eBay Australia’s Fashion Lead shares her tips for sourcing this summer’s trending styles pre-loved

“It’s all about using those keywords, filters and a keen eye to unearth those just-released treasures.”

I’ve always been a lover of shopping secondhand. Finding a fashion piece that’s had another life, that has the energy of a bygone era, that reminds me of something I’ve seen somewhere outside the mainstream – it’s a thrill.

But it’s also an art form, scouring for the perfect piece. Growing up, the op shops within a 5km radius were all I thought about. Now, we have many more platforms with literally hundreds of thousands of pre-loved fashion items at our fingertips.

For more on rehoming your wardrobe, head to our Pre-Loved section.

It’s both a blessing and a curse, though, I always feel a little overwhelmed when I jump online to find a specific piece. I’ll have something in mind but won’t know the exact route to find it within the haystack of the internet, particularly when it comes to trend-based pieces. 

According to Anne-Marie Cheney, Fashion Lead at eBay Australia, I’m not alone. “It’s all about using those keywords, filters and a keen eye to unearth those just-released treasures,” she says. “Instead of just ‘dress’, try ‘slip midi dress’, ‘crochet maxi dress’, ‘vintage blazer’, etc.”

She recommends getting granular with colours, sizes and even specific names of the brands we know are engaging in a particular trend. You might search Matteau for cotton separates, St Agni for summer flats or Venroy for those perfect pieces for everyday wear. 

If you know you want to build a summer wardrobe but don’t have a specific idea in mind, that’s okay, you can use eBay to browse, too. Anne-Marie tells me she curates eBay’s best finds on the pre-loved hub, recommending it as a great place to start, particularly if you want to build a style identity that’s your own, while still engaging in trends. 

“Australian shoppers are using eBay to build truly individual wardrobes, often taking inspiration from runway trends and beyond. It’s a great way to trial a trend, without a huge financial investment.”

Know your sizing

As a starting point, Anne-Marie notes that knowing your sizing when buying both secondhand and online is super important. Understand your sizing and the brands you like the fit of,” she says. “This will help you determine the fit of the product you’re looking at and make sure it is right for you.”

Sometimes – especially with Australian sizing – it can be hard to know where you fall, as it can change from brand to brand. That’s why it can be helpful to either know the brands that fit you how you like or the silhouettes and cuts that fall best on your body shape.  Either way, you can utilise the brand names, cut type and even actual size in your search; to help find the piece most suited to you.

Include brand names

If you’re searching for a piece from a specific brand, this is a no-brainer. Make sure the spelling is correct and get as specific as you can, listing the brand name, style name, colour and size.

It also can’t hurt to search the brands you love to find sellers to follow. If someone is often selling Scanlan Theodore, for example, it can be useful to check in with them from time to time. Not only might they sell more from the same brand, if their tastes align with yours; they might sell other pieces you love in the future!

Check for authenticity

If you’re in the market for something a little more premium, you’ll want to make sure it’s legit and that it will get to you safely. On eBay, it’s all about looking for the blue tick.

“eBay also has an Authenticity Guarantee (AG) program,” explains Anne-Marie. “If you’re searching for a luxury handbag priced over $350, just look for the blue tick. This means that our authentication experts will authenticate it to check if it’s the real deal. 

“If it passes the meticulous multi-checkpoint inspection, it’s shipped to you by express delivery at no extra cost, giving you peace of mind. I’ve found some great luxury AG accessories recently like belts, wallets and cardholders.”

To start searching pre-loved summer pieces, head to eBay. 

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