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Every morning it seems there’s a strange new “holiday” (or three) to celebrate. We can’t endorse them all (apparently Wednesday is both National Pumpkin Seed Day and National Vodka Day), but today we’ve got a good one. The first Monday in October is now officially National Consignment Day, established by The Real Real and Stella McCartney through their just-announced sustainability partnership. Fashion fans love The Real Real for a few reasons, namely the thrill of buying past-season goods for a fraction of the original price and discovering items you might have forgotten about that suddenly feel fresh again. But here’s where McCartney comes in: Second-hand and vintage shopping is also the most ethical, circular choice. McCartney calls it “re-commerce,” and starting in 2018 her stores will offer information and programs to buy and sell your clothes through The Real Real.
Basically, when you buy something old and previously-loved, you’re extending its lifespan and reducing its carbon footprint. Picking up brand-new clothes all the time (and disposing of them just as quickly) drives demand for nonstop manufacturing, which contributes to the fashion industry’s incredible waste; in case you missed it, fashion is the second-most polluting industry in the world, surpassed only by petroleum. Can you think of a better reason to do a little second-hand browsing today?
If you’re new to consigning, don’t stress—below, a few Vogue editors shared their tips and tricks for a successful spree, as well as their all-time favorite purchases and the “white whale” items they’re still searching for. Read on for their advice, then get started at TheRealReal.com or your local consignment shop.
“I am more of a pure vintage shopper than a consignment queen. That said, my personal unicorn is the pale pink Le Dix cargo pants by Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga Spring 2002. As my eBay search history reveals, I am absolutely desperate for a pair.” —Sally Singer, Vogue Creative Digital Director
“Everyone in the office knows that I am addicted to The Real Real. Probably 90 percent of my purchases are from that site or other vintage stores online or in person. I like to shop vintage—second-hand, whatever you want to call it!—because it’s more environmentally sound but also it makes shopping more of a hunt, and when you finally find something you love it’s all the more special. Among my favorite purchases are some Nicolas Ghesquière-era Balenciaga pieces: I got a Spring 2008 jacket and Resort 2011 skirt on The Real Real, and I check for pieces of that era every day. (Yes, I have a personalized feed . . . with updates.) Despite the fact that I keep buying vintage Balenciaga, well, I just can’t seem to get enough!” —Steff Yotka, Vogue Fashion News and Emerging Platforms Editor
“My best score ever was a pair of Dries Van Noten’s goth-y wool zipper pants from Fall ’14. I fell in love with them the moment I saw them in person, but the price tag was too steep to take the plunge. Fast forward only a few months later and I found them on The Real Real—brand new and with tags, no less—for under $200. If I’m not looking for something specific but still feel a burning sensation in my pocket, I typically narrow my search down to a few select brands that I love instead of scrolling through the digital fashion abyss. I’ll never narrow my search by size though because my tailor works magic!” —Kirby Marzec, Vogue Senior Market Editor
“I go on consignment sites with good intentions—I always try to look for things I actually need, like a pair of black or tan trousers and simple sweaters. Alas, what typically ends up happening is that I fall down a rabbit hole scrolling through one particular designer, like John Galliano or Prada. There’s no rhyme or reason to my online consignment shopping strategy, other than if I see something that is rare and at a great price, I click to buy. I tend to stay away from trendy pieces or designers of the moment and opt for vintage. Recently I found a nude-colored Prada baby doll dress embroidered with crystals on The Real Real. It was another impulse purchase but one I was ultimately very happy with, even if it’s not the most practical thing in the world.” —Brooke Bobb, Vogue Fashion News Writer
“I grew up consignment shopping with my mom at INA in Soho, and it remains one of my favorites. The strategy I have is to know what’s out there and keep on top of it until it goes down to a price you can actually afford. I love The Real Real because it’s so easy to keep track of things you want with their Obsessions section. I was following this Prada BAM Pina Bausch bag from 1994, and eventually it went down to a really good price. On eBay it was going for 10 times the original price because it’s so rare. It’s undoubtedly my favorite consignment purchase ever.” —Alexandra Gurvitch, Vogue Associate Market Editor
“I love browsing The Real Real and shopping vintage on Instagram—Wayward Collection and Na Nin Vintage are my current go-to accounts. I’ve had some luck at INA on Prince Street, too, and last winter I scored a sold-out-everywhere brown checked Acne blazer with fringe for just over $100. I’m pretty sure the price was incorrect since it wasn’t very old and looked unworn, but I took it to the register immediately before anyone could notice!” —Emily Farra, Vogue Fashion News Writer
