Best clothes and accessories to buy secondhand and where to find them

A Guardian guide outlines which clothes and accessories are worth buying secondhand and where to look, noting the environmental benefits and the chance to find one-off pieces. The piece gives a price comparison for leather jackets—new ones can cost between £150 and £700, while a secondhand jacket can be picked up for £50 or less.

Recommended places to shop include Vinted for high-street bargains, Vestiaire Collective for discounted designer items and shoes, and local charity shops such as Oxfam or Crisis. Specialist sellers mentioned for vintage leather include Rokit, Thrifted and We Are Cow, and the guide advises shopping in person for leather to check weight, feel and signs of dry rot such as cracks, dehydration or musky odours; full-grain or top-grain is preferred.

The guide highlights specific categories and tips: Etsy for authentic party dresses but avoid listings vague about era and fabrics like heavy sequins, feathers, silk or satin; By Rotation for short-term dress rentals (brands such as Zimmermann, Rixo and Self-Portrait are noted, with rental options from £3 a day); Vestiaire Collective for designer heels including many Manolo Blahnik listings; Depop for boots, with Depop’s claim about water and CO2 savings and a reminder to check soles; and Beyond Retro for vintage jeans, which often run small so you may need to size up.

Key Topics

Culture, Secondhand Fashion, Vinted, Vestiaire Collective, Oxfam, Depop