Welcome to This Old Thing, where ELLE UK’s vintage-obsessed editors wax lyrical about the very best things they find on their scrolls, from the icons to the cult finds - because buying everything new is so last season.
Any avid second-hand shopper will know that the resale game is a marathon, not a sprint. One does not simply stumble onto Ebay and hit the checkout with that vintage pair of Chanel slingbacks without at least a little effort.
No, resale isn’t for quitters: but those who do persevere are richly rewarded. Whether you’re after vintage treasure – be it Westwood tartan or Chanel tweed – or a buzzy new piece that got away (think: Alaia’s phenomenally in-demand fishnet flats), the solution often lies on a second-hand platform, be it Depop or Vinted, Ebay or Vestiaire.
Of course, there are circular-economy credits in store here, but there’s also major excitement involved in finally tracking down the piece that got away, be it old Céline or new Bottega. Take it from someone that once spent an entire Friday night searching for a pair of Galliano-era Dior pumps (yes, I should get out more, and yes I did find them), no fashion purchase is as satisfying as one you had to scroll studiously – and fight off a dozen other keen suitors – for.
Whether you’re looking to stock your wardrobe with vintage designer relics, or simply after a more purse-friendly and sustainable way to invest in the latest runway runoffs, we've got all the inspiration you need. Here, the ELLE UK fashion team reveal the secret alerts lurking on their resale apps.
Roberta Schroeder, Senior Ecommerce Editor
'Last year, in a bid to shop more sustainably, I challenged myself to buy no new things: and, save for a great black blazer from Toteme and a few Uniqlo basics, I succeeded. But while the high street and I became firmly estranged, I did lean a little too far into the resale realm.
'Some of the best things I’ve found on my scrolls are: an original Balenciaga City bag (brand new, classic black, under £500), and a peak-shouldered blazer from Margiela’s H&M collection that I coveted yet couldn’t afford back in 2012. This season, I’m obsessively scouring Vestiaire Collective for a pair of Vivienne Westwood's iconic (if a little unsettling) paw-shaped pumps.'
Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Natalie Zannikos, Senior Fashion Coordinator
'I have a tonne of alerts and they’re predominately for mid-century furniture, actually. But when it comes to fashion, unsurprisingly, it’s a Gucci Jackie. A Tom Ford era one would be nice but I’m not picky.
'I’m also after a pair of the classic Evisu Daicock jeans, and am keeping an eye out for those super-light sheer knits from Prada SS96 – I love the idea of owning a piece from my birth year. A pair of McQueen Armadillos wouldn’t go amiss (I’m a Gaga fan and would put a pair on a shelf in my flat, just to look at them). Speaking of music, the main thing I lust over is old tour merch. I spend hours scrolling. There is a seller in the US that is taunting me with a bomber jacket from Marvin Gaye’s Another Miller Thriller tour from 1983.'
Tamison O'Connor, Fashion Features Director
'Currently I have an alert for Saint Laurent Candy shoes in my size. They’re the ultimate disco shoes (from Hedi Slimane’s era at the brand) and the most comfortable heels I’ve ever owned. I’m desperately trying to replace the black pair I’ve worn out, but I wouldn’t mind adding a glitzy gold studded pair to my shoe collection either.
'Something else I’m always on the lookout for is a Khaite Sueanne dress. I just know it’s a little black number that I’d fall back on time and time again.'
Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent
Daisy Murray, Site Fashion Editor
'There is a specific Molly Goddard, white broderie anglaise, mini dress I have been looking for for four years. Otherwise, I'm eternally looking vintage breton tops, Rejina Pyo Greta and Carla dresses and Cecilie Bahnsen tops.
'As we break into the warmer months, I'm now turning my attention to vintage hotpants and bloomers (to wear under vintage nightdresses), smock denim tops, as well as old Nike Cortez trainers for me to inevitably ruin on long rambling walks.'
Cecilie Bahnsen
Rejina Pyo
Molly Goddard
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