Often worn for 1 or 2 events before being put back in the wardrobe by their owners, the pretty formal dresses sold on second-hand sites are generally in excellent condition and are therefore worth the detour. But on which sites can you find them and which brands to look for first? Where to find beautiful second-hand formal dresses, nice and economical, for a wedding, a PACS, a secular ceremony, a baptism, a communion, a Bat Mitzvah, a Bar mitzvah? An anthology of brands to know, excellent sites depending on what you are looking for and how to sort and filter them correctly.
On which second-hand sites can you find nice and cheap formal dresses?
The most well-stocked: Vinted
We can’t recommend the most popular one enough, Vinified to find a beautiful formal dress. With more than 80 million members spread across 19 markets in Europe and North America, there’s the wheat and the chaff, including plenty of options for cute and affordable formal wear.
The highest end: Vestiaire Collective
On Vestiaire Collective we also find pieces of outfits for a big event such as a PACS, a wedding, a secular ceremony, a baptism, a Bat Mitzvah, a Bar mitzvah or even a communion. With almost 25 million users, it is the platform of choice if you are looking for high-end, premium or luxury brands, but at an affordable or even low price. Because it has a reliable authentication service.
Narrower: paradigm
Less known but full of great discoveries concentrated on high-end brands such as Sézane, ba&sh, Maje or Sandro, there is Paradigme, a new French second-hand platform.
Which brands to choose for a stylish and economical formal dress?
If you are wondering how to find a nice second-hand outfit for a big event, you can search directly on the brands’ websites which often have a dedicated collection. It is generally called “Ceremony”, in fact, because life, sometimes, is well done. This can give you inspiration and then you can search for the names of the models you like on second-hand sites like Vinted, Vestiaire Collective or Paradigme.
Otherwise, to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the possible options on second-hand sites, it is best to use filters. Enter your maximum budget, your size, your favorite colors and this will serve as your first sort. Then, you can refine your selection by going brand by brand.
The most famous brands for splendid formal dresses
Among those who generally give you graceful formal dresses, we mention the best known:
- American vintage
- ba&sh
- Claudio Pierlot
- Cotton counter
- COS
- Small tops
- Maje
- Sandro
- Sexun
- Sézane
- Sister
- Tara Jarmon
- The Kooples
- Vanessa Bruno
Lesser known brands that make beautiful formal dresses
Lesser known but still worth a look, these are the brands that do almost that:
- House of the CB
- Mrs. Pipa
- Renaissance
- Ganni
- BCBGMax Azria
The most ethical brands for formal clothing
Finally, we also point out some particularly ethical brands to pay attention to when used. Naturally you will find fewer of them, since they are not mass-produced, but they are worth looking for:
- King of Indigo
- Thinking Mu
- Herd angels
- Mainio
- January and June
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
