6 classic french pieces to look for on vinted (and eBay, and depop)
timeless, good quality, with a touch of je ne sais quoi
Hello everyone!
This week is all about going back to the basics and celebrating iconic pieces of clothing that stand the test of time. And not just any: French iconic pieces.
They’re timeless, made in France™, and… easy to find secondhand.
After all, this newsletter is called trouvé, it was about time I honor my heritage 🥐🇫🇷
C’est parti !
Timeless over trendy
The French like their tradition. It’s true about their baguette (😏) and about their everyday basics.
Some brands have been offering the same classics for decades. And isn’t that comforting in a world where fashion trends seem to come and go every month?
Timeless 🤝 second hand
That also means they’re the perfect second hand target:
Since these iconic pieces tend to stay pretty much the same, it's fine to skip the last 2, 5, 10 collections
They’re world famous! So they’re on the pricier side. But look for them on Vinted and they’re affordable (sometimes even half price)
6 classic frenchies to look for on Vinted
1. Le snap cardigan agnès b.
I wore white sweatshirts every day and wanted to make them more practical. I cut my sweatshirt with a large pair of scissors without realizing I was creating something! — agnès b.
A cardigan so iconic that on its 40th anniversary, 70+ photographers were invited to honor it (including David Lynch, who was a dear friend).
Sophie Fontanel even wrote a short book about it and, as always, sums it up perfectly.
Wherever [the snap cardigan] is seen, it is always noticed. And it says something about those who wear it: That in the end, we all have a soft side, that we all need a little tenderness. — The snap cardigan, Sophie Fontanel
My dad very sweetly gifted me the navy version a few Christmases ago and I love it. It’s comfortable, well cut, great quality.
🔮 Vinted finds for you: beige, white, black, light pink, darker pink, green, blue for under 85€ (less than half the retail price).
2. Le polo Lacoste
The brand that started athleisure. And yes, the polo can sometimes look very preppy. But you can loosen it up by wearing it a bit oversized, layer it, and choose a fun color.
Plus, it was my grandfather’s summer uniform, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Can you believe they came up with the crocodile logo in the 1930s? It just hasn’t aged one bit 🤌 (the backstory is fun, too).
I love browsing through Lacoste items on Vinted, there’s so much (and not just polos: jackets, sweater, skirts…).
🔮 Vinted finds for you: brown, bright pink, yellow, sleeveless, long sleeve, and a cute white dress.
3. Le cachemir Bompard
Founded in the 1980s, Bompard is a go-to French brand for cozy cashmere sweaters in all shapes and (beautiful!) colors.
A few years ago, I got a Bompard blue cashmere turtleneck on Vinted that I wear all winter. And my mom swears by their scarves!
🔮 Vinted finds for you: white polo, beige, powder pink, blue turtleneck, red turtleneck, pink polo, cache coeur, light blue scarf
4. La chemise Figaret
Fun fact: Figaret popularized pink shirts for men in the 1960s. If you’re looking for a high quality 100% cotton shirt in beautiful fabric, this is a great place to start. And if you’re on the market for the perfect PJs, this is the place.
Just filter on your size, color, and you’ll get so many options. Also, ladies, don’t be afraid to look in the men’s smaller sizes for an oversized look!
🔮 Vinted finds for you: green & white stripes, blue & red stripes, pink oversized, light blue, white, checkered red, thin red stripes
5. Les mocassins Paraboot
These classics from 1908 were originally sold as outdoor workwear shoes. Today, their famous Michael loafer is all over Paris (and I see them too in Amsterdam!)
They’re a serious splurge if you get them new. But you can find them at less than half the price second hand, with already some nice patina. These will last you forever if you resole them.
🔮 Vinted finds for you: white Michael (37.5), brown Michael (37), brown Michael (38), brown Michael (39), classic loafers, classic brown (37), classic brown (40), classic shiny (39.5) — almost all under 200 euros!
6. La marinière Saint James
Does it get more French than a white and blue striped shirt? Saint James have been making these since the 1880s (!!) expanding their customer base from Bretons fishermen to… the entire world.
Confession: I don’t actually own one of these but now Patti has inspired me.
🔮 Vinted finds for you: classic, still classic, red & white, sweater style, sweater with side buttons.
Alors, which do you have in your closet? And which brand did I totally forget? I can already think of Petit Bateau (for perfect cotton t-shirts) and of K-Way (for colorful rain jackets).
It was fun putting this one together. It makes me treasure my classic pieces and their iconic designers even more.
Merci for reading, and see you next week 💙
— Laure
ps: I’m so curious, how are you liking trouvé so far? 🫶
You had me at Agnes b cardigan! Got the white one for my civil wedding and literally wore it yesterday to go into the office - timeless is the word! ❤️🫶
This selection is 10/10 ❤️ You reminded me how much I need a snap cardigan for spring, thank you Vinted we love you