Sometimes it can be hard to find something really specific when you’re shopping for your second-hand clothes online. We’ve decided to compile all of our knowledge and terminology, as a company that lists second-hand products on the daily, so you have a go-to guide in finding EXACTLY what you want when searching online. Not only is this great for finding pieces that may have specific identifiers that you didn’t know about before, it’s also great to know this terminology if you’re wanting cheaper alternatives to branded products!
JACKETS & COATS
Jackets and coats probably have the MOST keywords when it comes to finding exactly what you want, it’s just knowing what they are! If you’re looking for one of those American College jackets that you always see the popular kids wearing in 90s movies, try using the terms “varsity jacket” or “letterman jacket”, and if you want them to be REALLY American, throw in the terms “USA” and maybe even “college”. Another very specific kind of jacket that people can struggle to find when searching online, are those shell-looking, sports jackets, which are usually branded. The best term to use to find these jackets is “track jacket” and of course the sports brand of choice if you’re looking specifically for that brand. It’s also good to include the type of zip you want when trying to find a track jacket; you can use “¼ zip”, “½ zip” or “full zip”, if you have a preference. Carhartt jackets are super popular when it comes to shopping second-hand, but do you know all of the terminology? And what if you want that style of jacket, but don’t want to pay as much for a branded one? Well the best place to start is to search for “worker” or “utility” jackets - this will bring up all the branded and unbranded jackets in this style, which are made of that thick, canvas type material that makes them so hard-wearing! (Just an extra tip, that amazing wildlife/ tree print you see on Carhartt jackets sometimes? That’s called Realtree!) The final thing to remember when on the hunt for your jacket or coat, is to specify what type of lining you prefer, if at all. Use one of the following terms to identify this in your search: “borg lined”, “sherpa lined”, “blanket lined” or “fur lined”.
HOODIES & SWEATSHIRTS
Hoodies and sweatshirts are items that you may not have realised there is so much vocabulary for, which can be really useful for finding exactly what you want. To start off with, most sweatshirts will have a “crew neck”. If you’re ever on the hunt for a hoodie or sweatshirt with your favourite sports team on, don’t forget to include the team’s FULL name AND include the league they’re affiliated with, for example “NFL Denver Broncos”. Also, if you’re anywhere other than America, it might be worth including terms such as “American Football”, or however you refer to American sports where you’re searching from! If you’re wanting a branded sweatshirt that makes it VERY clear what brand it’s from, try using the term “big logo” along with the relevant brand in your searches. If you’re wanting something more subtle, but still with a small logo on, try including “embroidered logo” in your search. Finally, when a brand name is printed down the side or across an item of clothing, as opposed to using the logo, this is called “spellout”. This is useful if you like it when a brand name is printed down the sleeve of a garment, for example.
JEANS & TROUSERS
Jeans and trousers are a category you can really reduce your search time for if you know what you’re looking for. It’s always good to try and include the fit: “slim”, “regular” or “relaxed”, the leg type: “skinny”, “slim”, “wide” or “straight”, and the rise: “low-rise”, “mid-rise” or “high-waisted”. If there’s a particular brand of jeans you’re searching for, it might be worth doing a bit of research into that brand, as some of them have names for their different jeans. For example, Levi’s use batch numbers to identify the fit and styles of their jeans, such as 501 or 511 etc, whereas Wrangler uses names of places, such as Texas or Arizona. Once you’ve got your search narrowed down in terms of fit, try and think of how you can further specify the TYPE you are looking for. If you are wanting something more formal, make sure to include words such as “trousers” or “chinos” in your search. If you’re wanting trousers that look like Dickies/ that skater-boy style, try using the terms “utility” or “worker”, this will help narrow your search down to the style you’re looking for. Also, when searching for utility-style trousers, if you’re wanting the really cool looking ones with loops and pockets going down the legs, try searching for ones with “utility loops” and/or “side pockets”. Another good way to search for specific jeans and trousers, is to look at the contents label of a pair you already have that you love the feel of. This way you can include terms such as “cotton” or “cotton-blend” to really narrow down your search results!
