You can now shop the wardrobes of the Fashion Journal editors and our friends

“It’s less about certain pieces not being trendy anymore and more about how they can be brought to life in the hands of someone else.”

I started a new job recently as Fashion Journal’s Assistant Editor and though I tried to resist the mental trap of thinking I needed to spend lots of money to revamp my work wardrobe, I still found myself browsing online. It’s hard to resist the urge to buy new clothes, I get it. You want to look good and feel confident, and often, new purchases can help you feel that way. 

But if there was ever a time for us to start re-evaluating our consumption habits, it’s now. A recent report by The Australia Institute revealed that Australians are the world’s biggest fashion consumers (overtaking the United States). On average, it found that we buy an average of 56 new items of clothing per year.

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

Since being at FJ, I’ve seen how well-versed the team is at practising conscious consumption. On any given day, most of the items each person is wearing have been sourced secondhand – whether that was from a pre-loved platform like eBay, a thrift store or simply inherited from a friend or family member. 

I’ve learnt that much of the team has adopted a ‘one in, one out’ rule since former FJ editor Cait Emma Burke wrote about it earlier this year. Essentially, the rule dictates that for every piece of clothing you add to your wardrobe, you need to first take something out. So, if you’re saving up for a vintage designer bag, you’ll first need to rehome one you already own. You might choose to donate it, gift it to a friend or sell it on eBay and use the proceeds to fund your new purchase. (Side note: Pre-loved fashion sellers make, on average, between $400 and $500 in their first year selling on eBay).* 

That last one is the option of choice for all the FJ team members who have each started to build their own truly functional circular wardrobes. The ‘one in, one out’ rule works for a number of reasons. Not only is it economically savvy, but it promotes a slower and more considered approach to fashion. It halts overconsumption (you can’t buy too much when you’ve imposed a limit on the wardrobe items you own) and causes you to question how much you value the items you already have compared to the one you want. In other words, if you’re not willing to let go of anything you already own, it’s likely the new piece won’t add that much value. 

With this newfound strategy in mind, the FJ team has started the ‘Shop our Wardrobe’ project. We’ve challenged ourselves (and our contributors and friends) to revisit the pieces in our wardrobes that we’re no longer reaching for, and give them another life. 

To give you an idea of what’s on offer, FJ’s Managing Editor, Giulia Brugliera took stock of her closet, listing a Camilla and Marc trench, an Isa Boulder dress and a Khaite top (among others). But you can expect much more than that. Between the FJ editors, commercial team and contributors, you can (right now!) browse and bid on pieces from Acne Studios, Anna Quan, Bally, Paloma Wool, Paris Georgia, Penny Sage, Silk Laundry, Wales Bonner, With Jéan, Zimmermann and plenty, plenty more. 

We’ve listed pieces that never quite fit right (devastatingly, my knitted Bassike skirt was always that bit too long for me), as well as the items we no longer find ourselves reaching for. It’s less about certain pieces not being trendy anymore, but more about how they can be brought to life in the hands of someone else.

With so many of these pieces sentimental to, and much loved by, the FJ team, we’re hoping they land in the hands of readers who’ll love them just as much. Start exploring our wardrobes here. 

To browse and bid on the FJ team’s wardrobe on eBay, head here. 

*Based on eBay internal data between July 2020 and June 2023, showing the average value of sales made by new or re-activated sellers. 

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