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stillwhite.com
The UK’s largest online wedding dress marketplace, stillwhite.com gives people the chance to buy and sell used dresses at a fraction of the usual price (think GBP800 for a Jenny Packham dress that would retail at GBP2,800). The filters allow you to look for a specific dress or designer (big-hitters such as Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier have lots of listings) or browse by size and style. Sellers will often chat through faults and how the dress has been stored. They can also give details about alterations and care advice. Unworn lace dress, GBP270 (RRP GBP340), by Reformation.
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loopster.co.uk
Loopster sells used kids’ clothes, from newborn to age six. Labels include Petit Bateau, Bonpoint and JoJo Maman Bebe. All garments are checked to make sure they are of sellable quality. The site sells “bundles”, offering better value for money for buying in bulk. If you want to sell on Loopster, order a “Loopy clear-out bag” and send all your unwanted pieces to the site. You will be offered a flat fee for each pieces that sells, while anything not sellable can be returned or donated to charity. Girls newborn bundle, GBP8.50.
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thrift.plus
Hoping to become the Amazon of secondhand shopping, Thrift+ is all about speed and efficiency. Hundreds of items are added each day and delivery times are swift (there is a 30-day return policy, too). As a seller, half the profits are given to a charity of your choice (from an extensive list), with the rest given to you as Thrift+ credits or a John Lewis or Farfetch voucher. Brands include designer labels such as Coach and Calvin Klein and high street favourites such as Arket and Cos; you can buy a J Crew blazer for about GBP30. Sweatshirt, GBP85, by Coach.
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houseofvintageuk.com
First opened in Canada in 2003, House of Vintage has two shops in east London, as well as its online platform. It offers a broad range of secondhand items, but its vast, eclectic range of Americana-style T-shirts, shirts and sweatshirts is what sets it apart. You will find logos and prints that look fresh and modern and styles that you would never find on the high street. It is a favourite sourcing destination for film and TV stylists (Ts are priced about GBP28 to GBP40) – it was one of the shops used to build the wardrobe of Marianne in the BBC’s Normal People.
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onescoopstore.com
One Scoop Store’s strength lies in its curation. Founded in 2017, the site and east London shop are home to a wide range of labels from Asos to Joseph and Isabel Marant. While most secondhand shops are home to endless rails requiring hours of trawling to find the real gems, One Scoop Store only sells standout pieces. Prices are super-affordable and you can be guaranteed to find some new linchpins for your wardrobe. Dress, GBP20, by Urban Outfitters.
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hardlyeverwornit.com
Hardly Ever Worn It launched in 2012 and has positioned itself as one of the most popular luxury resale sites. The photography is slick – not dissimilar to most luxury fashion sites – and the wide, current range of designers and labels means you have a great chance of finding some gems. Lots of hot-ticket brands are featured on the site, such as Ganni, Zimmermann and Self-Portrait. With prices seriously competitive, and many pieces only a season or two old, you will be able to look current at half the price. Skirt, GBP250 (RRP GBP350), and boots, GBP249 (RRP GBP550), both by Ganni.
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beyondretro.com
Beyond Retro has been a London go-to for nearly 20 years; with two shops in the capital, one in Brighton and an extensive site, it is one of the most popular vintage shops around. Its main charm is the sheer volume of pieces it packs under its roofs – the question isn’t what do they do well, but what don’t they have. It is most definitely worth an afternoon rifling through the rails – summer dresses, such as a 90s plaid shirt dress for GBP32, and GBP20 silks shirts are definite highlights.
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therealreal.com
A place for investment shopping, The RealReal is a super-glossy US-based luxury resale site. If you really know your fashion, this is where to find past season hits for half the price. If you have been lusting after something very special for a long time, head here (hello, floral Balenciaga blanket-style bag). The site has a large jewellery offering, which is all authenticated, so this is the place to buy an Hermes bracelet or a Cartier love ring. Not a website for weekly browsing, but an excellent choice for one-off seasonal pieces and annual treats. Bag, $206.50, Danse Lente.
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depop.com
Originally a social network, Depop has become the chosen marketplace for Gen Z shoppers with a penchant for retro sportswear and 90s-influenced clothes – think bucket hats, puddle jeans and oversized logo Ts. Only available via an app, Depop is easy and quick to use (it looks and feels like Instagram) and is home to thousands of sellers who sell vintage pieces as they find them and also upcycle and style their wares in creative ways. Definitely the place to go for original, one-of-a-kind, trend-driven pieces. Favourite sellers include @queenofthreads and @carricko.
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buildabundle.co.uk
Build a Bundle sell quality kidswear, for ages newborn to 16. It includes often one-off buys such as fancy dress outfits and Christmas jumpers in its stock – pieces that are typically expensive and throwaway. Prices are reasonable and items are shot flat, laid in a very clear way. The average for a whole outfit is about GBP20 – a snip compared with the high street. Jacket, GBP4.50.
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relliklondon.co.uk
If you are looking for those slick, super-stylish, hard-to-find designer pieces, then Rellik is the vintage shop for you. Located on Golborne Road in west London, and online, the shop is a treasure trove of retro classics with favourite labels including Balenciaga, Alaia and Alexander McQueen. It is not cheap, but you can rest assured that everything is 100% authentic and in excellent condition. Sunglasses, GBP75, by Alain Mikli.
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vestiairecollective.com
One of the first luxury resale sites, Vestiare Collective is a slick operation. Based in Paris, the web-only shop is home to a broader range of fashion labels than most sites, resulting in varying price points – from a silk leopard-print & Other Stories slip dress for GBP38 to vintage Chanel mules for GBP200. The site has an editorial feel, so you can search for trends and weekly “edits”, which is useful for navigating the hundreds of uploads. The lifestyle section houses designer homewares and furniture.
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dukescupboard.com
Evolving from a market stall on Berwick Street in Soho, London, to a shop and website, Dukes Cupboard specialises in hard-to-find menswear. Stocked labels include Polo Ralph Lauren, Supreme and Nike, with a focus on limited-edition and rare logos and graphics. Prices are reasonable for pieces that are at the centre of the fashion zeitgeist. With a concession due to open in John Lewis on Oxford Street soon, Dukes Cupboard is a vintage seller to keep an eye on. Jacket, GBP130, by Polo.
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re-fashion.co.uk
Re-Fashion has a wide variety of secondhand clothes on its site and focuses on excellent customer service. Returns are free, with a “no quibble” refund or replacement policy. It also encourages upcycling by selling “Rag Bags”. Theses cost GBP8.50, weight around 2kg and contain items that might have defects or need repair – perfect for creative re-use.
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wearecow.com
We Are Cow has several shops in England – Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sheffield – as well as its website. It specialises in a curated selection of on-trend pieces, as well as upcycling and re-working lots of secondhand clothes. Men’s shirts are transformed into mini-dresses and hoodies, while zip-up tops are chopped and cropped to give them a new lease of life.
