

Luxury Accessories Resale: Beyond Bags and Shoes
Are you a fashion lover looking for your next great style investment? As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to start considering what you’ll be wearing for the winter season—and how you’ll fund your look. If you have older designer pieces you no longer wear, getting a little cash back through the resale market can be a responsible way to breathe new life into your wardrobe.
While most shoppers assume they can only resell designer bags or articles of clothing, the truth is that there’s also a huge demand for top-of-the-line accessories. Explore your closet and see if you have any of these top designer luxury accessories making waves on the resale market.
Belts
Designer belts like the Gucci GG Marmont or iconic Hermes H belt feature signature hardware and materials that remain in demand season after season. These belts have stayed on the market for decades with little style change, allowing them to be worn season after season without looking dated. Vintage models, especially from Hermès, are seeing renewed interest as collectors seek unique pieces that are no longer in production.
If you’re shopping on the secondhand market, it’s important to be sure that your belt is authentic before investing in designer belt resale. This also holds true for reselling your accessories.
Verify logos and engravements for authenticity before purchase or sale, especially when comparing items on luxury marketplace sites. Look at the stitching and enamel to ensure you’re buying or selling an authentic item. Genuine items feature flawless stitching and logos that match the designs featured on other items to maintain consistency across the brand.
Scarves
If you’re seeking a designer piece with a little more personality, consider a scarf like the Hermes Twilly. Designer scarves are typically made for function, featuring high-end materials, such as cashmere and wool, that help them repel winds and low temperatures in colder climates. Alternatively, silk scarf designs may focus on flair over function, allowing enthusiasts to customize their outfits with a punch of pattern.
Vintage scarves are gaining popularity as younger generations appreciate their versatility as neckwear, headbands and bag accessories. Brands like Hermes, which produces a limited number of each of its silk designs, are particularly valuable due to their exclusivity.
To make sure your scarf of choice is primed for resale, double-check whether it consists of top-of-the-line materials like 100% silk or cashmere.
Small Leather Goods
Small leather goods (SLGs) are a broad category of luxury accessories designed to complement handbags and fashion designs. Some of the most popular SLGs include wallets, cardholders and coin purses—compact yet stylish pieces available at a lower price point compared to handbags and clothing.
SLGs can be especially valuable if you’re hunting for a piece with a lower price point to hand down over time, as SLGs offer exposure to the designer’s signature in-house leather. So, if you’ve been dreaming of Hermes’ buttery soft leather but can’t afford to drop thousands of dollars on a handbag, a wallet or bag charm can provide luxury at a lower price point.
With prices typically ranging from $200 to $2,000, SLGs are an accessible and practical luxury category. If you’re shopping with resale value in mind, look for small leather goods that feature some form of signature element from the brand.
For example, Louis Vuitton uses its signature brown and caramel logo canvas leather in many wallet designs. These designs tend to hold value more effectively over time, especially if the leather is also in great condition. Other top SLG designers include Goyard, Saint Laurant and Gucci.
Cufflinks
Men’s cufflinks are also some of the most resold luxury accessories. The demand for luxury cufflinks is growing as modern men incorporate statement accessories into their formal wear.
To determine if cufflinks are legitimate or replicas, focus on the brand logos and compare them to designs you see online. Authentic, high-quality cufflinks will mirror logos exactly without bleeding of colors or enamel.
Vintage cufflinks, especially from brands like Cartier or Montblanc, are highly sought after, as they reflect the individual design aesthetics of different eras. They often come at extra cost due to the price of premium materials like sterling silver, gold and platinum, increasing the resale value of your accessories.
Costume Jewelry
Luxury costume jewelry offers another accessible entry point into designer resale while securing access to designer flair and logos. These pieces are not made from precious metals but still exude sophistication and are sought after for their artistry. Iconic pieces from brands like Dior and Saint Laurent are instantly recognizable for their intricate designs, which often feature timeless logos that help pieces better retain value.
Costume jewelry is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, fueled by nostalgia for vintage styles and the growing appreciation for bold statement pieces. Some collector favorites include logo earrings from Dior and Louis Vuitton, YSL chain necklaces and Miu Miu headbands.
To ensure you’re buying or selling authentic costume jewelry, examine engravings or stamps on the back of pieces for consistent branding, including font style and placement.
Sunglasses
Designer sunglasses are another item that combines utility and luxury, protecting your eyes against damaging UV rays while also making a statement. Designs like the Ray-Ban aviators are timeless, created with premium materials to last longer. Other top sunglasses designers that retain high resale value include Celine, Dior, Versace and Prada.
Sunglasses are luxury accessories that transcend gender, with men’s pairs retaining value just as well as women’s. Oversized and vintage-inspired sunglasses are currently trending on social media, but most frame styles always hold good value. Buyers are willing to pay premiums for limited-edition pairs, especially if they feature signature branding or unique embellishments that make them distinguishable from other designers at a distance.
Investing in the Fashion Future
Luxury resale is no longer confined to bags and shoes. Accessories like belts and cardholders from top designers offer a more accessible way to enter the luxury market and invest in a piece of high fashion without overspending.
Taking advantage of the authenticated luxury resale market at The RealReal is another way to save money while investing in your fashion favorites. Shop, consign and upgrade your wardrobe responsibly with The RealReal.