresses, ’00s Dior handbags and vintage Vivienne Westwood jewelry. Though 1stdibs has gained a reputation for its antique furniture and collectible art, the platform is also home to an impressive selection of vintage, off-the-runway gowns by labels such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain and Chanel. Wardrobe, a relatively new endeavor, allows shoppers to rent coveted designer pieces from the closets of New York-based influencers for prices often ringing up at below $100 USD.
Keep reading for the 7 best vintage and secondhand fashion apps.
1stdibs
A digital marketplace frequented by creatives such as Marc Jacobs and Diane Von Furstenberg, 1stdibs offers fashion, jewelry, art and antiques from experienced sellers pre-vetted by the app. Clothing spans from 1750’s French court slippers to archival Alexander McQueen. The platform is also a fruitful resource for designer bag collectors: over 20,000 listings include Hermès Birkin bags, crystal-encrusted Judith Leiber clutches and a variety of monogram Louis Vuitton leatherware.
Depop
A community-focused buying-and-selling app catered to Gen-Z fashion lovers, Depop touts a range of designer and secondhand fashion from the closets of collectors and influencers alike. Whether you’re looking for a vintage Vivienne Westwood corset or the perfect ’70s bell bottoms, Depop is a one-stop-shop.
Heroine
Community marketplace Heroine mainly deals in designer vintage, but also boasts a selection of highly curated secondhand fashion. Shoppers will find contemporary and vintage pieces such as Demna Gvsalia-era Balenciaga, ’90s Supreme and Zucca-print Fendi alongside streetwear grails by BAPE, Yohji Yamamoto and Rick Owens.
Rebag
If you’re in the market for an investment purse, whether it be a Prada Saffiano bag or a Bottega Veneta Pouch, look no further than Rebag. Though its retail locations have closed in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Rebag app offers hundreds of pre-vetted designer handbags. Further encouraging sustainable consumption, Rebag provides up to an 80 percent credit on bags that are purchased on the platform and sold back within a year.
StockX
It goes without saying that StockX is a go-to for all your sneaker needs, but you may not realize that the app also sells secondhand streetwear, handbags and watches. StockX’s streetwear selection includes plenty of YEEZY, KITH and Palace while the app’s lineup of accessories features finds by Off-White™, Gucci and other luxury designers.
Vestiaire Collective
A global buying and selling platform for vintage and secondhand fashion, Vestiaire Collective has made a name for itself as one of the most trusted resale apps. Besides clothing and accessories, Vestiaire Collective also sells luxury lifestyle items like Cartier pens, Hermès tableware and Supreme-branded objects. The app even offers a 10 percent discount for student shoppers.
Wardrobe
A New York-specific clothing rental app, Wardrobe taps into the closets of the city’s most stylish inhabitants and lends their wares — think Dior Saddle bags, statement Gucci heels and Valentino eveningwear — at prices drastically lower than retail. If you’re looking to work from home in style or turn heads at a future event, shoppers can rent, say, a Chanel dress for $92.45 USD for 4 days.
