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Nine Substacks for Vintage Lovers and Secondhand Shoppers
Substacks are the new fashion mags! They provide loads of inspiration and tips for secondhand shoppers. Here is our round-up – nine newsletters recommended by our community!
“To escape the algorithm, fashion girls are shopping via Substack”, Isabelle Truman wrote on Vogue Business in March.
Several former fashion editors (like Man Repeller founder Leandra Cohen and InStyle’s Laura Reilly have launched their substacks and made them their primary source of income. While Cohen and Reilly mostly share shopping recommendations from retail stores, there are plenty of substacks for thrifters and secondhand lovers, too. We asked our users and followers for their favorites – here are nine substack newsletters you should check out.
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Shop Rat by Emilia Petrarca
Freelance writer Emilia Petrarca’s Shop Rat is great for anyone interested in shopping and what’s happening in fashion – not just on the runways but also on the streets. Shop Rat has over 10k readers and we are not surprised – Petrarca’s writing is witty and fun and many people know her from the career at New York Magazine and The Cut.
“I started my newsletter as a way to force myself to get outside and engage with style in real life. I conduct interviews with people I meet, report on trends I see, and visit as many stores as I can in person. I really try to go with my gut and just follow what sparks my interest, or what moves me emotionally. It’s amazing what happens when you leave your house, and talk to people in person!”
Every month, Emilia tries to go on an adventure with a new “guest shopper.” She also plans to make every January “Repair Month,” where she will focus on stories about how to mend and tailor what we already have instead of new things.
Some read-worthy posts are: The story about the girl Emilia met on the subway, who is now a friend, Emilia’s takedown of the “flaccid tote" (!), the chase to find a haunted Prada bag, and her conspiracy theory about the Row shoes.
Recommended by Maddy Stoopack from The Consistency Project
“Shop Rat is great for all things fashion – where to shop, how to shop, how to take care of the things you already own, and so much more. Emilia delivers the best hot takes and insight with her sense of humor and poise! I’ve met people from Chicago, New Hampshire, New York, and California that have all read her substack, and we all bond over her writing style and refreshing perspective.”
Really Good Vintage by Maggie Lanham
Really Good Vintage is a weekly newsletter dedicated to curating the most chic, most affordable vintage out there, kind of like a Khaite wardrobe on an Everlane budget, curated in Pinterest-like huge shopping rounds.
“I would recommend it to fashion people who want steals on designer (and non-designer) pieces, fellow vintage sellers looking to source high quality pieces, people who love vintage but don’t have time to shop for it, people who know nothing about vintage but want to be told what’s cool”, Maggie says.
“Some ideas arise from my holes in my own closet or items I’ve been wanting to try out (i.e. my recent dive into tea-length pieces), some stem from trying to stay timely (bridal looks in April), and sometimes I get swept up in the tide of trends and can’t help myself, like using Cowboy Carter and Bode as inspiration!”
Recently, Maggie started a monthly interview series with people with great style, like Beth Jones, Harling Ross Anton, and Anna Gray.
Recommended by Harling Ross Anton of Gumshoe
“...thoughtful in the way they talk about or encourage more sustainable approaches to getting dressed.”
The Mole Hill by Viv Chen
The Molehill is a mix of thoughtful fashion, style, and culture writing, covering a wide range of topics from tattoo regrets to the racial politics of counterfeit policing and the history of WWII sweetheart lingerie and how that connects to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Viv does not shy away from complicated, political topics that require lots of studying and time.
“I don’t really stick to one topic, the only thing I guarantee with all posts is I’m writing about what is interesting to me at the moment! Whether it’s a road trip with my best friend or the coolest sweaters I’ve been finding on eBay,” she says.
“I recommend my newsletter to all eBay gremlins...people who like to stay up late at night obsessively looking for a vintage gem. Fashion enthusiasts who believe fashion is political. If a post helps someone see connections between clothing and these bigger power systems in our world we need to change, I’m proud of that.“
Recommended by Kellyn Loehr of Best Friends
“Viv is probably one of the most important fashion writers on Substack right now IMO. Subscribe if you want to get your gears turning.”
Long Live by Erika Veurink
Long Live is a twice-weekly letter from secondhand-fashion-obsessed writer Erika Veurink. She writes about fashion, beauty, life in New York, books, and more.
Some recent noteworthy posts, picked by Erika herself:
1. I Miss Man Repeller – this letter was so nostalgic to write and it was great to feel like so many other people were nostalgic alongside me.
2. So You Want To Dress Like a 1992 J. Crew Catalogue Model – this has been my most popular letter to date. Turns out, lots of people want to dress like a J.Crew catalogue model, too.
3. 10 Things People Were Wearing in Paris I came back from a recent trip to Paris feeling so inspired by all the looks I saw. It was a wonderful experience to turn all that inspo into a Long Live letter.
Recommended by Maggie Lanham of Really Good Vintage
“Erika’s substack is one of (the??) coolest ones out there. But that’s the least she does! She regularly contributes to NY Mag, Vogue, GQ, and Architectural Digest. I was first introduced to Erika here on Substack as an eternally supportive fellow writer and curator. Once I started following Long Live, the inspiration came pouring in! She has a preternatural knack for connecting current trends to past designers and brands seamlessly.”
Rabbit Fur Coat by Eleanor Kriseman
On Rabbit Fur Coat, Eleanor Kriseman shares her daily outfits and the decisions that inform them, secondhand finds inspired by streetwear, interviews with friends, deep dives into specific designers or subcultures, and the historical context behind certain trends.
“On the surface, I would recommend Rabbit Fur Coat to anyone who would rather spend an afternoon at a thrift store than buy any new clothes. But in the same way that secondhand clothing is innately infused with history, Rabbit Fur Coat is also focused on the stories behind garments just as much as the garments themselves. So I would recommend it to anyone who loves a deep dive, a story, or a tangent – some of the posts that have resonated most with people have focused on something more than just secondhand shopping. I’ve written about tunnel fit culture in the NBA, sustainability and value within the quilting community, and done a close analysis of the fashion in The Sound of Music!”
Initially, Eleanor was worried that she would run out of things to write about. But 50+ posts later, the worry is gone and there is so much she is inspired by: specific garments, books and movies, people on the street and the subway, and all of the other thoughtful newsletters out there.
Recommended by Claire Bolger of Thrift Epiphany
“Like me, Eleanor of Rabbit Fur Coat has never worked in fashion, yet her style choices are spot-on and carefully considered. Her writing invites you to be part of a community that treats getting dressed as a creative act. Plus, in addition to vintage and secondhand shopping, she provides excellent tips on leveraging services like Rent the Runway.”
Gumshoe by Harling Ross Anton
Gumshoe is a newsletter that explores strategies for shopping smarter (i.e. not necessarily *more*) – often within your existing wardrobe.
“I feature a lot of vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces because those are the things I’m personally excited to shop for – both in terms of cultivating a more original sense of style and, crucially, practicing more sustainable shopping habits. Gumshoe is for anyone who wants to practice more intentional shopping habits but doesn’t always have time to scroll through 52 pages of eBay search results,” Harling says.
Recommended by Erika Veurink of Long Live
“A really fab letter! Her curation is next-level. And I also find her writing to be utterly charming.”
Best Friends by Kellyn Loehr
Best Friends is a newsletter featuring curated secondhand finds, typically selected around a theme.
“I think a lot about clothes, objects, things and how they can reflect the inner workings of my psyche. This newsletter basically mirrors conversations I have with my best friends about the things I’ve found online, and why I think they are interesting.”
Best Friends is for anyone who loves old t-shirts, button-ups, and denim and doesn’t take fashion too seriously. Kellyn focuses on finding quality clothing at affordable prices, guided by the principle of only sharing items she would actually buy and wear.
“I love to focus on brands known for well-made basics that stand the test of time, such as J. Crew, Gap, and L.L. Bean. I also draw inspiration from my own experiences, pop culture, both current and past fashion trends, and the many other wonderful fashion writers on Substack.”
Recommended by Rabbit Fur Coat
“I look forward to her posts – we share the same appreciation for secondhand clothes, and obsessive fervor for tracking down a secondhand version of a new trend.“
Curb Alert by Katjusa Cisar
Curb Alert is a newsletter about thrifting adventures in late-stage capitalism, for all things cheap, free and found. The tagline on the newsletter identifies Kat as "a Buy Nothing girl in a material world," which pretty much sums the ethos up.
“I admire and follow upcycling/thrifted fashion content creators, but my focus is more on the everyday grind (and joys) of trying to avoid buying anything new, including clothing but so much more. I also like to explore the culture and philosophies around ’cheap’ consumption habits and mutual aid, whether it’s scoring stuff on Buy Nothing, combing Craigslist for cool finds, organizing clothing swaps, or going ’alley shopping’ the night before garbage day. I’m a 40-something mom with climate change anxiety and two young kids, so that’s my frame of reference. Although I have a background as a newspaper reporter, a lot of my posts are personal in the style of punk perzines of the 80s and 90s, which is how I first discovered my love of personal essay writing.”
Curb Alert is great for anyone who loves shopping but wants to spend less and consume more mindfully. Or for anyone who hates shopping but cannot help themselves from hitting the brakes for a yard sale or pile of free stuff along the side of the road.
Recommended by Hannah Rupp
“Curb Alert has been an incredible introduction into the world of Buy Nothing groups on Facebook. My knowledge on them was limited before I started reading this Substack but I feel much more educated about their purpose and the benefits of using them. Kat does wonderful deep dives into different topics related to these groups including weighing on in the different drama and controversies, and making predictions about what will happen next within the broader theme of thrifting. I highly recommend giving it a read!”
Trash Panic by Glenn Weydemuller
Trash Panic is a weekly newsletter showcasing the unique, funky, special secondhand and vintage clothes, accessories and home goods the founder Glenn Mae comes across while browsing sites like eBay and Etsy. The inception of Trash Panic was the combination of Glenn’s lifelong love of all things vintage and leaving her longtime career in the retail clothing and styling space.
“After spending years merchandising season after season of product rollouts along with styling some of the wealthiest people in America, I started to have a decent amount of existential dread/night sweats about the global state of overconsumption. I wanted an outlet to share all the cool old things I come across secondhand shopping online while also opening up a dialogue about fashion, style, and interior design that lived outside what can often feel like a repetitive influencer ruled echo chamber.
I love diving deeper into a time period, season, or specific event and curating pieces that all vibe together while also giving important and necessary historical/pop culture context, something I think is key to consuming with purpose.”
Recommended by Maggie Lanham of Really Good Vintage
“I love this newsletter for thorough and stylish curations, cheeky wit, and the deep dives of psychology, habits, and trends that inform how we shop!”
Find with Gem
sleeveless animal print dress- oatmeal linen
- brown pant set
- tea lenght dress
- green Prada sunglasses
- yellow polka dot skirt
- y2k lace print top
- black Doen dress
- striped button down
- TSE cashmere sweater
- Agolde jeans
- Garnet Hill sweater vest
- basic white top
- black summer dress
- pink pants
- vintage blue denim jacket
- striped blouse
- blue printed t-shirt
- velvet mini dress
- pearl collar
- 50s boxy handbag