Kristen Naiman, photographed earlier this year at a party celebrating the launch of The RealReal’s Substack.
Photo: Courtesy of The RealReal
As the Spring 2026 fashion season approaches, featuring 15 designer debuts, everyone has questions. The RealReal’s eighth annual report, released today, offers some answers—like reading fashion’s tea leaves. When Jonathan Anderson’s departure from Loewe was announced, searches for the brand on The RealReal jumped 488%. Similarly, Demna’s move from Balenciaga to Gucci caused a 310% spike in searches for his name in a single day. Following yesterday’s announcement of Rachel Scott as Proenza Schouler’s new creative director, searches for her own brand, Diotima, rose about 350% by midday. In contrast, Donatella Versace’s exit prompted only a 13% increase in searches, and Glenn Martens’s appointment at Maison Margiela led to just a 7% rise.
Brands without recent or upcoming creative changes are also posting strong numbers: Coach searches are up 160%, Ferragamo has risen 129%, and Pucci is tracking 110% higher than last year.
But the report goes beyond which brands are winning or losing. Kristen Naiman, The RealReal’s Chief Brand Officer, sees a turning point for resale: “It’s shifted from an alternative or secondary way to shop to a primary way people engage with fashion—discovering, learning, and connecting through it,” she says. While a traditional retailer might move 200,000 items (SKUs) per year, The RealReal processes 1 million per month. The scale of one-to-one connections between sellers and buyers is staggering, she notes. “It lets people view fashion in a less linear way, free from seasonal constraints. Culturally, it challenges the idea that something is only relevant for a limited time.”
Naiman herself is fixated on a pair of Phoebe Philo-era Chloé sandals from about 20 years ago—shoes that still feel right to her. She has set up an alert and snaps up pairs in her size whenever they become available. “Those sandals have always worked for me and always will. I now have a very specific relationship with buying them, tied to a particular era of Chloé. I’m no longer bound by the market’s rhythms, and I think that’s a small, personal example of what’s happening on a larger scale.”
Read on for details on The RealReal’s 2025 trends and how they might influence the upcoming season. At the very least, they suggest that bland, anonymous fashion is out, and while loud logos are currently passé, individuality is in.
Forget “New With Tags”—TRR Customers Are Shopping for “As Is” Items
Sales for items in fair condition (showing heavy wear) are up 32% this year, driven largely by new buyers (+40%). “As Is” items (which may need repairs) have seen monthly sales growth since their launch in Spring 2024.
“This overturns the mindset from a decade ago, when it was all about logos and pristine condition. Now, people are open to patina and backstory as a sign of provenance,” says Naiman. “Provenance today means the life someone lived in an item. If something is well-worn but in a perfect way, it suggests it’s been well-lived—not just well-acquired. That, to me, is fascinating.”
The takeaway for Spring 2026: With well-worn bags trending—Chanel (+15%), Balenciaga (+22%)—and vintage styles like the Chloé Paddington and Celine Phantom also spiking, luxury brands may focus more on reissues and less on innovation.
—Michael RiderThe revived Phantom has sparked renewed interest in earlier versions from Phoebe Philo’s time at Céline.
Photo: Carraro – Grillo – Scarpato / Gorunway.com
Something Borrowed, Something Blue—Emphasis on the Borrowed
Searches for wedding-related items have surged: wedding dresses (+247%), vintage engagement rings (+198%), wedding shoes (+321%), and vintage weddings overall (+121%).
“It used to be that you couldn’t wear someone else’s wedding dress. You wanted a dress made just for you, one that made you feel like the main character on your special day—something unique,” says Naiman. “Now we’re seeing huge spikes in searches for wedding dresses that people wear and then resell. It’s a shift toward a more communal or collective mindset. In many ways, resale is actually the oldest behavior. We’ve always reused, repurposed, and repaired things. It’s the same idea, just with a new way of doing it.”
Spring 2026 takeaway: So much for heteropessimism. These trends will likely inspire designers to include more bridal-inspired dresses in their warm-weather collections—something we’ve been tracking for years.
A fall 2025 Giambattista Valli dress with vintage appeal.
Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
So Long, Kitten Heels; Stilettos Stage a Comeback
Kitten heels are down 16%, while searches are up for high heels (+26%), Louboutins (+34%), Manolo Blahniks (+24%), Dolce & Gabbana (+29%), and Giuseppe Zanotti (+45%).
“Quiet luxury brands are still doing okay, but they’re now competing with a major spike in jewelry and high heels,” Naiman notes. “You could spend a lot of time thinking about how this reflects the aesthetics of our current political moment, but one thing is clear: glamour and boldness are back in a big way.”
Spring 2026 takeaway: More late ’80s energy? We’ve been predicting a Bright Lights, Big City vibe since Jonathan Anderson’s Dior menswear debut in June.
Jonathan Anderson’s Dior Men collection brought back memories of Bright Lights, Big City.
Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com
They All Came to Barneys—And Bergdorf’s, and Bonwit Teller
This isn’t in the report, but Naiman has noticed growing interest in private label brands from vintage department stores. This trend is likely to grow with the release of Gene Pressman’s memoir about his family’s iconic New York store, They All Came to Barneys, and its reported TV adaptation.
“I know quite a few people who have saved searches for Bonwit Teller or Barneys’ private labels. It’s part of a bigger trend. In their prime, these stores produced private labels in the same factories as European luxury houses, which means you can now find incredible cashmere, silk, and leather pieces on the resale market for a fraction of the price,” she says. “To me, the rise in these searches shows how savvy shoppers are influencing the secondary market.”
Spring 2026 takeaway: Expect more blazers, jeans, and other wardrobe staples—hopefully with more character this time.
Gene Pressman’s Barneys memoir was published yesterday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Inside The RealReals 2025 Resale Report
Q What is The RealReals 2025 Resale Report
A Its a report by The RealReal that explores trends consumer behaviors and insights in the luxury resale market for 2025 featuring perspectives from their Chief Brand Officer Kristen Naiman
Q Who is Kristen Naiman
A Kristen Naiman is the Chief Brand Officer at The RealReal responsible for shaping the brands identity and messaging including insights shared in the report
Q Why is this report important
A It helps shoppers brands and investors understand where the luxury resale market is headed including sustainability pricing and popular categories
Q What are the key trends highlighted in the report
A Trends include growing consumer interest in sustainability the rise of certain luxury categories and how resale is becoming more mainstream
Q How does resale benefit the environment
A Resale extends the life of products reduces waste and lowers the carbon footprint associated with producing new items
Q Is buying preowned luxury items safe and authentic
A Yes The RealReal authenticates every item they sell so you can shop with confidence
Q What luxury categories are expected to be popular in resale for 2025
A The report may highlight categories like handbags jewelry watches and readytowear especially timeless or iconic pieces
Q How can I sell my luxury items through The RealReal
A You can consign items through their website or appthey handle authentication pricing and selling for you
Q Does resale hurt luxury brands
A Actually many brands see resale as an opportunityit attracts new customers promotes sustainability and can enhance brand value
Q What tips does the report offer for firsttime resale shoppers
A Look for classic styles check authentication details and consider condition reports to make informed purchases
Q How does The RealReal ensure fair pricing for sellers
A They use market data brand demand and item condition to set competitive prices that benefit both buyers and sellers