9 Reasons Why You Should Shop Secondhand Fashion

Hello! Think about the last item of clothing or accessory that you bought. Where did you buy it? How much did it cost? How much did it truly cost? How much value has it added to your wardrobe? I advocate shopping secondhand fashion rather than shopping fast fashion and think it's important to stop and ask yourself those questions from time to time as you examine your shopping habits. Shopping fast fashion comes with much higher costs than the prices that you see on the tags. I could go on for and on for days about the evils of fast fashion but I've decided to compile a list of reasons why you should shop secondhand fashion instead: 

1. Shopping secondhand fashion is better for the environment. Feel good knowing that you're saving perfectly fine garments and accessories from being thrown into a landfill! 

2. You can often find more unique pieces when shopping secondhand fashion. Because what's worse than spotting someone rocking the same dress as you? 

3. You're supporting smaller businesses, local individuals and non-profits when you shop secondhand rather than supporting large corporations. 

4. Shopping secondhand fashion will save you $$$. And who doesn't like to save money? Think about how much you could buy at a thrift shop for $50 versus how much you could buy at the mall for $50. 

5. You can typically afford higher-quality secondhand pieces due to affordable thrift store price tags. I've thrifted a Juicy Couture dress for $10, a vintage Christian Dior suit for $15, a Guess bag for $1 and many, many other high-end pieces for practically pennies. And let me tell you- there's no better feeling than rocking a designer piece that you scored secondhand for less than half of the original retail price. Cue "Bad and Boujee."

6. Deciding to shop secondhand rather than fast fashion means that you aren't supporting the negative implications of fast fashion. 

7. The rise of e-commerce has made shopping stylish secondhand fashion much easier in the past few years. There are SO many options for where to shop secondhand online nowadays. I typically shop secondhand fashion through Poshmark, Unitiques and Etsy. But I recently discovered a new fave: Swap.com

Swap.com, an online consignment and thrift shop, makes shopping secondhand fashion much easier. They have a wide selection of brands, styles and designs to choose from- all at very affordable prices. In collaboration with Swap.com, I received $30 in credit to shop away. And for just $30, I was able to afford two dresses, a crop top and a belt. I scored the floral Jason Wu dress I'm rocking above on Swap.com for just $10 so when I say that you can't beat their prices, you know it's the truth. I also bought the belt I'm wearing above on Swap.com for just $4. $4?! I would definitely recommend checking out Swap.com here. 

8. Authentic vintage styles are ALWAYS better than new retro-inspired copycat designs and you can only shop true vintage garments secondhand.  

9. There's more of a thrill in the hunt of shopping secondhand fashion rather than shopping new.  

Photos by Rachel Dwyer Photography. You can browse more of her work on her website here or her Instagram here. 

Blue floral dress: Jason Wu c/o Swap.com

Basket bag: Vintage

Cozy yellow sweater: c/o Shein

Jewelry: Assorted, vintage

Red sunglasses: Thrifted

Yellow star sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage

Boho belt: c/o Swap.com

Platform heels: Nasty Gal via Poshmark

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