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I recently had a bit of a rude awakening. You see, I realised I've been overspending on clothes like an absolute schmuck.

There I was, minding my own business on TikTok, when my algorithm started feeding me videos of Brits living in Aus absolutely frothing about this thing called Vinted.

Most of the commentary went along the lines of "Omg I missed this so much when I first moved over here, I've already ordered like 10 things!"

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Spoiler: Vinted is a UK marketplace app that launched in Australia at the start of July. It's kinda like Depop, but British.

Online thrifting isn't new (anyone else grow up with a 'for eBay' box in the spare room?), but seeing how excited these people were about this news was the push I needed to open my mind to the idea. It's more like falling headfirst into a rabbit hole and landing on a never-ending pile of clothes, so I started asking my cool friends if and how they're doing it.

One told me, "You're literally wasting cash if you aren't giving it a go."

So yeah, I've seen the light. But if your knee-jerk reaction when someone mentions thrifting is to roll your eyes to the sound of a 'yeah, yeah', I get it.

I automatically put online thrifting in both the "too hard" and "I'm too old for that" baskets. Turns out, I've been operating under the misconception that Depop and the like are just for Gen Z.

The more stylish women I chatted to about it — all of whom were born in a year starting with 19 — it became clear this is one of those 'everyone else is doing it' things you really ought to be doing, too.

Case in point: A bunch of my most stylish colleagues regularly use thrifting apps, and they're all over 30.

File under 'cool co-workers who shop secondhand'. Images via Mamamia staffers Tamara Holland, Leigh Campbell and Mollie Jarwood.

As our contributing fashion editor and self-confessed frugal shopper Tamara Holland said, thrifting on apps like Depop and Vinted, or online on sites like eBay and even retailers like The Iconic, has become "one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get your hands on pre-loved and current-season fashion."

"They're an absolute treasure trove for fashion lovers with a sustainable mindset, but I was surprised to find certain brands I buy from regularly sell their samples and pre-season pieces there at heavily reduced prices."

Coming into it with fresh eyes and limited thrifting experience, opening the Depop app on my phone felt just as overwhelming as walking into a massive op shop.

That's why I've pulled together some of the best Vinted and Depop tips I've learnt from experts and mates so you can stop paying full price, too.

A quick Depop and Vinted recap.

Depop and Vinted aren't the only places you can shop secondhand online — eBay, Vinnie's Finds in NSW and Vinnie's Online in VIC, Vestiaire Collective, The Iconic's Re-Iconic, resale Instagram accounts and Facebook Marketplace, to name a few — but for the purpose of this article, we'll stick to these popular apps.

Depop and Vinted are both marketplace-style apps that help users buy and sell secondhand items. It's mostly clothes, shoes and accessories, but you'll find other miscellaneous categories on there, too.

Both apps have sophisticated search and filtering functionality, and tailor your algorithm to surface items it thinks you'd be interested in based on your in-app activity. All communication between buyers and sellers, along with payments and shipping, are also handled within the apps.

From high-street and chain brands to designer and vintage, you can buy and sell all types of fashion on either app. The main difference between the two for Aussies right now is that Vinted doesn't have seller fees. However, Depop have announced they're removing seller fees (currently 10 per cent) on all sales in Australia from July 22, 2026.

Best Depop and Vinted shopping tips.

OK cool, but how do I find good sh*t on the apps, you ask? Here are some of the best tips I've learnt.

1. Make it part of your online shopping routine

We all have our go-to online shopping sites, but before you add something to your cart, open up Depop or Vinted to see if it's on there.

"You can search for specific items — for example, 'Alias Mae shoes size 38' — and you might find the exact pair you're looking for at a marked-down price," Tam said.

One of my favourite fashion creators, Alana Batzavalis (@alanabatza on Instagram and TikTok) told me she starts her shopping search for 'trendy' items on Depop.

"The girlies love to move on their 'trendy' items quite quickly, so if you've had your eye on something that's been trending, always check the apps first! I've scored quite a few pairs of [Adidas] Sambas for next to nothing by doing this."

I took her advice and searched Depop for the $600 Unreal Fur leopard coat I've been coveting for months, and bought a pre-loved one in great condition from a lovely woman in Victoria for less than half price.

Thrifty style inspo via @alanabatza.

2. Shop for the season ahead.

Now is a great time to look for summer items on Vinted, because UK app users will be listing summer dresses, tops and shoes.

Shopping off-season means there's less demand for the pieces you want, which means the price will likely be lower.

3. Buy labels you know, and that you know last.

My former boss, Mamamia's Mollie Harwood, wrote a whole article about shopping designer brands secondhand.

Molls said she always looks for brands like Camilla & Marc or Bassike on Depop because she's familiar with the quality, knows the cuts fit her body well, and she knows what size she is in most pieces.

Alana said the same, but for brands she knows do extended sizing. She'll also sort brands she loves by size as a shortcut.

4. Know your measurements.

Sounds simple, but store your key measurements (bust, waist, hip etc.) in your Notes app.

That way, you can look up the sizing chart details of any item or brand online and figure out how it might fit you.

5. Browse outside of your 'size'.

Another Mollie tip? "Don't overlook an item just because it's not your exact size. If in doubt, tailor it to your shape."

Worth noting, this won't work for everyone or every type of item.

One of Molls' thrifted designer oufits! Image: Supplied.

6. Use favourites, follows and filters to train your algorithm.

Depop and Vinted become more tailored to your personal style the more you use them. Just like TikTok shows you more content based on the videos you've searched for and watched, these apps serve you items informed by search history and things you've added to your 'favourites'.

For example, in Vinted, you can tailor your gender and size search settings, and filter by fabric. This makes it easy to find items in fabrics you already own and love wearing (like natural wool, denim, silk etc.), and distinguish between lower and higher-quality items.

You can also 'follow' and 'favourite' brands and sellers, so their newest drops will appear in your feed — you can opt to be notified, too.

Alana added, "I follow seller accounts that match my aesthetic and sizing (I'm an AU 16-18). When I do this, the Depop feed tends to find other sellers like this and curates my feed for me."

Best Depop and Vinted selling tips.

I'm yet to graduate to listing my own items — they're neatly folded in my spare room, waiting to be loved as we speak.

But if you're keen to sell your own clothes on apps like Depop and Vinted, these tips will help.

1. Think of your Depop like an Instagram account.

This tip comes direct from prolific Aussie Depop seller and vintage curator Kara Otter.

"The photo is important. Make sure you've got good lighting so you can see the detail," she told the Nothing to Wear podcast.

"Be as descriptive as possible, because people are looking for [specific things]. Let's say a specific Bec & Bridge dress; they've tried it on in store and they want to find it online. You might have it in their size for half the price."

Think about what you look for when you're searching for an item online. You want all the key details included in your caption, including size, fit, and condition, and you want to see clear photos on a hanger and on the body. The more photos you add, the better.

Doing this does take time… decide how much time to spend listing things based on what it is (new-season pieces vs. older stuff; designer and well-known brands vs. chain store) and how fast you want to sell it (would you rather it go to a new home asap, or wait to get the best price?).

2. Price and sell items according to demand.

You know how we discussed buying items for the season ahead? As a seller, you'll want to list items for the current season. It's winter in Australia right now, so demand for boots, jackets and coats is high. Hold onto your cool summer clothes and list them in November.

Demand for sold-out or trending pieces will also move fast, so you can list them closer to the RRP (or even above if you're brave!).

3. List items on a Thursday or Friday before the weekend.

Finally, a little birdie at Vinted told me weekends and public holidays are the most popular time for browsing and shopping, so get into the habit of listing items at the end of the week.

Side note: Sunday evenings are when most shopping happens, so list accordingly!

For more helpful style advice and shopping recommendations, subscribe to the weekly Nothing to Wear Substack, listen to the Nothing to Wear podcast or watch Nothing to Wear on YouTube.

Feature image: Supplied.