The best pre-loved pieces the FJ team have in their wardrobes

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH eBAY
WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL

Circular fashion in action.

At Fashion Journal, we try our best to engage in the circular fashion economy by taking a slower, more considered approach to our fashion consumption. If we can, we try to source an item (even if it’s new season) pre-loved instead of new, and we each make a habit of regularly clearing out our wardrobes and listing our unwanted pieces online. One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure, after all.

With millions of users, eBay is the most popular destination for Australians to buy and sell pre-loved fashion, and over the years the Fashion Journal team has snapped up some of their favourite secondhand pieces on there.

For more pre-loved fashion style, advice and stories, head to our Pre-Loved section.

And as any pre-loved fashion lover will know, nothing quite compares to that rush of adrenaline you get when you find a particularly special item. Back in the dark ages, before reselling sites like eBay existed, to attain this feeling you’d have to scour shop after shop for weeks or months on end, dedicating hours of your time to finding the piece you were after. And for even the biggest op shop fanatics among us, that process can get tiring.

Thankfully, eBay makes hunting down that special piece hassle-free (and better yet, you don’t even have to leave your couch to find it). Whether it’s Cait’s bold blue Frisson Knits jumper, Giulia’s Zimmermann coat or Izzy’s perfectly fitting Perks and Mini shirt, eBay is full of hard-to-find items that end up on high rotation in our wardrobes. Below, we share our most cherished pre-loved pieces.

Molly Griffin, Fashion Journal’s Advertising and Partnerships Manager

Whenever I’m struggling to find an outfit, I lean into my favourite pair of jeans, a white tee and a blazer to give the illusion that I have it together. These jeans are very old vintage Levi’s I scored off eBay and are my daily go-to because of how comfortable they are. The blazer I assume was someone’s father’s blazer because it doesn’t have a tag on it but it fits me perfectly, I got it on eBay for basically nothing and wear it multiple times a week.

Mary-Ann McCall, Fashion Journal intern

My best pre-loved piece is this beautiful, fitted blazer. I only got it recently, probably within the last two months and I find that I’m reaching for it all the time. It goes with any outfit, it’s warm and it’s not too clunky. I bought it at the Vinnies in Footscray and I’m pretty sure it was under $10. The best!

Izzy Wight, Fashion Journal contributor

This Perks and Mini shirt is one of those pieces I always come back to in my wardrobe. It’s a hand-me-down from one of my wonderful (and very stylish) friends Mark, so it holds some sentimental value too. A striped button-down is, in my opinion, such a classic, versatile layering piece. I have two favourite ways to wear it: with a knitted vest, tailored pants and loafers, or under a boob tube with a flippy skirt and some knee-high black boots.

Georgina Woolcock, Fashion Journal’s Partnerships and Campaign Executive

Besides my cowboy boots which I’ve written about time and time again, there’s one piece of pre-loved clothing that is always front of mind when I’m getting dressed: this Susamusa dress. I have the most success buying and selling pre-loved items when calling out a particular piece or brand – it allows you to hunt for the best quality at the best price, or negotiate with buyers who want to give your pieces some new love. I first saw this little black dress on one of our contributors at the FJ Christmas party and was instantly mesmerised, and hunted for it for months until I finally got my hands on one in my size. I’ve never felt so confident in an item of clothing and it’s easily become the most worn, versatile piece in my wardrobe. From days in the office to a very formal event at Government House, it’s easily one of my best pre-loved finds.

Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal’s Editor

I’m a big knitwear girl, and I’d been searching for a chunky, oversized knit in a vibrant blue colour for what felt like forever. Luckily, during one of my weekly trawls on eBay, I spotted this number by New Zealand label Frisson Knits. It has the perfect balloon-like sleeves and is made out of incredibly soft mohair. It’s one of those pieces people often ask me about, and for something so bold, it’s incredibly versatile. It’s a strong contender for my all-time most worn pre-loved piece.

Giulia Brugliera, Fashion Journal’s Managing Editor

Much like Georgina in our team and her cowboy boots, I‘ve written at length about this Zimmermann coat. Even secondhand, it was a big initial outlay, but I sold some other pieces to help make room for it and it’s well and truly earned its keep. I wear it most days in the cooler months as it’s like draping myself in a weighted blanket, given its size and weight. It’s also quite long so I can wear trackies underneath and still look put together, making it both the most comfortable piece I own and the most impactful.

eBay is not endorsed by or affiliated with any of the brands referenced in this article.

If you’re looking for your next pre-loved piece, head to eBay.