Why You Should Be Visiting These Designer Resale Sites

With the start of a new year—or even, a new decade—comes with it the urge to reset and reorder one's life, and with it, one's wardrobe. Are you really making the most of the clothing and accessories you already have? Are you guilty of holding on to something that you'll probably never wear again, for the wrong reasons? A de-cluttered closet is the first step to making your existing clothing selection work as hard as possible; after all, you're unlikely to wear something if you've forgotten its even there.

As Japanese author, consultant and de-cluttering connoisseur Marie Kondo so famously says, you should only hold on to things that "spark joy" - whether that be because it holds fond memories, or simply makes you feel fabulous when you wear it.

"It's about heightening your sensitivity to what brings you joy," she says. "Once you've completed your tidying, there is room to welcome meaningful objects, people and experiences into your life."

Streamlining your wardrobe is not only good for the soul, but good for the environment, too. Learning how to be more mindful with your purchasing habits will likely result in less waste, and fewer regretful impulse buys. An estimated £30 billion worth of unworn clothes hang in our wardrobes, and around £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill every year.

Of course, it goes without saying that you shouldn't be simply throwing your old clothes away; donate them to charity or contribute to the circular fashion model by selling your designer wares on a luxury resale site.

Here's our edit of the easiest (and chicest) resale websites to use. Just try not to buy twice as much as you sell...

VESTIAIRE COLLECTIVE

Vesitaire Collective has one of the largest selections of pre-owned goods, posting thousands of new listings each week - and is a favourite with the Bazaar fashion team. Boasting an online fashion community of more than 3.5 million shoppers, items you buy on Vestiaire Collective are guaranteed to come from a respectable closet. A nifty feature is the ability to set email alerts, letting you know when a particular item you are hunting for is listed.

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HEWI LONDON

HEWI (Hardly Ever Worn It) is like eBay, but exclusively for new or barely worn pre-owned designer goods. Shoppers can watch items, follow sellers and choose to either "buy it now" or make offers on future purchases. Sellers can list items themselves without fees, or alternatively opt for the VIP service, whereby HEWI London will handle everything on your behalf - from collecting items to handling all buyer enquiries. This allows you to sell anonymously; all you need to do is choose how you want to be paid. The site is currently offering £20 off your first order when you become a HEWI London member.

DESIGNER EXCHANGE

Established in 2013, Designer Exchange was the first company to offer instant cash payment and exchange on designer items. It's the right place to head if you are thinking about swapping your Chanel for an upgrade. Every one of their items are checked in-house by a team of experts to make sure everything is authentic and top quality. As well as being available online, Designer Exchange also has stores in Knightsbridge, Kensington, Manchester, Birmingham and Madrid.

Related article: Get Inspired By These Different Ways To Wear Classic Blue

VIDE DRESSING

Vide Dressing is a go-to site for buying and selling luxury, with 30,000 items selling per month. It acts as a third party between buyers and sellers, ensuring sales, payment, delivery and returns run smoothly. The company's legal experts and authentication system means that your money is in safe hands, which is reassuring for both you and your bank account when you buy high-end. The site is currently offering 10% off your first order if you subscribe to the Vide Dressing newsletter.

EDIT SECOND HAND

The latest online consignment website to appear on our radar. The team carefully selects the highest-quality designer pieces, offering shoppers authentic designer labels at up to 70 per cent off retail price. Listing pieces on the site is easy: simply email a round-up of items you want to sell and Edit will respond with an estimate price of what it will pay for them. Our favourite thing about it is the speed of the service; you will receive payment for your items within two days of them arriving at Edit's HQ.

BAGISTA

Bagista offers pre-loved designer bags a second home; customers can buy, sell or swap their luxury handbags. The company is great at keeping its followers in the loop, regularly posting to Instagram Stories about new arrivals, so you can keep on top of the latest product drops. Before a bag makes it onto the site, it's been checked by experts to ensure authenticity, whether it's a one-off piece or everyone's favourite must-have.

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REWIND VINTAGE

Rewind Vintage specialises in unique luxury vintage fashion, stocking pre-loved items from top labels including Chanel, Saint Laurent and Celine (or Céline, as the case may be), as well as rare vintage pieces. Rewind has also launched its own project, Emotional Baggage, which customises classic designer bags and provides customers with a personalisation service. To sell with Rewind, contact an authorised representative via phone or email to arrange a consultation.

THE FIFTH COLLECTION

Co-founded by Nejla Matam-Finn and her husband Michael Finn, The Fifth Collection is a Singapore-based online platform for people to find, share and buy second-hand luxury items. The couple also invested in developing Entrupy—a luxury goods authentication software which boasts an impressive 99.1% accuracy rate, so you can be rest assured that you're getting the right goods for a fair price.

This article originally appeared on Harper's Bazaar UK.