How Much Does A Mostly Secondhand Outfit Really Cost?
What I really paid for five of my favorite mostly secondhand outfits
I’m often asked about my outfits…in real life…in San Francisco, a city not known for its interest in fashion. People are surprised to learn my outfits are mostly secondhand, and even more surprised that this is also true for my wardrobe.
If my budget and the environment were non-issues, my closet would be significantly larger, perhaps the size of a small house. While the state of the planet is beyond my control, my clothing budget feels more squeezed than ever in 2026. I know I’m not alone since consumers are increasingly being priced out of fashion, first at luxury, now at contemporary.
Last April I wrote that tariffs could expand the secondhand sector more rapidly, creating an element of affordability that firsthand wouldn’t be able to compete with. ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report confirms we’ve reached that tipping point.
The State of Secondhand
Price hikes are affecting over 70% of American consumers’ apparel spending in 2026 with nearly 30% of respondents turning to secondhand to counteract cost increases. Resale’s newest customers are projected to drive 64% of incremental spend by the end of the decade with Gen Z leading this growth1. ThredUp’s report points to resale surfacing as a first-choice destination, and over 50% of Gen Z and Millennial shoppers are prioritizing preloved over new apparel.
Resale value has also emerged as a key consideration when buying clothing. This is especially evident amongst Gen Z, who are treating their closets as a monetization tool. ThredUp found that Gen Z is more likely to view their wardrobe as a financial asset with 61% of this cohort participating in the circular economy for income2.
So where does that leave today’s fashion consumer? Curation has become important, so have investment pieces. It’s considered chic to outfit repeat, rewear, and restyle, with bonus points for shopping vintage. Creators whose content has primarily focused on newness and trends have adopted a more mindful tone in the year and a half since I started my newsletter. These are all good things.
Admittedly, we still have a long way to go in a clothing culture that’s been focused on what’s next versus what lasts since the turn of the century. While we can’t stop overproduction without regulation, we can take small steps to reduce our fashion footprint. Shopping secondhand, trying to keep new purchases low, and being thoughtful about the items I’m adding to my wardrobe are mine.
How Much Does A Mostly Secondhand Outfit Cost?
My closet spans everything from unlabeled vintage to firsthand designer, which means I have preloved clothes for under $10 and bags that were over $1K new. In the spirit of Earth Month I’m sharing what I paid for five of my favorite looks3 ranked in order of my secondhand spend.
What’s not included: Everyday jewelry (welded bracelets, necklaces, rings, smartwatch). Prices: Rounded up/down to the nearest decimal place for ease of reading. Tax isn’t included in prices. Estimated price: J.Crew turtleneck purchased in the 2010s. Gifts from family: The Frankie Shop sheer skirt; my Ganni buckle ballerinas were $121 out of pocket after redeeming a $100 gift card.
If you’re exploring the resale universe, there are so many pieces that can be incorporated into your closet for less than the latest trendy item at Zara. I hope this helps shed some light on pricing across a few major platforms if you’re dipping your toes into resale this year.
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Under $100 Secondhand
Outfit 1: $93 Secondhand | $882 Total
My most popular outfit between Substack and Instagram, this leans into the colorblocking trend we’re going to see a lot more of in 2026. I hemmed and hawed over my Tibi dress for so long I’m shocked it didn’t sell out from under me. I was faster to make a move on my vintage jacket, a favorite item repeat this February.
Secondhand: $93 Total Spend
Tibi asymmetric dress | The RealReal: $53
Utex wool/cashmere fringe jacket | eBay: $40
New: $789 Total Spend
J.Crew tissue turtleneck | J.Crew: $25
Ganni buckle ballerinas | Shopbop: $221
J.Crew tights | J.Crew: $20
Jenny Bird heart padlock earrings | Shopbop: $118
Stella McCartney heart bag | Matches: $405
Under $200 Secondhand
Outfit 2: $163 Secondhand | $1,421 Total
This jacket was a two year slow burn from seeing it in a Derek Lam 10 Crosby marketing email to snagging it on The RealReal. I wasn’t able to exercise the same patience with my firsthand skirt, but sometimes you can’t beat something new to go with your secondhand rotation.
Secondhand: $163 Total Spend
The Frankie Shop wool sweater | The RealReal: $63
Derek Lam 10 Crosby fringe jacket | The RealReal: $100
New: $1,258 Total Spend
The Frankie Shop sheer skirt | The Frankie Shop: $131
Ganni buckle ballerinas | Shopbop: $221
Stems sheer socks | Shopbop: $11
Stella McCartney star camera bag | Stella McCartney: $895
Outfit 3: $196 Secondhand | $1,312 Total
This skirt slipped through my fingers twice: once new because it sold out quickly and once secondhand because I was hung up on the resale price in my head. A few weeks after this went into my The RealReal graveyard I walked past a woman wearing it (she looked incredible btw) and stopped her to ask about the fit, only to find out we were the same size and she’d just got her skirt on The RealReal. The wompiest of womps. When this came back to me three years later, I didn’t hesitate to add it to cart.
Secondhand: $196 Total Spend
Ganni striped blazer | The RealReal: $110
Shaka Wear t-shirt | ThredUp: $10
Reformation tiger print skirt | The RealReal: $76
Vintage brooch | my grandmother: $0
New: $1,116 Total Spend
Ganni buckle ballerinas | Shopbop: $221
Sample sheer socks | wear test from my buying job: $0
Stella McCartney star camera bag | Stella McCartney: $895
Under $250 Secondhand
Outfit 4: $241 Secondhand | $1,551 Total
Long fringe is a niche trend that bubbled up in a meaningful way last year and it’s still going strong this spring (hellooo Sea’s stunning new fringe top that I’m obsessed with, may I find you secondhand). Which reminds me, I last wore this outfit in January and it’s due for a spring repeat.
I watched my fringe dress on The RealReal with bated breath until it hit 40% off, at which point I swooped in. My jacket was a The RealReal miracle revived from my graveyard and always keeps me guessing - is it brown? Is it olive green? Idk. Both pieces are proof that some things in life take patience if they’re meant to be.
Secondhand: $241 Total Spend
Miguelina lace fringe dress | The RealReal: $57
The Frankie Shop cropped jacket | The RealReal: $102
Agolde barrel leg jeans | The RealReal: $56
Fownes vintage leather gloves | eBay: $26
New: $1,310 Total Spend
Ganni ghillie ballerinas | Revolve: $415
Stella McCartney star camera bag | Stella McCartney: $895
Under $500 Secondhand
Outfit 5: $411 Secondhand | $1,155 Total
I’d been eyeing this pussy bow blouse since I first borrowed it from Rent The Runway in the 2010s and finally made it official in 2020. This is a 2026 top if there ever was one: sheer, animal print, attached scarf. My barrel leg jeans were another secondhand score and the light wash is in line with the denim seen all over street style at AW26 Paris Fashion Week.
Secondhand: $411 Total Spend
Proenza Schouler pussy bow silk blouse | The RealReal: $77
Anine Bing cropped leather jacket | The RealReal: $212
Agolde barrel leg jeans | The RealReal: $122
New: $744 Total Spend
Ganni buckle ballerinas | Shopbop: $221
Jenny Bird heart padlock earrings | Shopbop: $118
Stella McCartney heart bag | Matches: $405
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This has nuance as new customers may skew to younger gens who are beginning to shop on their own and would naturally be new to secondhand. It will be fascinating to see the data when Gen Alpha is included in future surveys.
This is concerning since it highlights that clothing is still viewed as an expendable asset, echoing our relationship with fast fashion, convenience, and the say-do gap.
I didn’t go into this with the prices of my outfits ready to go (I picked first and calculated second) although I knew my bags and shoes would drive up my total outfit cost since I purchased them all new.
I love this post so much; I wish I had your discipline when it comes to waiting things out. It is a risky business, but it’s pretty amazing that you have had so many things that you’d had your eye on come back to you sometimes even years later. That well considered thinking comes through in your thoughtful, interesting styling.
It’s interesting that, in these examples, the most noticeable items from my perspective are the least expensive, whereas the most expensive items (the bags) don’t really register to me. Is that just accidental, or are you more likely to buy bags new?