Why Buy Pre-Owned Designer Fashion?

There was a time when buying designer fashion generally meant walking into a luxury boutique and buying something brand new.

Pre-owned designer fashion has created an entirely different way to shop luxury. You can find clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories from previous collections, discontinued styles and pieces you may simply never come across in a traditional retail store.

Designer Fashion Without the Retail Price

Let's start with the obvious one - price.

Buying pre-owned can give you access to designer brands at considerably less than the original retail price, depending on the particular item, its condition, age, demand and availability.

That doesn't mean every pre-owned designer item is cheap, and it certainly doesn't mean every item is a bargain. Some pieces remain highly sought-after and command substantial prices on the secondary market.

But if you love designer fashion, the pre-owned market offers you another place to explore with far more options.

You Can Find Fashion That Is No Longer in Stores

Fashion moves quickly. Collections change, styles are discontinued and limited editions disappear.

The fact that a designer has stopped selling something doesn't necessarily mean nobody wants it anymore.

It could be a handbag from a previous collection, a pair of shoes you've been trying to find for years or simply a design that you prefer over what the brand is currently selling.

Instead of being limited to this season's collection, you suddenly have years of fashion to explore. This is the beauty of pre-owned fashion; you never know what is going to surface next.

 

Pre-Owned Doesn't Automatically Mean Old or Worn Out

This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions around pre-owned fashion.

Something being pre-owned tells you that it has had a previous owner. It doesn't tell you how much it was used.

We come across items that have been loved and worn, but also seen pieces that have barely been used, or not at all.  

This is why the actual condition of an item matters far more than simply seeing the words "pre-owned".

You May Find Something a Little Different

Anyone who has read about The Shopping Cart will know that we love sourcing fashion with something different to offer.

Pre-owned shopping opens that door considerably wider.

You're no longer choosing exclusively from what is in the stores right now. You're looking across different seasons, collections and years.

Fashion doesn't suddenly become irrelevant because a new collection has been released.

There Is Already Enough Fashion in the World

If a handbag, dress, jacket or pair of shoes still has years of life left in it, giving it another owner keeps that fashion in use rather than treating the first owner as its final destination.

This doesn't mean you should stop buying new fashion. The Shopping Cart sells both new and pre-owned clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories. We simply don't believe fashion has to be one or the other.

A new item can sit alongside something pre-owned, and neither needs to take anything away from the other.

Authenticity Matters

When buying pre-owned designer fashion, authenticity is important. Unlike buying directly from a designer boutique, you're purchasing an item that has already entered the secondary market, so knowing who you're buying from matters.

At The Shopping Cart, we have a strict no-replicas policy, and if there are any concerns about an item's authenticity, it doesn't reach our website.

What About Resale Value?

Designer fashion is sometimes described as an "investment".

Certain pieces from particular brands can retain value extremely well and some may even increase in value. Others don't.

Brand, model, condition, rarity, demand, age and the market at the time all influence what someone is prepared to pay.

While potential resale value can certainly be worth considering when you're buying designer fashion, don’t assume that simply having a luxury label automatically makes something a financial investment.

There are other reasons one may select designer pieces such as their increased lifespan due to premium craftsmanship, premium leathers or materials being used.

And sometimes the return is much simpler – you’re investing in something you love and when you're ready to let it go there may still be someone willing to buy it from you.

So, Why Buy Pre-Owned Designer Fashion?

Because it gives you options.

You can potentially spend less than original retail, find pieces that are no longer available in stores, discover something unusual and give existing fashion another opportunity to be worn and enjoyed.

Most importantly, you don't have to choose a side.

You can buy a brand-new pair of shoes today and fall in love with a pre-owned designer handbag tomorrow.

That's exactly why The Shopping Cart doesn't separate fashion according to what somebody thinks you should be shopping.

New and pre-owned. Designer and everyday brands.

If it's something you love, it belongs in your wardrobe.

Shop our curated designer collection and find your next favourite piece.