By Grace Eberts, EIC
If you are in the mood to refresh your Winter closet, eBay is the perfect place for you to go. People often invest in nicer boots, jackets, or sweaters this time of year, as they are searching for high-quality, long-lasting pieces. Fabrics like corduroy, denim, or leather are some of the best materials to find second-hand because they hold up against the wear and tear of daily use–Winter pieces are designed to be durable. This is why I think that the best season for thrifting is Winter! However, thrifting on an urban campus can either be difficult to access or over-priced, like at flea markets and vintage stores. Therefore, when I am in D.C., I love to use eBay as an alternative, especially when I am looking for specific items like a nice Winter coat or a certain type of sneaker.
One of the biggest complaints that I hear about eBay is that it is too difficult to navigate, as there are an overwhelming amount of listings. Searching through eBay can feel daunting, but the key is to use search terms and specific language to refine the long list of results you receive. Here are some ideas to get you started…
Select “Vintage” and “Used”
Using this selection in the results will remove the drop-shippers and give you the vintage-shopping results you want.
Select your size
Always add your sizes to avoid seeing listings that won’t fit you. When shopping for shoes, I recommend adding your women’s, men’s, and European sizes to make sure you don’t miss any listings in other types of sizing.
Add brands you are looking for
If you are looking for a specific item, you can filter the results by brand to narrow down items that have a similar description. Otherwise, I would avoid this because it will cut out a lot of great finds that aren’t brand names!
Use specific language
When you are searching for items, be super specific about what you are looking for. Any keywords that you can think of that could pick up the styles you are looking for will be helpful to both refine and target your results.
If you are looking to pick up some Winter pieces, I have selected five of my favorite Winter styles to shop for on eBay. Plus, there are six examples for each one! Hopefully, these links will prompt you with ideas for search terms or brands to improve your eBay shopping
experience. Enjoy!
Faux-fur coats
Fancy faux-fur coats can be expensive, but vintage ones are usually cuter and cheaper. The fur coat style has been around for a long time, so there are plenty of different styles from various time periods to choose from, depending on your preferences. The variety is amazing! These types of jackets will be a great item to pick up on eBay because there are so many options to pursue. I’ve included leather, denim, and colored styles above.
Cardigans
Cardigans are quickly becoming one of my favorite styles because they are great to layer over tank tops and shirts that you don’t want to abandon after the Summer. Cardigans are easy to find in any second-hand shopping setting–thrift stores, flea markets, and online. Two of my favorite style trends with cardigans include wearing funky, chunky knits and wearing cardigans like shirts.
Motorcycle boots
Personally, I think that leather motorcycle boots are like the cowboy boots of the Winter. If you like metal hardware in your Winter fashion, these will be perfect for you. Most motorcycle boots are also pretty durable, meaning they can be worn in the Winter weather! You can’t go wrong with classic black boots, but eBay has a great selection of different leather colors that you can’t find in regular shoe stores. If you’re lucky, you can find a perfectly broken-in pair that someone has been taking care of for years.
Fleece and puffer vests
For Winter fashion, the goal is always to find the middle ground between function and style. I love vests in the Winter because they add an extra layer of warmth, while also adding a fun texture like a puffer or a fleece. A great way to elevate your sweatsuit is with a brightly-colored puffer vest. I also love to layer patterned fleece vests over long-sleeved t-shirts for a casual look with jeans and sneakers.
Corduroy (everything)
Another favorite Winter style for fashion and function is corduroy. Whether you prefer pants, jackets, or skirts, all styles look great in corduroy. It is also a fabric that I find is always better quality when I buy it secondhand. Currently, one of my favorite styles is flared corduroy pants. Whenever you are guessing on sizing and ordering corduroy pants, I always recommend sizing up. If you are on the fence, corduroy is generally not very stretchy!
One of the best things about eBay is that, once you start searching for items like these, you will probably stumble upon a million other Winter styles you love. It is truly never-ending. Hidden among the depths of eBay are some of the trendiest, most unique, and highest-quality pieces that you can purchase this Winter. Best of luck with your shopping!
