The best secondhand pieces the FJ team has purchased lately
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“This particular piece strikes the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. It features a sweet little black rosette on the front which feels very ‘now’, while the overall silhouette very much reminds me of ’90s Comme Des Garcons.”
Whether you’re scouring consignment stores and op shops in person or staying up into the wee hours trawling Depop and Vestiaire Collective, finding standout secondhand pieces is usually a labour of love. But finding a piece that you end up reaching for time and time again (particularly if it was on the cheaper side) is incredibly rewarding, both from a financial and environmental standpoint.
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At Fashion Journal, we prioritise secondhand shopping over buying new. We each have slightly different approaches – Georgi is a Depop fiend and loathes shopping secondhand IRL whereas Izzy is a rural op shop whiz who doesn’t mind putting in the work to find a standout piece – but what we have in common is an appreciation for a stellar preloved find. Below, we share the best secondhand items we’ve purchased lately, and why we love them.
Ella Taverner, FJ’s Partnerships and Campaign Manager
On a recent trip to Port Lincoln, my brother and I were perusing the local op shop when I came across this asymmetrical black cotton skirt. It fit like a glove, and for five bucks I knew I had to have it. I’ve always struggled to find the right type of skirts for me, particularly as someone who prefers tailored trousers or baggy jeans, but this particular piece strikes the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. It features a sweet little black rosette on the front which feels very ‘now’, while the overall silhouette very much reminds me of ’90s Comme Des Garcons.
Another favourite secondhand find of late was found in Europe. For about five years I’ve lusted over the iconic Courrèges vinyl jackets, but could never quite justify the eye-watering price point. The last stop of my Europe trip this summer was in Copenhagen, and I knew I had just enough space in my suitcase left for a sneaky last-minute purchase. On our last afternoon, my friend and I were wandering the very cute neighbourhood of Frederiksberg when we passed a vintage store with the most incredible purple vinyl jacket hanging off the mannequin. It was almost a dead ringer for the Courrèges one I’d admired for years, and about an eighth of the price.
Cait Emma Burke, FJ’s Editor
New Zealand label Frisson Knits is one of my faves. I purchased the orange Isabella knit a few years back, and I’ve got an insane amount of wear out of it. So when my friend told me she was selling her electric blue Isabella, I knew I needed to purchase it. I gravitate towards blues, oranges and greens in my wardrobe, so I was certain having a second one of these knits in a different colour would be a great addition to my wardrobe. I’m one of those people who end up buying the items I really love in multiple colourways; if it works and gets a lot of wear it’s so worth it.
Another amazing secondhand find I stumbled upon recently was an early 2000s denim midi skirt. I found it at a cute secondhand store in Berlin while I was on holiday recently, and it’s ended up being such a go-to piece. I was particularly drawn to the contrast stitching and the way the hem is structured so that it sort of flares out a bit at the bottom, almost like a mermaid hem. And it was only $20! Such a steal.
Georgina Woolcock, FJ’s Partnerships and Campaign Executive
I am the most impatient person I know, and though I wish it wasn’t, in-person secondhand shopping is usually a torturous task for me. The only way I can tackle a vintage shop is in the shadow of a friend who enjoys sifting through every piece, signalling out when they find something. So when I do find the perfect thrifted piece, it’s like I’ve struck gold. The first item I found recently is my authentic Texan leather cowboy boots that I purchased from a vintage shop on Chapel Street.
I’d been wanting a pair for a while, but my mum (a cowboy boot fanatic for the last 20 years) has taught me to be picky with the ones that I’m purchasing. When I walked into this shop with my partner a few months ago they were the first pair that caught my eye, and they slipped on like a glove when I tried them. I knew I would regret leaving them for the rest of my life, so I snapped them up immediately. An even better win? The whole experience took less than five minutes. I do the majority of my secondhand shopping on Depop, and I also recently picked up a Bec + Bridge new season top I’ve had my eye on for less than half the retail price.
Maggie Zhou, FJ’s Branded Content and Features Editor
The majority of my wardrobe is made up of secondhand clothes. I’m a firm believer in the circular economy and the part preloved clothes have to play in it. There are just so many incredible, high-quality pieces already out there! Anyway, I was in Europe earlier this year and picked up a dozen or so secondhand pieces. What they say about Europe thrifting is true; it’s pretty amazing.
Two pieces I picked up there included this sports pullover and the white dress I’m wearing here. The cobalt blue piece was found in a Paris chain thrift shop and I was instantly drawn to it for its blokette potential. The dress was from one of Amsterdam’s Kilostores, a chain of pay-by-weight preloved pieces. Finding secondhand wardrobe gems overseas is such a special way to remember a place too.
Izzy Wight, FJ’s Assistant Editor
Avid op shoppers know the best gems are hidden outside of the city, in tiny suburban stores watched over by local grannies. I found this skirt/kilt hybrid at an op shop when I was visiting my parents in North Queensland. It’s a light wool blend, fits me like a glove and hits right above the knee. I love pairing it with cowboy boots, Tabis or lace-up ballet flats.
Another piece I found recently is this crisp white J.Crew button-down in an op shop in Longview, Texas. What did I say? The best pieces are always at the rural op shops, and you can’t get much more rural than Longview. It’s just the right amount of ruffle detail on the sleeves and collar – feminine and romantic, without skewing too Victorian-era.
For a curated list of where to buy the best secondhand fashion online, head here.
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