Originally coined by Oxfam in 2019, Secondhand September is a movement that encourages fashion lovers to solely shop pre-loved apparel throughout the month in order to help decrease the industry’s carbon footprint — it’s also a great way to celebrate the wonderful and growing world of resale!

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We started Beni to make it easier for shoppers to find and buy resale by eliminating the need to scroll lots of different sites or travel to various thrift shops to find the best deals. Our browser extension scours the best deals from Poshmark, The RealReal, eBay, Vestiaire Collective and over 30 other resale marketplaces while you shop and then shows you all the best alternatives in one place.

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To help you take on Secondhand September in style, we enlisted 9 stylists and thrift-stars to curate fall looks alongside resale options from Beni so you can recreate each look, sustainably.

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Evonya “Love E” Easley

Evonya “Love E” Easley, the head stylist and owner of Love E Fashion, is a highly experienced certified personal stylist boasting over 15 years of expertise. Throughout her career, the published author and captivating speaker has successfully collaborated with numerous clients, empowering them to reach their personal best by curating their style through distinctive pieces in their wardrobe.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

I am inspired by everything around me — color, nature, & other people’s fashion.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

I love to buy resale when it comes to accessories such as handbags, eyewear, and watches.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

The future of fashion to me looks like incorporating more technology (e.g. VR/AR) for an improved user experience.

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Anything else you’d like to share?

I love to use and help my clients use style as a personal expression of who they are and how they want to be perceived and received.

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Beni Tip: Shop this Long Lined Colorblock Jacket from eBay or these Trifari Enamel Drop Earrings from The RealReal for secondhand alternatives to Love E’s look!

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Greg Gusto

Greg Gusto is a fashion video creator focused on thrifting and vintage finds. He's been featured on CBS News Los Angeles for his thrift tips and highlighted as a creator by Poshmark. His content focuses on showcasing must-see thrift stores in LA and beyond. Through finding hidden gems and styling, he puts a modern twist on the old money aesthetic for less. Goodwill, Crossroads Trading, Yelp and Venmo are a few of his brand partners with his content on TikTok and Instagram surpassing over 1M views.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

My inspiration comes a lot from Old Hollywood icons. Style to blending timeless and classic references and making them your own by incorporating personal flair — or as I would like to say, gusto.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

Resale is integral as secondhand clothing has helped me express myself in ways that I did not think were possible, because with resale items they often are a fraction of the cost of buying new — which has helped me experiment and attain a style that I would not have been able to achieve.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

I only see reselling and second hand fashion growing more. My hope is to show people that it does not take a million bucks to look like it!

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Anything else you’d like to share?

Find your style means finding what works for you. It takes time and experimentation. Do it with gusto! Follow along on styling adventures @greggusto on TikTok and Instagram.

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Beni Tip: Get the Vintage Burberry coat or the Dior scarf that Greg curated from Beni’s secondhand partners Poshmark and Vestiaire Collective!

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Emily Fenves

Emily Fenves created lander line in September 2021 after becoming burnt out with her own consumption habits. As a regular shopper, she found herself spending an exhaustive amount of time browsing, buying, returning, and purging. She embarked on a journey to learn more about the “why” behind her overconsumption, and decided to help others do the same. Upon her research, she discovered how environmentally damaging the fashion waste crisis is, and became an advocate for change.

Through sharing her personal research with her audience, as well as partnering with ethical brands, change-makers, and non-profit organizations, lander line brings insight and hope to those who are inspired to reduce their carbon footprint through their personal consumption.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

I love observing fashion on the street! I get inspired by seeing other people confidently expressing their style, and am inspired to try new things and take risks via my peers.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

Oh my goodness, resale is EVERYTHING. I rarely buy new — I took on a challenge to only buy five new pieces of clothing in 2023, so have turned to resale whenever I want to add something to my wardrobe. There are so many wonderful sites and sellers now, it's close to impossible NOT to find what you are looking for secondhand.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

I closely follow innovation and developments in fiber to fiber textile recycling, so I think we (consumers) will have access to more resources in the next 10 years or so, as these companies are able to grow to scale. Textile recycling will really open up the possibility of a truly circular fashion model, and my hope is that's where the industry is headed to.

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Anything else you’d like to share?

I share lots of information about overconsumption, and encourage others to take a step back to learn how their consumption habits are fueled by emotions, marketing, influence, etc. My goal is for us to take control over how we shop, and never to shame anyone. I used to be an overconsumer, because I didn't KNOW anything about the harmful effects of the fashion waste crisis. Now that I know, I can make better choices, and that is my hope for all of us.

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Beni Tip: Check out this never-worn pair of Isabel Marant boots from Vestiaire Collective to match Emily’s Fall Whites collection!

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Emily K. Schwartz

Emily K. Schwartz, aka The Resale Stylist, is a writer, stylist, and fashion resale expert. With backgrounds in journalism and product management, Emily initially found herself drawn to the resale world as a way to stand out and build confidence in the workplace. Her expertise has been featured in outlets like People, InStyle, Hello Giggles, and more. Above all, she loves helping consumers navigate the circular economy and feel absolutely on top of the world when they get dressed each and every day. Outside of style and the circular economy, she loves tennis, the Philadelphia Eagles, and being outside.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

Is Carrie Bradshaw mixed with the American West a thing? Maybe it’s because I’m an elder millennial, maybe it’s because I still keep a toe in the journalism world, but I love print magazines and genuinely find inspiration flipping through the glossy, pretty pages. Beyond that, travel and just being out and about are huge sources of inspiration for me.

I wish I could say I wasn’t so heavily influenced by my surroundings and by my consumption habits, but I 100% am. After watching The White Lotus, for example, all I wanted was Italian everything – the patterns, the bright colors, the florals. But that's what’s fun about style. It can take us to new places where we can be and feel anything we want.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

Resale is the star of the show! Seriously – when I landed my first job, I wasn’t making a ton of money and I was living in an expensive city. Resale was this gateway to looking and feeling unique in a way I had never felt before. Resale opened my eyes to unique, higher-quality pieces at a better price-to-value ratio.

Today, it’s what I’ve built my expertise around. There’s a lot of misconceptions and outdated associations that people have with the word “resale” – that it’s dirty, that it’s dated, that it’s only vintage, that it’s going to look like a costume, that it’s only something you lean into if you can’t afford new clothes – all sorts of really inaccurate ideas. I love dispelling these myths and illuminating clients on what modern resale looks like, because it’s totally bright and exciting and easier to embrace than people realize.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

I’m finding that consumers are more intentional than ever before – we care about what we’re buying, the quality, the uniqueness, the investment. But the reality is that convenience and ease and price are also really, really important for everyday items. So I’m really interested to see how the industry experiments with balancing these things.

Returns are another really interesting subset of the future of fashion. Just because a brand new item was returned or is imperfect doesn’t make it unsellable or unwearable. Today, SO MANY returns end up in landfills, it’s really sad and totally doesn’t have to be this way.

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I love thinking about the future of fashion in the context of emerging technologies, too, specifically AI (artificial intelligence), AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and blockchain. There are so many both playful and practical applications for these technologies and that’s really exciting.

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Anything else you’d like to share?

I love Beni because it reinforces the idea that you don’t have to overhaul your existing routines to shop more economically and sustainability. Beni meets shoppers where they are – that’s the beauty of it.

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Beni Tip: Get the Stuart Weitzman Leather Mules or the Nanushka bag that Emily curated from Beni’s secondhand partners The RealReal and Grailed!

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Dacy Gillespie

As a personal stylist, Dacy Gillespie intuitively guides her clients to discover what they feel best in. She helps them let go of the external messages they’ve been given about what they should wear and get to the heart of what’s making them uncomfortable about their clothes. Through their work building a functional wardrobe, Dacy’s clients make a mindset shift from thinking they need to wear what’s flattering to unapologetically taking up space in the world.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

When I lived in New York, inspiration was everywhere on everyone, but now that I live in a midwest suburb, I'm going to be real and say that most of my inspiration comes from Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Social media has taken the place of the fashion magazines I used to pore over.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

Personally, at least 50% of my wardrobe is secondhand. It's more environmentally conscious and it allows me to play around with style within my budget. I love giving clients tips on how to shop secondhand and find what they need.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

When I was growing up, anything secondhand was really looked down on. I really have hope that Gen Z will make a shift in the industry by making resale clothing cool.

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Beni Tip: Check out this pre-loved Madewell Drapeweave Double-Breasted Blazer on Poshmark to match Dacy’s minimalist, structured collection!

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Natalie Vera

Natalie has been passionate about thrifting since high school, but shopping IRL changed drastically for her in 2020, not only because of COVID but also because she became a first-time mom. Gone were the days of popping into her go-to thrift stores and vintage shops! Natalie has slowly been relearning her style as a mom of two littles, while also learning to navigate this new world of secondhand shopping online.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

My go-to for classic styling tips are The New York Stylist and Allison Bornstein but then I turn to Juliette Kitsch, Monikh, Alexandra Stedman, and A History of Architecture when I need some pizzazz!

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What role does resale play in your styling?

I offer a Secondhand Style Box that includes up to five secondhand items handpicked by me based on my client’s style survey answers. And my Etsy vintage shop @shopspotlightvintage (with occasional pop-up markets in Houston!) has been going strong since 2016.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

As these online marketplaces become more popular, it’s going to be that much harder for consumers to filter through what’s available. That’s what makes Beni so helpful. IMO, the next step would be a more curated offering of secondhand finds, hand-selected based on your personal style and current wardrobe needs. That’s where I come in!

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Anything else you’d like to share?

Don’t be afraid to try something new…or old!

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Beni Tip: Score the Celine sunglasses or the Madewell cardigan sweater that Natalie curated from Beni’s secondhand partners The RealReal and Poshmark!

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Nikki Salt

Nikki is a stylist and content creator who splits her time between the East and West coasts while working with clients around the world. An eclectic creative background in filmmaking, event design, and vintage reselling led to her current work with private clients and brands. She provides daily fashion inspiration and tips on her Instagram @nikkesu.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

I come from a filmmaking background so I take a lot of inspiration from costuming throughout history, and its philosophy of using clothes to create character. The same idea can be applied to dressing yourself and others - the first question I always ask clients is, "Who do you want to be?"

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What role does resale play in your styling?

I shop and steer clients almost 100% secondhand. It's the secret shortcut to individuality and value in fashion. I also help clients list their unwanted items for sale online after closet clean outs, one of the great bonuses of doing a wardrobe audit.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

With the increased interest in both sustainability and being unique, I think we are moving towards a full sharing economy model in fashion. I think rental services will continue to expand and listing clothing online for resale will get easier.

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Anything else you’d like to share?

People often don't realize that by shopping secondhand you can get a high-quality wardrobe that truly reflects your personality for about the same price as you would pay at a fast-fashion retailer. It just takes a little time and strategy (or help from a professional!).

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Beni Tip: Check out these Yves Saint Laurent earrings and this hand-painted vintage bag that Nikki curated from Beni’s pre-loved partners The RealReal and eBay!

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Allison “Allie” Kelley

Allison Kelley loves color, dad jokes, and her cats Sunny and Luna. But she’s much more than that — her love for thrifting runs deep. At the ripe age of 14, she started her first blog “Three Dollar Fashion,” at her dining room table and this passion for fashion has only grown. In 2021, the Wisconsin-based fashion aficionada took TikTok by storm with her DIY thrifty wedding inspiration. Allie’s creative joy has landed her features in Insider and Madison Magazine and partnerships with the likes of ban.do, Cricut and Spanx.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

My fashion inspiration comes from how I’m feeling, incredible thrift finds, vintage Vogue magazines, Pinterest and what’s already in my closet. I love building thrift wish lists and manifesting them into existence (it totally works!) I’ve also learned to allow my style to evolve and grow as I evolve and grow as a person.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

Resale shopping is like a treasure hunt. If I find something I like, I’ll try to find it secondhand instead of paying full price for it. Around 80% of my closet is thrifted, vintage, or secondhand and I take so much pride in every piece. I like to think that a lot of the pieces in my closet found me, like I was meant to have them and breathe new life into them.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

I hope that the future of fashion leans harder into sustainability, resale, DIY and personalization. More and more people are learning to sew and make their own clothes and flip thrift finds to reflect their personal style. There is absolute magic in that. I have a few thrift flip sewing projects of my own that I am so jazzed about!

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Anything else you’d like to share?

1. If it’s not a “hell yes!” it’s a “no”. In every aspect of life including fashion. If it’s a “meh” its not for you babe.
2. Get yourself a tailor or seamstress. Little tweaks make a massive difference. Hem those pants, fix the straps on your dresses etc. Your clothes should work for you not the other way around.

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Beni Tip: Shop this Diesel trench coat from Vestiaire Collective or these Jeffery Campbell olive clogs from Poshmark to sustainably replicate Allie’s look!

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Annabel Eguagie

Annabel Eguagie is the Founder of Figureyourstyle. She is a Personal Stylist and Digital Creator, helping women to figure their style — and look beautiful and confident in what they wear.

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Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

My go-to places for fashion inspiration are Instagram and Pinterest. I love creating Pinterest boards before the start of any season. This gives me an idea of new ways I can style certain pieces in my wardrobe.

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What role does resale play in your styling?

I occasionally source for vintage pieces from thrift stores.

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What does the future of fashion look like to you?

Fashion as we know it has always been changing. I think in the near future, there will be a growing demand for sustainable fashion practices and a big push to keep fashion circular. We are currently seeing that with the way consumers are starting to shop, brands providing rental services etc. I would also like to see some level of regulation within the fashion industry to hold brands accountable for their sustainability practices.

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Anything else you’d like to share?

Yes! Come say hi: @Figureyourstyle on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Beni Tip: Check out this Dior trench coat from Poshmark or these Saint Laurent heels from Vestiaire Collective for secondhand alternatives to Annabel’s look!

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Follow along with Beni on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to learn more about sustainable fashion, gain tangible tips on finding and buying secondhand, have the chance to win free personal styling sessions, and more throughout Secondhand September.‍

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AND! If you’d like to get involved with our Secondhand September campaign, please reach out to us at partnerships@joinbeni.com. Thanks and happy (sustainable) shopping!

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