The pre-loved fashion items the FJ editors have their eyes on this season

“At this point in the year, most people get the spring cleaning itch and are clearing out their wardrobes so it’s a great time to purchase pre-loved.”

Warmer weather can bring an insatiable desire to add to your wardrobe. The sun’s suddenly out for more than an hour at a time, your local beer garden is calling your name and hemlines are getting increasingly shorter. In these conditions, it’s all too easy to look at your clothes and accessories from last spring and find them wanting.

But here at FJ, we’re all about adding to our wardrobes in a carefully considered manner, and we’ll always prioritise purchasing secondhand over brand new. That’s why we opt for eBay when we’re after a dose of sartorial newness.

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

Working for a fashion publication, our team never has a shortage of items on their wishlists and eBay’s breadth of labels, styles and sellers means we can always find what we’re after (and at a far friendlier price point, too). Below, we’ve shared the items we’re currently hunting down on the resale platform.

An everyday pant

 

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A post shared by Lucy Folk (@lucy_folk)

Chosen by: Giulia Brugliera, Fashion Journal’s Managing Editor

I’m in need of a pair of easy, everyday pants I can turn to as we approach the warmer months. I have a pair of tailored suit pants that I’ve worn to death but they’re not exactly suitable for every occasion, so I need to find something I can keep for everyday wear. I’m thinking something more structured in shape but in a heavy linen or cotton poplin.

It’s still quite a broad brief, so I’ve been narrowing my eBay searches by adding a few designers I know I like. Esse Studios, Lucy Folk and Venroy are just a few of the names I’ve saved, as I know their cuts marry well with my personal style. They’re on the more expensive side, but I’ve got a little pool of savings from selling other pieces in my wardrobe that I know I can use for this next piece.

A wedding guest dress

Chosen by: Daisy Henry, Fashion Journal’s Assistant Editor

I have a few weddings coming up this season, so I’m in need of a fun formal dress. I’m so excited to see some of my best friends get married, and I always love dressing up, but I just can’t justify buying new dresses for every event.

I’m looking for something that, with a few accessories, could be made to feel fresh for each wedding (or something that’s versatile enough to wear to different events). I’ve saved a few of my favourite designers, like Anna Quan, Camilla and Marc, and Zimmermann, because I love their cuts, and this way I’ll be able to see if something preloved pops up.

Barrel jeans

Chosen by: Giulia Brugliera, Fashion Journal’s Managing Editor

I’m not one to show a lot of skin so even as the weather warms, I still keep jeans in heavy rotation. I tend to avoid trends but have been eyeing barrel jeans for a number of years now and after seeing a particularly nice pair from Friends with Frank, have decided to buy. I think I’ll still get a good few years out of the right pair.

Because this is more of a trend-based item, I’ve ruled out buying a pair brand new and instead am looking exclusively on secondhand platforms. I’ve saved ‘barrel jeans’ and my size as a search term on eBay, so am receiving regular notifications. Once the right pair pops up I’ll be quick to buy.

A dress for special occasions

 

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Chosen by: Georgina Woolcock, Fashion Journal’s Partnerships and Campaign Executive

Like most of the Fashion Journal team, I’m a big believer in never buying a new outfit for an event. This means that whenever I see a ‘dressy’ dress I love, I’ll purchase it on the spot – I know the place to wear it will inevitably crop up and it won’t be worn once and thrown away. At the moment, I’m looking to snap up a particular Christopher Esber dress, so I’m making room in my wardrobe by selling older dresses that I no longer wear from labels like Bec and Bridge and Dion Lee on eBay.

Low-rise silk pants

Chosen by: Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal contributor

When I was in Europe last year, I borrowed an amazing pair of low-rise silk drawstring pants from my friend, and now I’m desperate to find a pair for spring. The relaxed shape means they’re great for chill, beach days (and they keep my lily-white skin nicely covered), but they can easily be dressed up for an event with heels or worn to work with ballet flats or sandals.

I’ve made quite a bit of money this year from selling on eBay, so I’ve started saving search terms like ‘silk pants’, ‘low-rise silk pants’ and ‘silk drawstring pants’ so I can keep my eyes on what’s listed in this category.

Everyday flats

Chosen by: Molly Griffin, Fashion Journal’s Advertising and Partnerships Manager

Coming into the warmer months, I’m searching eBay for a pair of everyday flats that can be worn with my summer wardrobe. My typical summer/spring style is very girly and feminine, so I’m usually in some kind of mid-length skirt or dress.

But every now and again I’m in a linen pant or jeans, so a flat that I can wear with all options and that can take me from work to the beer garden is a must. I’ll be looking at brands like  By Far, Carel Paris and Essen to see if I can scoop up a secondhand find.

A lightweight day-to-night dress

 

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A post shared by WYNN HAMLYN (@wynnhamlyn)

Chosen by: Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal contributor

I’m in search of an easy, breezy dress that I can wear during the day and out at night, for those balmy evenings where you end up going from work to a dinner date and then out to a bar. I’ve long been a fan of New Zealand label Wynn Hamlyn’s dresses – the silhouettes are somehow both classic yet slightly unexpected. Other labels I’ll be trawling eBay for in my quest for the perfect spring dress are Harris Tapper and Wixii, two of my other favourite Kiwi labels.

A matching set

Chosen by: Daisy Henry, Fashion Journal’s Assistant Editor

There’s something so stylish about a matching set. Whether it’s a blazer and suit pants, or even just a singlet and shorts, it’s the perfect capsule wardrobe purchase. Last year, I invested in a matching shirt and pants set from Australian label Deiji Studios, and I’ve worn it too many times to count.

On days when I’m struggling with decision fatigue, I know I can wear the co-ord set, but I can just as easily mix them up and wear each piece separately. I’m hoping to find another good matching set now the weather’s getting warmer, so I’ve been searching for fabrics like ‘linen’ and ‘cotton’ on eBay, and narrowing it down further by adding in my size and a few of my favourite labels.

A heavy-duty coat

Chosen by: Georgina Woolcock, Fashion Journal’s Partnerships and Campaign Executive

Although a little controversial, when it comes to heavy-duty outerwear such as coats, I look to purchase pieces for my wardrobe in spring. I won’t be wearing it immediately, but it prevents me from buying into a seasonal trend and I feel confident that I’ll wear it for years to come.

At this point in the year, most people get the spring cleaning itch and are clearing out their wardrobes so it’s a great time to purchase pre-loved. I’ve been searching for labels like Anna Quan, Camilla and Marc, and Viktoria and Woods on eBay to fill this hole in my wardrobe.