11 Of This Vintage Collector's Favorite Firsthand Brands

And how to make reselling them simple with Croissant

This week’s letter is sponsored by Croissant. More about how you can get guaranteed resale prices from your favorite brands and retailers later.

Secondhand shopping isn’t for everyone. Not that I can relate, but in an attempt to be democratic, I’ll try. It’s tedious and sometimes smelly and unpredictable and heartbreaking. It can take hours, changing in dusty corners, haggling with a vendor. And sometimes, you know exactly what you need and you know that you need it now.

That doesn’t mean you have to resort to big box retailers offering diluted takes on trends of seasons past. No, no, no. We live in the Golden Age of television and fashion brands, my friends. Put down the striped shirt you’ve seen sixteen influencers link to. Wouldn’t you rather shop from cool, high quality brands for pieces you’ll treasure for years?

And on the off chance the one-shoulder top you sold yourself on turns out to be a little less wearable than planned, you should meet Croissant: a shopping tool for effortless reselling and elegant experimentation.

By enabling their browser extensions, I can see and redeem a Guaranteed resale price as I shop online. I typically shop on my laptop so I use their desktop Chrome extension. But, if you’re an avid mobile shopper, they have a Safari extension too. (The easiest way is to download the Safari extension is through their app.)

While I shop with the extension enabled, I’ll see the guaranteed resale price on eligible items that Croissant would “Buyback” from me if I ever chose to resell them. Post checkout, my eligible items instantly populate in my “Croissant Collection” in app where I can sell in one click and get paid.

Here’s what the extension looks like on Mobile. This Jacquemus bag is $1,110 but Croissant will buy it back for $811.

“But resale can’t be that simple right?”

You do have to drop your item off at the post office and ship it to Croissant but that's it. Plus, the cost of shipping is covered by Croissant.

After their warehouse receives your item, it goes through a QC process of 5-7 days to make sure it is in gently used condition. After that, your funds are dispersed into your Croissant app/account where you can easily transfer to your linked Venmo or PayPal account. 

Now, is EVERY Guaranteed Buyback™ price from Croissant worth it? It depends on how you weigh your options of a high resale return vs effort of reselling it yourself. Consignment on the other hand can be a bit iffy given their added fees and low payouts once your item actually sells.  

Whether you’re dropping $1,000 on an investment item like the Jacquemus bag or making a more standard purchase like this Hill House dress, Croissant allows you to make the most conscious decisions knowing you have a guaranteed resale price attached.

The extension on desktop

What makes up an item’s resale value? Here’s the equation

Quality + style + brand recognition + resale demand + style = resale value

And I promise that’ll be the last equation you see on Long Live for a while. Can you see how if even one of these drops the entire value falls?

For me, reselling with Croissant means less bags of gently used clothing stuck in the back of my closet for months and none of those judgemental glares from resale stores associates. I did not sign up to run a small fulfillment service out of my apartment complete with answering buyers questions about sleeve length and wrapping my sales in tissue paper with a handwritten note. Reselling clothes online has been a part time job, until now.

Thanks to our friends at Croissant, I’ve curated a list of ten of my favorite “firsthand” brands for shopping, saving up for, and instant inspiration. And I’ve made note of what brands and retailers are available with Croissant, so you can shop intentionally while seeing Guaranteed Buybacks

Farfetch

Available on Croissant

If I’m in the market for a high-end purchase, I love to start with a browse on Farfetch. It’s an exercise in equal parts inspiration and inventory. It’s great to see new season pieces alongside older pieces to get a sense of what’s really my style. And it’s the perfect site to see a range of retail and resale prices. 

Eventwear a great Croissant use case. This gown from Solace London is final sale. You’ll probably only wear it once, maybe twice. If you know you’ll resell it afterwards, instead of it costing you $428 it’ll only cost you $237 if you redeemed your buyback of $191 with Croissant.

Here’s another case study where involving Croissant makes a ton of sense. You know you want to spend big money on a new bag. Great! The Gucci bag above is $2,800. The Ferragamo bag below is $2,900. Here’s the kicker. The Gucci bag has a Guaranteed Buyback™ price of $1,692 while the Ferragamo’s is only $1,244. Even if you’re just using the extension as research, it’s helpful data for informing import purchasing decisions.

Rue Sophie

Available on Croissant

I’ve made it clear, I love Rue Sophie. If you’re a St. Agni fan or dream in Celine, try checking this brand first. The pieces are simple and streamlined, making them seamless additions to almost any wardrobe. Not to sound 2013, but it’s very much giving French Girl.

Unlucky at poker. Lucky in Rue Sophie.

Swingy skirt made to pair with your favorite button down. ($148)

Summer wedding guest look made simple. ($278)

Croissant is directly integrated onto Rue Sophie’s site. You don’t need to use one of their extensions, instead just look for the toggle on your cart screen. It’ll show you the total buyback of your cart which is $184 for the two items above.

Buck Mason

Available on Croissant

Another pick that should come as no surprise to any of you: Buck Mason. Size up in everything, but also, try it all on to be sure. The materials are unmatched. The details make everything feel super modern. And I get so many questions on whether or not I’m in vintage when I’m in Buck Mason, which makes me happy.

Buck Mason Girl

I swear, this trench has changed how I dress in transitional seasons. ($378 with an $80 Guaranteed Buyback™)

A really, really solid button down that washes well. ($138/$29 Guaranteed Buyback™)

Finding a great chocolate brown tshirt? Harder than you’d expect. ($45 and not eligible for a buyback)

La Ligne

Available on Croissant

Until you get your hands on a really nice sweater, it’s hard to understand the effect it can have on an outfit and mood. La Ligne makes the best sweaters, hands down. There’s a silhouette and shape for everyone. The timeless colors and stripes make them very worthy investments.

If I was considering a similar sweater from, let’s say, Madewell, that’s $95 and made of a cotton blend, I could see that its resale value is $40. La Ligne sweaters, made of 100% cotton, resale from anywhere between $55-$100 with Croissant. And the peace of mind that, if after a few months of wearing it you’re not convinced it was worth the investment, that you can resell it on the spot, means so much.

On set with Rothy’s! Sweater model’s own

The striped knit polo of my dreams. ($295/$71 Guaranteed Buyback™)

Also worth noting, La Ligne gives very good dress. ($295/$71 Guaranteed Buyback™)

I have it on very good authority that La Ligne makes an incredible pair of jeans. ($195/$47 Guaranteed Buyback™)

Todd Snyder

Available on Croissant

This is the part of the letter where I throw my few, but dedicated, male readers a bone. Are you shopping at Todd Snyder? I certainly am. One of my favorite holiday gifts from my best friend is a velour shirt from the brand. You’ll find the coolest cuts and preppy, but in a less obnoxious way, style. Todd, after all, is also famously from Iowa.

Doesn’t this shirt just look luxurious? ($295/$75 Guaranteed Buyback™)

By now, you all know how I feel about a clog and having a Guaranteed resale price attached to it might allow you to try and incorporate it into your style without feeling the pressure. ($90/$22  Guaranteed Buyback™) 

Name a cooler way to exit the beach than in this terry cloth polo. ($295/$75  Guaranteed Buyback™)

The Frankie Shop

Available on Croissant

While The Frankie Shop exists as a staple for loads of NY girls, I suspect there might be some readers who are hearing about it for the first time. First, it’s a great spot to pop into if you’re visiting and shopping on the LES. Their online curation is great, too, but it’s amazing for trying on shapes you might not instinctually be drawn to. I love it for those oversized looks that sometimes feel impossible to shop by simply sizing up. I’ll pull a few examples to show you what I mean.

Boxer shorts that actually flare in the leg. Harder to find than you’d expect. ($115/$25  Guaranteed Buyback™)

This oversized blazer comes in one size. ($269/$59  Guaranteed Buyback™)

Lindquist

Despite my ever-expanding collection, the most I’ve spent on a handbag might be my Faba. I’d been thinking about the bag, including it in round ups I was writing, and then finally asked for it as a combined holiday gift between my siblings and mom. Since then, I’ve gotten more use out of it than any other bag I own. Lindquist is like that! It’s bags that are beautiful, really artfully made, and ready for everyday life.

There’s a secret EV monogrammed inside.

Behold: the chicest fanny pack you’ll ever meet. ($390)

I’ve had my eye on this perfect red shade and shape for a while. ($690)

The Series

Having friends with brands you love is the best. My pal, Ella, is the founder of The Series—a sustainable brand for every body. Expect heirloom pieces that are instant outfit-makers.

Coffee run in the rain in The Series

With a plain tshirt? Outfit: done. ($168)

Really makes you wonder what you wore before you owned a quilted pinafore. ($180)

Your winter gear needs an upgrade. ($120)

La Réunion

Sarah Nsikak is the artist behind the small label, La Réunion, based in New York. The brand is all about individuality and sustainability—using recycled materials to create unique pieces. Keep an eye on the site/social for the latest drops which sell quickly. Her dresses are dreamy and a certain if you know, you know staple in Brooklyn.

Shorts that are 10x more comfortable than your denim shorts. ($88)

A jacket made for fall morning outings. ($278)

Sherris

I discovered this brand on my friend’s Clare’s Instagram this week. One of a kind, limited edition and made in NYC, the brand is a delightful celebration of summer and strong argument against sameness.

These swimsuits make me nostalgic in the best way. ($150)

You assumed there was no such thing as a fun swim trunk? Think again. ($150)

T.W.I.N.

Another fashionable friend, Erin Allweiss of No. 29, turned me onto this brand. She’s always wearing the best clothes. This brand is New York-based, super delightful, and sustainable while still being affordable. Sounds like a unicorn? It kind of is.

Here’s the dress Erin was wearing. Stunning and sheer! ($128)

I ride for these cargo pants, which give a much-needed update to the silhouette. ($142)

This tie tee is sporty and sexy. ($54)

Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, shop my Notion template, and as always, respond to this dispatch for my direct line x