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- Why resale became her default shopping strategy
- How she shops: patience, watch lists and selective splurges
- Favorite categories: jewelry, handbags and vintage finds
- Beauty products she rebuys and gifts
- Travel essentials and style choices on the road
- Practical resale advice from an industry executive
- Why resale matters beyond savings
Samantha McCandless, chief merchandising officer at The RealReal, has turned thrifting into a lifestyle. She buys less, chooses better, and often pays for a new treasure by selling a few old ones. Her approach mixes budget smarts with a love of unique pieces.
Why resale became her default shopping strategy
Long before resale was fashionable, McCandless was hunting secondhand finds. Early jobs in retail helped her access higher-quality items while working a consulting career. That experience shaped a lasting habit.
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She treats purchases as a two-way transaction. Before adding something new, she scans her closet for items she can consign. That math often neutralizes the splurge.
She says consigning two pieces usually makes a big purchase feel responsible. One recent win: a brightly colored Hermès Birkin that she effectively funded by selling two bags and a necklace.
How she shops: patience, watch lists and selective splurges
McCandless rarely buys on impulse. She uses watch lists to track items she loves. Sometimes she pounces immediately. Other times she waits for a price drop.
Her buying pattern favors fewer, standout items over trend-driven mass purchases. Quality and rarity matter most.
Favorite categories: jewelry, handbags and vintage finds
Why jewelry is a resale sweet spot
Jewelry tops her list for secondhand hunting. Pre-owned pieces often offer more variety than in-store counters. She looks for charms and meaningful items that can be added to a sentimental bracelet.
Brands she favors include Foundrae for modern charm designs. She also collects vintage treasures. A thrifted Bulgari bracelet from the 1980s is a personal favorite because it feels like carrying history.
Resale, she believes, is the best place to find one-of-a-kind jewelry that won’t be replicated by others.
Handbags as investment pieces
McCandless treats luxury bags as both fashion and financial moves. She assesses resale value before committing. That Birkin purchase is a case in point: strategic consignment funded the bag and eased the guilt of splurging.
Beauty products she rebuys and gifts
Her beauty routine includes repeat favorites that earn permanent spots in her bag. A go-to is Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask, which she purchases year-round for hydration and subtle shine. She often buys extras as small gifts.
She leans toward clean beauty brands, appreciating simple ingredients and timeless packaging. One brand she mentions is Kindred Black for its minimal, apothecary-style appeal.
These items are reliable, portable, and often doubled up for gifting.
Travel essentials and style choices on the road
Comfort is crucial when she travels. Her everyday travel sneakers are Onitsuka Tiger, praised for enduring long days on foot across cities like Tokyo and European capitals.
Yet she balances comfort with a strong travel aesthetic. A vintage Prada coat with a fur collar serves as her go-to statement layer over casual sweats. She aims to feel polished without sacrificing practicality.
- Comfortable sneakers for walking
- A signature outerwear piece for instant polish
- Compact beauty staples that double as gifts
Practical resale advice from an industry executive
McCandless shares concrete tips for shopping pre-owned smartly. Her guidance blends product knowledge with resale economics.
- Buy categories where resale outperforms new: Jewelry and luxury handbags are top examples.
- Think like an investor: higher-quality pieces hold value longer and resell better.
- Use resale to stretch gifting budgets: a unique secondhand find can feel more impressive.
- Track items with watch lists and wait for price shifts when needed.
How to consign to offset new purchases
She recommends planning a consignment strategy before splurging. Decide which pieces you can part with, estimate their resale value, and factor that into the cost of the new item.
This practice reduces buyer’s remorse and funds upgrades without adding net spending.
Why resale matters beyond savings
For McCandless, pre-owned shopping isn’t just about cost. It’s about story, sustainability, and scarcity. Vintage items carry provenance. High-quality pieces tend to last longer. And unique finds make personal style feel distinct.
In her view, resale gives buyers access to better-made goods at smarter prices, while offering a path to resell later when tastes change.
