How to shop preloved like a pro (part II)

secondhand shopping tips from some of Substack's expert treasure hunters

Last month, I participated in a community-led tag sale and got to sell some items I’d been holding onto. It’s really satisfying to watch someone discover a piece from your wardrobe and seeing them get excited right there in person — that full-circle moment when something sitting in your closet finds someone who actually wants to wear it.

The whole thing made me think about why we’re drawn to certain pieces in the first place. What was going on in our lives when we decided we needed that particular thing? And what changed that made us ready to let it go?

There’s something beautiful about this cycle. Clothes move through different chapters of our lives and then find their way to someone else’s story. It made me realize that secondhand shopping isn’t just about finding good deals or being more sustainable (though those are great benefits). It’s about participating in this ongoing conversation between strangers through the things we choose to keep and let go. Every piece has lived a life before it gets to you, and hopefully it’ll have more lives after.

And since many of you loved the Tips We Send Friends letter on secondhand shopping back in April, I figured it was time for part two. I tapped another group of expert treasure hunters on Substack to spill their secrets...

Meet the treasure hunters:

• Melanie Masarin
  of Night Shade

• Claire Illmer
  of Saved for Future Reference

• Nora
  of Thanks It’s From

• Tina Boetto
  of Semi-Sustainable

• Maggie Lanham
  of Really Good Vintage

This letter might be too long for email — if it gets cut off, just hop over to the Substack app to read the whole thing.

How did your preloved shopping obsession begin?

Melanie: It honestly started out of necessity. I've always loved beautiful, well-made designer pieces, just not the price tags that come with them. I remember being 14 years old and looking up Marc Jacobs on eBay, when I was making 5 euros an hour ironing my neighbors' clothes. Preloved shopping felt like this secret loophole: I could find the brands I loved for way less, and the thrill of the hunt made it even more fun. Over time it became a habit. And now that it's also a more sustainable way to shop, it just makes sense.

Claire: We wrote about this on Future Reference’s Substack, but when I was a teen, my mom took me to an epic estate sale in Dallas (it was, in fact, very Dallas the TV show), and I found a pair of silver Prada heeled sandals that I have now worn to dozens of events over 20 years. I’ve been on eBay (and every other platform that’s popped up) since.

Nora: I actually think I started with home decor and an old camera. My roommate at the time (and close friend) was finding pieces for our apartment on eBay, and it really inspired me. Once I started spending more time on eBay, that's when I realized I didn't need to just limit myself to home goods. I also have another close friend with an incredible vintage shop in New York City (@heartandlous) and every time I walk in, I'm inspired by her eye.

Tina: It started 11 years ago when I came across a magazine article about this website called The RealReal, selling pre-owned designer fashion at accessible prices. I’m very much an aspirational shopper, and remember immediately throwing down my magazine and running to my laptop to take a look. This was my first purchase in March 2014 — I cringe at the Rag & Bone sweatshirt dress, but I’d wear the Elizabeth and James dress in a heartbeat if I still had it today.

Maggie: I started thrifting when I was in high school but was mainly shopping for the shock value items: the ugliest sweaters, gaudiest 80’s dresses. But when I was 19, I was hired at a vintage store and that blew the doors wide open. There was no un-swallowing that red pill. The best part? We got a big discount every month if we hit a sales goal so my closet very quickly became only vintage, ever. I still daydream about that job (and still have many pieces from them!).

It started 11 years ago when I came across a magazine article about this website called The RealReal, selling pre-owned designer fashion at accessible prices. - Tina Boetto, writer of Semi Sustainable

What’s the best secondhand shopping advice you wish someone had told you when you started?