Photo: Courtesy of Marimaria
’90s Prada. Archival Issey Miyake. Sold-out Khaite. No matter the era or designer, if you’re coveting pieces from seasons past, this comprehensive guide provides the answer.
Rummaging through overstuffed racks in the hope of uncovering a rare vintage find – many of us know the feeling. Sometimes you walk away empty-handed. Other times, you strike gold.
I recently experienced the latter when I discovered a pair of 1998 Prada silk capris at a flea market in Milan. I admit I shrieked when I found them.
I’m not alone. The second-hand luxury market in Australia is predicted to double by 2033 as consumers continue to pivot from fast fashion, chasing garments with individuality and better environmental credentials.
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And thanks to a wave of highly considered resale platforms and consignment sites, the second-hand sartorial hunt can now occur from the comfort of your couch.
Where to start? Whether you’re in the market for a one-off runway piece or simply something with that elusive je ne sais quoi, these 17 local and global stores are worth bookmarking.
Born in 2020, Sozo Amour is an online-only store based in Melbourne and dedicated to thoughtfully curated archival fashion. The edit leans towards Japanese design, with labels like Issey Miyake, Comme des Garcons and Junya Watanabe regularly in the mix, alongside Italian greats like Prada, Miu Miu and Marni. Founder Lilija Antonik also runs an editorial series spotlighting emerging designers and creatives.
Curated archival designer
Issey Miyake, Comme des Garcons, Miu Miu
If you’re after a piece with backstory, Marimaria Vintage is a no-brainer. The Melbourne-based store drops a tightly edited collection of vintage designer and non-designer styles every few weeks. Sonia Rykiel studded leather bags, Prada silks and YSL tailoring have all made appearances. Products often come documented with original campaign or runway references and alongside big names, you’ll find alluring, singular garments by lesser-known brands.
Curated archival designer
Celine, YSL, Prada
While not strictly vintage, Swop is a treasure trove for second-hand designer finds – you just have to dig. The female-founded consignment chain has stores in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and a rotating edit of clothing and accessories that are exchanged for cash or store credit.
Similar to the sense of discovery you get rifling through racks IRL, you might spot a Jean Paul Gaultier mesh top, a Rick Owens knit or a deconstructed Yohji Yamamoto piece. Because the site operates seasonally and in real time, the mix changes fast, and always reflects what people are buying (and parting with) right now.
Curated consignment
Jean Paul Gautier, Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto
Started by Swop co-founder Beth Wicks, Reunion is Wicks’s second act in the consignment space. The bricks-and-mortar location in Sydney translates to a well-curated online shop, with ever-changing drops and stock spanning all price points. While the range includes some non-vintage staples, there’s a strong focus on sought-after pieces like 2000s Fendi baguettes and Prada zip-ups.
Curated consignment
Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Burberry
A visit to PDA is like stepping into your grandma’s house – if your grandma lived in an uber-chic French boudoir. The physical store, with its draping linen, dark timber cabinetry and lace appliqué detailing, houses an equally dreamy edit of vintage garments.
If you’re not Melbourne-based, the website showcases the collection’s breadth. Roberto Cavalli knitwear mingles with Maison Margiela boots. There are offbeat finds like hunting hats and suede bombers. Second-hand fashion is the focus, but PDA also stocks new hemp-based garments in vintage styles that echo the store’s nostalgic aesthetic.
Curated archival designer and vintage
Roberto Cavalli, Miu Miu, Maison Margiela
With more than two decades of vintage collecting under her belt, Cara Weinstock brings serious curatorial know-how to her Sydney-based store. The online edit spans collectable archival designs and lesser-known gems. Many pieces are documented with historical fashion context, and some come with original runway imagery, like this pair of 1997 glittery pants by Tom Ford for Gucci.
Curated archival designer
Emilio Pucci, Chloe, Dior
Dot Comme is on a mission to make Japanese and Belgian fashion more accessible, no overseas sourcing trips required. Based in Melbourne’s Curtin House, the store stocks covetable pieces from designers like Junya Watanabe, Walter Van Beirendonck, Issey Miyake and Undercover.
Most styles are available to shop online and, where possible, backed by runway references, as with this Comme des Garcons patchwork top and a Watanabe yellow puffer. If avant-garde silhouettes are your thing, Dot Comme should be on your radar.
Curated archival designer
Comme des Garcons, Issey Miyake, Walter Van Beirendonck
If you’ve ever clocked an ’80s Givenchy dress styled like a current-season Christopher Esber piece, chances are you’ve seen Olivia Lila Lahood in action. The Sydney-based head of brand at Esber’s eponymous label brings an editorial sensibility to her side gig in second-hand fashion. Every listing feels meticulously considered, with layouts and visuals akin to a high-end fashion ecommerce site, whether it’s for a Mary McFadden skirt or a Jean Paul Gaultier dress. The online-only store combines old-world glamour with a polished lens on vintage fashion that feels, well, now.
Curated archival designer and vintage
Givenchy, Mary McFadden, Hermes
With over a decade in the game, Irvrsbl is one of Melbourne’s best-known archival designer destinations. There’s a bricks-and-mortar space, but the online offering is extensive. Founder Clare Ferra started collecting vintage Issey Miyake in high school. She’s channelled that energy into a collection featuring styles from more than 120 luxury brands, from Dior to Missoni. Ferra leans into designer accessories, especially handbags and shoes, making Irvrsbl a go-to for investment pieces that will become wardrobe staples.
Curated archival designer
Chanel, Gucci, Missoni
Founded by Georgia Gordon, Guzzia Archive offers a curated edit of designer and directional second-hand pieces, sourced locally and abroad. What began as a personal shopping habit has grown into one of the most exciting places to browse designer vintage online. Think cow-print Ferragamo skirts, ’90s Moschino and leather Gucci flip flops. New drops hit the site every one to two weeks.
Curated archival designer
Moschino, Prada, Chloe
Co-founded by New Yorker Emily Oberlin and her partner Daniel Nielsenbeck, Bruce is a high-end consignment store specialising in Japanese and European designers. The couple runs two Melbourne stores, in Clifton Hill and Fitzroy, as well as a Hobart outpost and online shop. If Six Was Nine, Ann Demeulemeester and Jean Paul Gaultier are regular names here, alongside footwear favourites like Paul Harnden Shoemakers and Guidi. The edit is refined but far from trend-driven, with a focus on longevity, wearability and craft.
Curated consignment
If Six Was Nine, Jean Paul Gaultier, Ann Demeulemeester
If a Paris flea market and a luxury showroom had a digital love child, it would be 1st Dibs. The NYC-founded platform launched in 2000 and has grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for second-hand design. Among the art and mid-century furniture, there’s also an extensive collection of designer fashion. Whether you’re in the market for vintage Pucci resortwear, rare Birkin bags or archival Alaia, you’ll find it here. While many sellers are overseas, you can filter by location to find local listings for (often) speedier delivery.
Curated consignment
Hermes, Bally, Alaia
Known for its rigorous authentication process, The Real Real is considered the largest online marketplace for luxury consignment fashion. Alongside true vintage gems (like Tom Ford-era Gucci) you’ll also find contemporary names in constantly high demand, like Khaite, The Row and Saint Laurent, whose runway pieces sold out seasons ago.
Curated consignment
Gucci, Christian Louboutin, Jil Sander
You may already trawl Farfetch for current collections, but the pre-owned section is worth a browse too. The site pulls together authenticated vintage and second-hand designer pieces from individual users, plus vetted boutiques and resale partners around the world. Styles are authenticated before they hit the site, and you can filter by condition, material and price to avoid endless scrolling.
Curated consignment
Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo, Dolce and Gabbana
Rebag started in 2014 as a luxury handbag reseller, but it’s since grown to include watches, jewellery and ready-to-wear from more than 50 designer labels, with an inventory of Rolexes and Cartier Tanks to rival its roster of Fendi baguettes and Celine Phantom bags. The US-based platform’s point of difference is its real-time pricing tool, which uses AI to determine an item’s resale value – a win for shoppers who want to know how much they’ll get back if (or when) they decide to resell.
Curated consignment
Bottega Veneta, Cartier, Moncler
Just-launched platform Dotshop is a new kind of social shopping space: part archive boutique, part-curated fashion club. The site blends contemporary designer pieces from local labels like Esse Studios and E Nolan with rare vintage and pre-owned styles. Past listings include an exclusive range of Alaia, plus vintage finds from Galliano and Yohji Yamamoto. The collection is assembled by stylists and curators who understand the value of a tight edit (no endless scrolling here). All styles are authenticated by the Dotshop team, with product descriptions that note which year garments were released.
Curated archival vintage and new fashion
Alaia, John Galliano, Yohji Yamamoto
Depop’s roots are in Gen-Z fashion and indie sellers, but among the Y2K accessories are legitimate designer gems, especially if you know how to search. Sellers often mix vintage with newer-season pieces, and Aussie listings mean lower shipping costs and faster delivery. One shopping editor, for example, lives in a Comme des Garcons knit from local seller @ninostore and this Prada tote with metallic disks ranks high on her wishlist.
Uncurated marketplace
Prada, Coach, Gucci
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This story is part of Broadsheet’s special Nostalgia Issue, presented by Up, documenting food, fashion, culture, travel and tech that makes the past new again.
About the author
Simone is Broadsheet's shopping editor.