If I’m ever in need of a dose of “cool girl style”, there’s one Instagram feed that I’ll head for. London-based content creator Trishna Goklani (@trishnagoklani) is the embodiment of timeless taste, fusing casual basics with statement silhouettes, elevating her aesthetic with artfully chosen luxury accessories.
That coveted “quiet luxury” look, with its good tailoring and great knitwear, usually signals a degree of sophistication that comes with a personal shopper or stylist. But many of Goklani’s aspirational “outfits of the day” have been bought secondhand.
“I didn’t shop at all for a while,” she says. “I was almost fatigued. Then I found the thrill of shopping secondhand – mostly online. I find that when shopping pre-loved, you are more intentional with what you search for, and you buy the things that you know you’re going to wear.”
Goklani with her vintage Gucci bamboo handle bag
With a love for brands such as Bottega Veneta, The Row, Prada, Ganni, Gucci, Samsøe Samsøe and Arket, Goklani prefers to keep her looks simple – with a focus on luxury fabrics such as cashmere and merino wool.
“I love brands that I would consider more minimal,” she says. “It’s about the construction of the garment, the colour palette and, of course, the quality.”
Shopping secondhand means this high quality becomes more accessible: “It’s an adrenaline rush when you buy something that has value, but you bought it at a fraction of the cost,” she says. And she loves that it means her buys have a history.
“My palette is usually minimal, very muted,” she says. “Then sometimes I’ll surprise myself by purchasing something like an orange jumper or a bright neon bag – but there’s always a bit of a story behind it.”
Growing up in Singapore, Goklani was a regular visitor to weekly flea markets, which allowed her to hone her individual style, and opened her eyes to overconsumption.
Moving to the UK, she developed a more considered approach, treasuring the narrative behind a special find. Memorable purchases include a denim skirt she first picked up on a trip to Seattle (since lost and rebought again on eBay), her beloved Prada boots and the vintage Gucci bag that she searched relentlessly for after seeing it on someone else: “I just kept thinking about it,” she says. “So I searched and searched eBay for it until this black version came up.”
Goklani recently discovered eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee when buying herself a bag as a birthday gift. “When I read a little bit into what it meant, I saw that eBay would authenticate the bag, flag anything that didn’t match the description and that they would also refund,” she says.
“I put in an offer, which the seller accepted. Once purchased, it was sent to be inspected. I then received an email from eBay to note it was authentic.”
The designer bag arrived two days later, with its unique authentication card. “It’s a new way to access luxury items because you have the assurance that you’re buying something genuine,” she adds.
Asked about what she looks for in pre-loved designer items, Goklani’s appreciation for minimalism comes through. “I love that none of these bags have massive logos,” she says. “You can’t really tell unless you know specific elements. With my Gucci bag, you have the timeless bamboo handle; with Prada, you have the iconic shape, and just a little logo; with Bottega you have the weave of the bag. It’s one of those things where, if you know, you know.
“I think that sums up my relationship with luxury goods,” she says. “It’s something that’s for me. It makes me feel good. It’s not so much that I’m showing the world that I’ve got a designer bag.”
When it comes to expanding her collection, Goklani’s current eBay saved searches consist of a Gucci Hobo bag and a “blue ticked” Louis Vuitton Noé bag that will slot right into her wardrobe’s quiet luxury look.
Part of the thrill is not knowing when “the one” will pop up, but it’ll certainly be secondhand. Goklani’s love for nearly new is going nowhere.
“I feel like [shopping secondhand] is a hobby now,” she says. “I’ll do it for the rest of my life!”
Trishna Goklani’s top tips for buying on eBay
Search for keywords
Shopping should be intentional. You should buy the things that you know you’re going to love and wear. Put in keywords like “cashmere”, “merino wool” as well as “authentic”, “authenticated” or “vintage” to achieve the best search results.
Use the filters
Use the filters to select size, style and budget to reduce the number of listings. You can also choose to only show listings that use the Authenticity Guarantee service, or search via that specific tab.
Ask the seller for more details
Ask for further images or videos so you can clearly see what the condition is like, this gives you a better idea of the item you are buying – and of the seller.
Make an offer
Offer a price that you feel is reasonable. If they don’t accept it, you can reassess. But if they do, you’ve got something you love for less.
Found The One?
Once you’ve found the perfect pre-loved gift, The One for your one, you can make sure it’s the real deal with eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee – where blue ticked luxury bags, watches and jewellery are inspected and authenticated by experts. Shop eBay’s pre-loved luxury present collection
‘Authenticity Guarantee’ is independent from, and not associated with, any brands sold on eBay.
