How to Shop Vintage Designer Online

Luxury vintage clothing is more popular than ever. Whether for its exclusivity, quality that can no longer be found, iconography, or collector’s appeal, vintage designer is in high demand.

As the demand for rare vintage increases, so does the difficulty of finding specific pieces. So, how can you find vintage designer online? And, can you still find vintage gems at an affordable price point?

In this complete guide to shopping for vintage designer pieces online, we’ll go over where to find pre-loved luxury, how to get the best deals, and tips on what to look for. 

Why buy vintage designer?

Before getting into our designer treasure-hunting tips, let’s explain why we love luxury vintage so much (and why we think you should too). 

Vintage designer, or designer clothing that is 20+ years old, is worth investing in for its:

• Quality: The craftsmanship and quality of designer vintage is hard to find in the modern age of fast fashion and profit-first clothing brands. By choosing vintage, you can get items that were made to withstand the test of time– at a price point you won’t find anywhere else.
• Value: Though high-end vintage can range greatly in price, the pricing is more likely to actually reflect the value of the item. Whereas high prices today don’t always guarantee a quality product, vintage products are often underpriced for their values.
• Timelessness: The expert design of luxury vintage clothing– that reflects a high level of both craftsmanship and cultural understanding– results in many of these pieces being incredibly timeless. Thus, you can ensure your investment will be cherished and re-worn for decades to come.
• Sustainability: Shopping second-hand is one of the most impactful sustainable initiatives that individuals can participate in. By purchasing vintage garments, you’re continuing the fashion cycle for these little pieces of history.
• Return on investment: Lastly, luxury vintage items are more likely to yield a return on investment. These rare pieces continue to increase in value over time, potentially earning you money in the long run.

Where to buy vintage designer online

One of the best things about the digital age is that you can shop & find the best vintage from the comfort of your own home! However, to buy luxury vintage online, you need to know where to look.

Second-hand shopping platforms

These are some of the best second-hand marketplaces for scoring archival designer clothes, accessories, and handbags: 

• Ebay – Ebay is a top choice for vintage fashion lovers to search for rare gems. Though you'll have to dig through the search results to find the best pieces, you may be surprised by how often one man's trash is your holy grail.
• Poshmark – Poshmark is an often overlooked shopping platform when it comes to finding amazing vintage. Plus, sellers on Poshmark are some of the most open to accepting offers.
• Depop – Depop is still a great platform for finding luxury vintage. Simply search your favorite brand names with keywords like "vintage" or "90s", and follow your favorite vintage seller(s) to be first to see what's new.
• Etsy – Etsy offers a more refined selection of vintage designer apparel, but you can still find some rare pieces here.
• Vinted – Some insane vintage gems can be found on Vinted – especially if you're located in Europe. (American Vinted still has yet to take off in the same way).
• Facebook Marketplace – Surprisingly, Facebook Marketplace can have some great designer finds. While many Marketplace sellers only provide local pick-up, many are also willing to ship.
• Mercari – Mercari is another valuable tool for hunting down rare luxury vintage. The selection can sometimes be limited, but you never know what you might find.
• The RealReal – The RealReal is dedicated entirely to second-hand luxury items, and it's priced accordingly. However, all items go on sale by 10% every month after they're listed.
• Vestiaire Collective – Lastly, Vestiaire Collective is a top choice for finding high-end fashion. Here, all items go through a quality control and authentication check.

Take a look at these rare finds:
Vintage Gucci Heels – Ebay, $165.

Miu Miu SS 1996 Top – Ebay, $180.

Miu Miu SS 2000 Snakeskin Jacket – Poshmark, $400.

Manolo Blahnik Vintage Leopard Heels – Poshmark, $128.

Independent vintage sellers 

In addition to online marketplaces, there are hundreds of independent vintage sellers online, curating the best of the best items. Small vintage businesses bring you hand-picked selections of designer gems at reasonable prices. 

Reborn Archive is our online vintage designer store with a curated selection of rare archival pieces. We specialize in brands like Miu Miu, Prada, Anna Sui, and more, sourcing authentic 90s-00s designer vintage from around the world. At Reborn Archive, we value quality and taste over all else, hand-picking each piece for our clients to cherish for years to come.

Check out our current selection of vintage designer clothes & accessories here.

Some of our other favorite small luxury vintage stores are James Veloria, Into Archive, Bintagged, and Pomchilli. There are also numerous Instagram-only sellers you should check out: Existentialist Archive (@existentialistarchive), Cop Me If You Can (@copmeifyoucan), and Grain de Sell (@graindesell_). 

Follow us on Instagram (@reborn_archive) and subscribe below to stay up-to-date with our latest vintage collections. 

How to find affordable luxury vintage online

While “affordable” is certainly subjective, there are ways to get your hands on vintage designer at a reasonable price point. We consider pieces to be affordable if the quality, exclusivity, and value of the clothes are significantly greater than the price. Here are our expert tips:

• Get ready to dig – Our #1 tip for discovering archival gems online is to scroll, scroll, scroll! When searching a given brand or keyword, you'll have hundreds to thousands of items to sort through, so be prepared. 
• Refresh daily – The best deals get snagged the quickest. Refresh your searches daily to make sure you're not missing out.
• Save searches – Saving searches and turning on your notifications is a great way to be the first to see newly available items and jump on deals.
• Do your research – Make sure to do research on what you're looking for beforehand. Know what your favorite brand's vintage labels look like, study old runway photos, and compare prices.
• Use sorting features –  Sorting features are essential for successfully finding affordable items. Use features like "Pricing low to high" and "Newest first" to refine your search results.
• Search for typos – Try searching for typos of your favorite brand names (i.e. Door, Mlu Mlu, Cloe)– sometimes sellers are unfamiliar with the brand and have listed it for a low price.
• Follow shops you like – Follow sellers you like on Instagram, Depop, Vestiaire Collective, etc. to know about discounts, sales, or new items.
• Make offers on marketplaces – Don't be shy to make offers on resale sites like Poshmark, Depop, Ebay, & more– you never know until you ask!

Take a look at these affordable designer deals:

Miu Miu FW 1999 Bubble Shoes – Ebay, $85.

Miu Miu Vintage 2000s Kitten Heels – Ebay, $83.

Prada 90s Snakeskin Heels – Poshmark, $75.

Prada 90s Mirror Kitten Heels – Poshmark, $136.

Start your vintage search

We hope these tips give you insight into how to find vintage designer gems online. Warning: This process is not for the faint-of-heart, and it can take hours to hunt down the best items! But, if you're willing to put in the work, you're sure to find some hidden treasures. 

Reborn Archive is an online vintage designer store bring you a curated selection of high-quality vintage apparel. Shop our selection here and subscribe below to our newsletter to get updates on our latest inventory delivered straight to your inbox.