How to shop secondhand as a plus-size girlie

Compared to traditional thrifting, shopping for plus-size pieces on resale platforms like eBay is much more streamlined.

Being plus-size is a fact, not an insult. Another fact is that it’s so much harder to shop secondhand while existing plus-size. Shopping as a plus-size girlie is hard enough, let alone trying to shop sustainable and affordable clothing.

Going to my local thrift store usually ends up with me walking out both empty-handed and slightly jealous of the other women who are finding gems in the racks before me. So the question I’m asking, along with many other women, is how can you successfully shop secondhand being over a size 18?

I’ve been a thrift fanatic since I was eight when I would visit the thrift store where my nan volunteered and spend days playing dressups (I got a staff discount). For so many reasons, I’m grateful that thrifting has become such a popular phenomenon but there’s a downside too, as it’s now so much harder to find good pieces in store.

Luckily, online platforms allow plus-size women like me to shop (and wear) secondhand fashion, resell our own curated collections and contribute to the beautiful cycle which is circular fashion. Somehow, whenever I’m at a store, my fingers find themselves searching for similar items on eBay to try and find a version in my size or a cheaper, more sustainable option.

Flash forward to the present day, and it’s now muscle memory for me to pop into the eBay app and start shopping secondhand online. I know what you’re thinking – surely it’s not easy to sift through huge amounts of product online.

Luckily, eBay’s filters allow you to whittle your results down, so that only pieces from the brands, styles and size you like will be shown. Compared to traditional thrifting, where you can scour the racks forever and still come up empty-handed, the process is much more streamlined. I love being able to type in my specific keywords and then apply filters for size 20, 22, XX, L and XXXL. That way, I know that what I’m seeing isn’t going to disappoint me when I scroll down to see the size.

For plus-size people, finding labels we like at the thrift store is unlikely. I can look through every piece in my size but still no pristine Ralph Lauren pops up in over a size 10. Honestly, often I just want the satisfaction of finding a Miu Miu blazer that fits perfectly or a vintage Prada slip skirt – those holy grail items you’re happy to pay a bit more for. In saying this, it’s important to stress that just because you’re over a size 16, it doesn’t mean that ‘vintage’ clothing is out of reach. You just have to be able to search in the right places and know the right hacks.

Tips for shopping secondhand online

Create mood boards and inspo tiles

Having this visual representation of your style will help with identifying keywords to search when you’re shopping. To do this, I relentlessly scroll Pinterest and wish list eBay items while adding pictures of items I love into the notes on my phone.

Headlining my eBay liked items at the moment are a Ganni x Levi’s trucker jacket, R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman boots and an XXL plaid Ralph Lauren button-down for layering.

Know your measurements

I cannot stress this one enough. Good online listings will list the measurements of the item you’re looking at. If not, you can always message the seller to ask. The rule of thumb is to know your waist, bust, hips, thigh, calf and inseam measurements and to jot them down in the notes on your phone.

Understand materials and how they fit on your body

This one is a holy grail for us plus-size queens. Knowing whether a material is stretchy or rigid can make all the difference when shopping online. For example, I know that in a cotton baby tee I can size down to a 16 because it will stretch. Some stretchy fabrics I often opt for are jersey knit, cotton, velvet, lace and any materials mixed with elastane. 

Keeping up with trends while shopping sustainably is close to impossible, particularly when you’re plus size. The way social media platforms have accelerated trends is immense. These ‘hot’ items in sizes 18-plus usually don’t hit the stores until about three or four months after the arrival of straight sizes.

How do I combat this FOMO? 

When I find a trend I know I could incorporate as a staple in my wardrobe, I search for it secondhand online. Recent trends are usually ones that are circulating back from past decades and styles, like Y2K, ’90s grunge and ’80s sports styling.

This means you can usually find some lucky daughters and sons who have raided their parents’ wardrobes to sell these pieces that suddenly have renewed value to us Gen Z babes. This means that even as a size XXL, I’m able to filter down the sizes and find slip dresses which are secondhand and fit well.

Speaking of, a major trend this spring/summer is oversized vintage graphic tees and sports jerseys mixed with femme bottoms. Textures like lace and bubble hem styles are already dominating our feeds. It can be challenging to find pre-owned oversized items, but the magic of looking online means you can type in ‘Blue XXXL men’s polo top’ and a sea of options will come flooding your way.

On eBay you can also save shop owner’s profiles when you find multiple gems in one place. I love this feature. It makes life so much easier because I know what shops are focused on certain styles and I can hop straight to them when an idea pops into my brain.

To be completely honest, I might have a problem. I shop online way too much and am obsessed with vintage clothing, but I can justify it by knowing I’m usually shopping sustainably, as well as saving money. Yes, I still sometimes shop new in-store and online but I much prefer to shop pre-loved when the alternative is there. Thankfully, with platforms like eBay, it always is.

To make space in your wardrobe and start searching for your next pre-loved find, head to eBay.