Thrifting is somewhat of an art form. But for those who don’t have the time or stamina to endlessly peruse in-person vintage stores or secondhand shops, online consignment stores have become the way of the future, helping shoppers to discover rare and distinct fashion pieces that defy trends. Whether you’re looking for that Chanel handbag you never were able to snag years ago or a vintage Cartier watch you've always wanted to invest in, the best online consignment stores offer the opportunity to find one-of-a-kind luxury pieces you'll have in your wardrobe forever.
Shopping at online consignment is also a greener way to consume. By creating circularity within the fashion industry, many consignment stores are keeping more and more products from landfills by finding them homes in new closets.
And without a doubt, using online consignment stores' enviable edits offer those closets the covetable uniqueness factor. In the pursuit of finding your own personal style, experimenting with vintage and secondhand buys means that no one else will have those rare items you purchased. Since so many of these stores allow you to sell your own goods too, you can make the most out of your recent closet clean-out by trading or consigning.
Start your shopping and selling journey below, with the 12 best online consignment stores.
Vestiaire Collective
Known for its vast collection of Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Céline, and more, Vestiaire Collective is an ideal site for both buyers and sellers of designer fashion. Unlike many other consignment sites, Vestiaire Collective allows sellers to choose the price of the items they are selling. After submitting three to five photos, a description, the item's condition, and an asking price, your pieces go up on the site, similar to eBay's setup. Vestiaire also offers tips for sellers on how to price items correctly. As for shoppers, there are plenty of designer gems to be discovered, whether you're looking for shoes, bags, sunglasses, or ready-to-wear.
Best for: Preowned designer ready-t0-wear, shoes, handbags, accessories, fine jewelry, and watches
Price range: $20–$10,000+
What Goes Around Comes Around
In person appointments for SoHo's ultra-cool, vintage boutique are hard to come by but luckily for those of us who can't snag a time slot or don't live in the city, its offerings are also available to shop online.
The luxury site's curation is top-notch, featuring the coolest vintage finds from Céline, Chanel, YSL, and beyond. While shopping vintage online can often be overwhelming, the site's edited trend and curation sections make it easier to find the pieces you've been looking for.
Best for: Vintage designer ready-to-wear, accessories, jewelry, watches and handbags
Price range: $170–$30,000
Gucci GG Canvas Bree Crossbody
ThredUp
If you don't have a closet full of Saint Laurent and Prada to sell, ThredUp is here for you. The site accepts brands like J.Crew and Everlane in addition to high end designers. Like The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective, ThredUp also takes clothing, shoes, handbags, and more, but sellers have the option to earn the selling price back or donate the money to a charity, so you can feel really good about cleaning out your closet.
Best for: Preowned ready-to-wear, accessories, and designer handbags
Price range: $10–$15,000
Louis Vuitton Monogram Keepall 55
Loewe LW40027U Sunglasses
Khaite Pleated Mariella Dress
Elia Vintage
The feed on Elia Vintage is evocative of the French Riviera in the '90s, with a collection that marries seaside ease with minimalist evening selects. Open-weave crochet sweaters are paired with cloth shorts nipped at the waist, structured cream-yellow blazers are layered over miniskirts, and form-fitting cocktail dresses. Rolling crisp renditions of workwear and destination pieces into one platform, Elia Vintage stands as a dependable go-to for lightweight staples.
Best for: Vintage ready-to-wear
Price range: $50–$200
Donna Karan Vintage Ivory 100% Silk Blouse / 100% Silk Skirt
Vintage Black Long Sleeve Mesh Dress
Vintage Silver Strappy Dress
Vintage Patent Leather Jacket
Reluxe
The brainchild of Clare Richardson, a stylist and fashion consultant, Reluxe was founded with the intention to reduce the carbon footprint associated with shopping within the fashion industry. Not only does it offer a reseller program that includes a carefully curated selection of luxe buys from Chanel, Celine, and The Row, Reluxe also works directly with a handful of brands, such as Toteme, Self Portrait, and Frame, to offer curated edits from their archives that are brand new and unworn—all at major discounts.
Best for: Preowned designer ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, accessories, and fine jewelry
Price range: $75–$15,000
Acne Studios 2018 Brown Leather Preowned Midsize Aviator Jacket
Gucci Denim 1961 Denim Jackie Preowned Hobo Bag
Black Pinstripe Double-Breasted Vent Blazer
REBAG
Ready to part ways with your old designer bag? Rebag gives sellers cash for designer handbags based on condition, designer, and price—right upfront. Instead of waiting for the bag to sell, sellers can get a free binding offer, mail it to Rebag with free shipping, and get paid within one to two days. In July, the site expanded its offering to include a range of men's and women's footwear and ready-to-wear from designers like Gucci, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Fendi, and more.
Best for: Preowned designer handbags, accessories, watches, jewelry, and shoes
Price range: $250–$65,000
Celine Triomphe East-West Shoulder Bag
Cartier Tank Americaine Quartz Watch
Serpenti Tubogas Single Spiral Quartz Watch Stainless Steel 23
Depop
Founded in 2011 by Simon Beckerman, community has always been at the heart of the Depop shopping experience, along with its dedication to reducing fashion waste. Peruse a variety of items for both men and women, from secondhand steals to vintage designer deals, all sold directly from individual sellers and their personal shops. We can’t help but scroll through their designer tab to see Y2K scores, like vintage Dior T-shirts, or of-the-moment, pre-loved finds from Miu Miu, Prada, and Celine.
Best for: Vintage and secondhand ready-to-wear and accessories
Price range: $10–$950
Prada Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon Bag
Miu Miu Women's White Skirt
The RealReal
If you're looking to sell items from your own closet, The RealReal makes life easier by offering free in-home pickups. Alternatively, you can ship your items directly to The RealReal for free or visit a Luxury Consignment Office for a valuation and drop-off. Then, the site does all the work for you: authenticating, photographing, pricing, and listing your items to sell online. Sellers earn up to 85 percent commission for the selling price of their items (one of the highest rates in comparison to other sites). If you're looking to buy, The RealReal boasts a large selection of designer items from vintage bags to shoes, apparel, accessories, and even furniture that any fashion lover could have fun perusing.
Best for: Preowned designer ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, watches, and home furnishings
Price range: $95–$135,000
Fashionphile
Fashionphile has been one of the leading online destinations for designer and luxury handbags. Founded in 1999, the brand is known for its incredible customer service and features the largest selection of preowned vintage, rare, and limited-edition handbags from luxury designers including Dior, Bottega Veneta, Loewe, and Old Céline. High-end branded shoes, fine jewelry, and watches have been added to its offerings in recent years to shoppers' delight.
Best for: Preowned designer handbags, shoes, fine jewelry, watches
Price range: $200–$250,000
Bottega Veneta Calfskin The Pouch Chain Cammello
Bottega Veneta Mesh Nappa Crystal Embellished Sparkle Stretch Ankle Tie Sandals
BLK MKT Vintage
The founders of BLK MKT Vintage see each treasure they adopt at their shop as a piece of one's narrative. Co-owners Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy cherish vintage items as relics of cultural significance and sentimental value that speak to Black history, artistry, and strength.
"When I see cultural artifacts—whether they be books, photographs, vinyl records, or personal letters—I am reminded that we've existed in so many iterations, despite white supremacy's attempt to tell us otherwise," Stewart writes on BLK MKT Vintage's site.
From nostalgic collectibles and pieces of literature to varsity jackets, the thoughtful collection of memorabilia makes the shop a special destination for meaningful pieces that can be passed from generation to generation.
Best for: Vintage tees, collectible books, and memorabilia
Price range: $8–$550
Vintage Whitney Houston Concert T-Shirt (1988)
Vintage Brooklyn Blazers Skating Jersey (1960's/70's)
Neutral Ground
Studying fashion design at FIT in New York, Alysha Cassis-Shaw wanted to remain involved in the industry after relocating to San Francisco in 2014. So three years later, she started Neutral Ground, an online vintage store that puts her degree to good use. From '70s Gucci loafers and Charles Jourdan metallic sandals to a luxe swing coat with a chinchilla fur collar, Cassis-Shaw has curated a thoughtful collection of some of the best vintage styles in the annals of fashion.
Best for: Vintage ready-t0-wear and accessories
Price range: $60–$675
Nina Ricci Vintage Black Crinkled Silk Chiffon Blouse
Vintage 90's Monet Goldtone Twisted Herringbone Snake Necklace
Neiman Marcus Vintage White Quilted Diamond Stitch Crossbody Bag
Emilio Pucci Vintage Printed Silk Thong Sandals
FWRD
High-end, e-commerce giant Fwrd launched a designer bag buyback program called Renew, much to customers' delight. A small amount of ready-to-wear items from Chanel and Dior have also been added to the mix recently, but luxury handbags is still the main focus. In an interesting twist on circular fashion, customers can use credit from their buybacks toward any new purchase on the site or on sister site Revolve.
Best for: Pre-loved designer handbags
Price range: $315–$35,000
Chanel FWRD Renew Tweed Jacket
Fendi FWRD Renew Crystal Zucca Baguette Shoulder Bag
Chanel FWRD Renew 2014 Embroidery Jumbo Classic Flap Bag
Prada FWRD Renew Nylon Front Pocket Shoulder Bag
Barry Samaha is the former style commerce editor at Esquire, where he covered all things fashion and grooming. Previously, he was an editor at Harper’s Bazaar, Surface, and WWD, along with overseeing editorial content at Tod’s Group. He has also written for The Daily Beast, Coveteur, Departures, Paper, Bustle Group, Forbes, and many more. He is based in New York City and can't seem to find enough closet space for all his shoes.
