Let me set the scene. You’re stuck in The Vortex, a TikTok special: You’ve lost all track of time.

Every person popping up on your For You is conventionally attractive-perfect skin, flat stomach, huge ass… you get the picture. After a few  “Whoa! You’ve been scrolling for a while!“  toks have come and gone, a saving grace appears: A kind face overlays a picture of Hailey Bieber. She proudly pronounces that you can get the look of your favorite runway model in minutes with the dupes she’s discovered.

“Just follow the link in my bio to my Amazon Storefront. Everything is listed there.” You go. Eighteen-dollar parachute pants, three white tanks for ten bucks, tiny black sunglasses, chunky loafers, a dainty gold chain… It’s all there.  So, yeah, we’ve all said “TikTok made me buy it” at one point or another. And who can blame us?

Fast fashion seems irresistible most times. We’re used to scrolling, so shopping on Amazon and Shein is second nature. And let’s face it, most ‘sustainable fashion’ retailers are crazy expensive and offer a limited selection (usually basics). 

But, what if we told you you can replicate your favorite celebrity outfits sustainably without breaking the bank or putting another cent towards Jeff Bezos’ moon landing expedition? Did we mention everything will be in YOUR size, filtered by your preferred brands, and you don’t need to go anywhere at all? Yeah. That’s the power of thrift and resale apps.

So, we tried allllll the apps and the results are in:

Best in class: Depop.

The most current and curated, prices are right, the variety is there, and using the app won’t make you want to rip your hair out.

Best in luxury: TheRealReal.

With both a lively online and brick-and-mortar presence, TheRealReal takes the cake for authenticated luxury consignment. Most of their items are high-end but don’t get it twisted-they’ve got everything from Nike to Gucci.

Honorable mention: Nuuly.

Created by Urban Outfitters and housing a ton of vintage from brands like Free People and Anthropologie, the selection is highly curated and on-trend. However, the selection is smaller than on Poshmark or the like. 

So, how does this all work? Easy. Download the app, make an account, and start searching for your dream vintage wardrobe (or just copy Hailey Bieber’s outfits).

Still don’t believe us? We thought you might not. Scroll for a few looks recreated with vintage pieces found on Depop, TheRealReal, and Nuuly.

Want More?

Nuuly, Depop, and TheRealReal are our top picks, providing online markets for vintage resale and shipping worldwide, but feel free to explore! 

Other widely used resale apps for clothing (& beyond) are:

Poshmark, eBay, Thredup, Mercari, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace. 

If thrifting’s not for you, we see you. 

Some of our favorite sustainable retail fashion brands are: 

Levi’s, Reformation, Girlfriend Collective, Kotn, ABLE, Mien Studios, Boody, Coyuchi, Boyish Jeans, Alternative Apparel, MATE The Label, Outdoor Voices, Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Ma’am. 

Happy shopping!