I’ve said it before and I will definitely say it again – I’m all about investing in luxury especially pre-loved luxury. Why? Maybe it’s the rarity of knowing this 30-year old Chanel handbag (in mint condition) is more valuable than a new one today or scoring that 20-year old Valentino blouse that’s now discontinued, but back in style. Yes, I’m talking vintage.

Plus, let’s be real – spending your hard-earned money should always involve intention and strategy. And I try to be as responsible as I can when investing in my closet.

So I’ve broken it down to a science. Here’s the Cost Per Wear formula:

CPW = (cost of item) divided by (totals times you plan to wear it)

In a world full of nonstop “it” items and knockoffs, having a vintage piece(s) in your closet creates its own unique standard and almost refines your entire wardrobe; like an understood honor that only those truly serious about fashion would recognize. There are investment pieces out there waiting to be discovered and thanks to all these verified sites (now, apps), it’s made the hunt that much easier.

So where do I go?

What Goes Around Comes Around: the leading global purveyor of authentic luxury vintage accessories and apparel since 1993.

The Real Real: a premier site and one of the leaders for online luxury consignment with an editorial flair; who’s also all about sustainability.

And of course, the recent eBay’s Authenticate service: (one of my all-time fave treasure troves) offers countless luxury pieces triple-verified by the experts, too! (Read this post for my tips on how to navigate the site.)

Whether you’re looking for that 1989 Hermès Birkin or wanting to sell your limited edition Louis Vuitton for extra shopping cash…all the above are the perfect options for either. And you’re getting back as close to 50% to 70% of the item’s original value – depending on condition of course! Ca-ching, that adds up! These companies have made my selling and buying life a pretty seamless process (disclaimer: and slightly addicting!). Like I said, the hunt is that much easier.

Here’s a thought, even with the benefits of saving and searching for investment pieces, I believe there’s another added value to consider. The fact that this luxury resale industry practically went mainstream last year speaks to what the future holds. Hint: it has a lot to do with sustainability. The goal is to keep “clothing out of landfills” by curbing it through sustainable luxury aka luxury consignment. Wow, that’s a game-changer in fashion! “Moving from reducing our negative environmental impact to making a positive impact requires all of us to change our mindset and leverage solutions that will make fashion circular and eliminate waste,” statement by Stella McCartney. 

It’s a rewarding feeling knowing that each item purchased and resold is one step closer to making a greater impact in the world. Talk about a 360 move for the better! I love that feeling – knowing you really are getting the maximum value out of your designer goods while adding to environmental sustainability overall. #somuchyas

So the next time you think of shopping pre-loved luxury goods or vintage items, know that it’s not only benefiting you (and me)…but impacting the rest of the industry and well…world. And since luxury items are made from the finest materials – they’re meant to last! So why not extend the luxury lifecycle and get the most out of it?

Shop. Save. Influence the rest of the world…as it might very well become the standard in the future.

Xo, Stephanie

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Dress: vintage Ungaro 

Sandals: Loeffler Randall 

Earrings: old Kenneth Jay Lane (found at consignment shop)

Clutch: vintage piece found on eBay