Secondhand Summer ™
It's toasty, let's get ready.
It’s starting to look like summer (it often looks like summer here in LA - brag - but now it’s getting especially toasty). For some reason, probably because of being in school for so long, summer will always remain as a time for a “break”, or at least jumping into one pool. Be sure to befriend someone with a pool, even if they’re only OK. And bring some snacks in return.
Let’s talk about secondhand summer stuff, with some recommendations.
Swimsuits.
Swimsuits, at least if you’re a woman, are true shit show.. This isn’t due to your body, it’s due to the media around what a “summer body” is, and airing all of our insecurities (remember when UsWeekly and other mags called them ‘problem areas’? Lord no wonder we have all those hangups). I always see a great phrase around the internet about a “beach body” - this idea that you will have a “good” body (what) - aka thin, toned, tan. This is mostly a marketing ploy, misogyny, and insane beauty standards. So this year, your beach body is your body…on a beach. Without any kind of particularities.
Anyway! Swimsuits can be hard. Some people are disguuuusted by the idea of buying a secondhand swimsuit. To which I say, you can veryyyy easily find one with tags on! Get over it babe! (I have bought actual used swimsuits, which might be gross and revolting, however, that is my personal journey). All of those tags-on suits have the little hoo-ha liner sticker in tact.
I do not believe in paying more than, say, $75 for a tiny piece of elastic that you wear in the water. There are many cute swimsuits now in the $200-$300-range price that, to me, are simply not worth it. So, find them on poshmark or the realreal. Why? Swimsuits have almost no resale value, so they are cheap online.
It can be hard to find your size. Which is why you’re going to take your old swimsuits (demoralizing and annoying, I know), and buy more of the brand you like. Personally, I almost exclusively wear Hunza G (from Poshmark). Or, you’re going to go to a store and try on swimsuits, pick one you like, and then find it for less online or resale.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses can be hard to buy secondhand, and I suggest you only buy them in-person resale (unless you can return them, on a place like TheRealReal). A pair can look cute from afar, and then when you put them on, you look like a bug (derogatory). You can also find shades you like in a store somewhere, and then go find the similar shape elsewhere or the same sunglasses.
For some reason, prices have shot up into the $500s for designer sunglasses like Loewe or Celine. We aren’t doing that, especially because, if you’re like me, you’re going to end up sitting on them and breaking them. Brands I’m into: Loewe sunglasses (still too expensive, sigh), all of the Saint Laurent styles, plus Crap Eyewear and Akila. Crap and Akila are lower price points but still feel expensive.
I don’t believe in cheap sunglasses - because here in LA driving and eyeballs and sun really matter. You want real polarization of sunglasses, and for me, at least, cheap sunglasses are easier to break, twist, or make uneven. And then they are impossible to fix, or not even worth it to fix
Other things you might not realize you can get secondhand for summer…
A cooler (FB marketplace)
Pool floats! (Are we still doing those stupid Funboy expensive ones? If so, they’re all over Poshmark)
Fun plastic pool-safe stem-wear (fb marketplace)
Pool chairs and umbrellas (truly everywhere on FB marketplace or OfferUp)
DO NOT BUY SECONDHAND SUNSCREEN. Just pony up for your skin. Trust me, as someone with tons of botox and skin bits cut off of me from SPF 4 and millennial tanning habits.
xxx
mer