Second-Hand Streetwear, Sneakers and Football Shirts: Buying Guides

Most of the streetwear people want is no longer in shops. A 1990s Stussy 8 ball tee or a pair of Jordan 1 in University Blue after the drop sold out now changes hands between private sellers, on resale apps and at vintage fairs. That market works well, as long as you know what you are looking at.

The Second Vogue is an independent guide to it. Nothing is sold here. Each page takes one piece and explains where it comes from, how it fits, what a fair second-hand price looks like and how to tell a real one from a copy.

What the guides cover

Stussy gets the most pages, because it is what most people search for. Start with the Stussy 8 ball tee and its faded version, then the plainer Stussy basic tee. The guide to the Stussy tee shows how to date one from its neck label, and the Stussy hoodie page deals with fleece, where fakes are more frequent.

For Bape, there is the classic Bape t shirt with the ape head and the two-tone Bape bicolor tee.

Workwear has its own corner with Carhartt pants and Carhartt shorts. Designer labels are where checks matter most: the Off-White tee shirt, Dsquared2 jeans and Burberry shorts are among the most copied pieces on resale apps. On the sneaker side, the Jordan 1 University Blue and the Air Max Plus TN each get a full guide. Football fans will find Manchester United vintage jerseys and the FC Barcelona shirt from 2017.

Before you pay for anything pre-owned

A few habits catch most bad deals, whatever the brand.

• Get clear photos of the neck tag and the care label. Fonts, stitching and country of origin should match the year the seller claims.
• Chest width and length tell you more than the size on the tag. A medium from 1995 and a medium from 2023 are different garments.
• Ask to see the flaws in daylight: cracked prints, stained collars, worn heels.
• Compare the price with the ranges given in each guide. A rare piece listed far below them is usually a copy, or hides a problem the photos do not show.

Bape Danmark: finding Bape in Denmark

Bape has no store in Denmark. Its European shops are in a few large cities, London among them, so Danish fans mostly buy online, through resale or by swapping with other collectors.

Most second-hand Bape in Denmark moves through peer-to-peer apps, Facebook groups and Instagram sellers in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. Vintage fairs in Copenhagen sometimes have a rail of Japanese streetwear, though Bape is rarely the main attraction. Sellers in Germany, the Netherlands and Japan often hold a deeper supply of older pieces from the 2005 to 2012 era.

What second-hand Bape costs

These are rough ranges seen on resale markets, not offers.

• Basic Bape tee with the ape head logo: around 40 to 90 EUR
• Shark full-zip hoodie: around 250 to 600 EUR, more for rare camo or collaborations
• Bapesta sneakers: around 120 to 350 EUR
• Baby Milo and kids pieces: from around 30 EUR

Add shipping and, for parcels from outside the EU, VAT and customs handling. A Japanese listing that looks cheap can cost a quarter more by the time it reaches a Danish door.

Spotting a fake Bape

Counterfeits are common, the shark hoodie most of all. A genuine one has a heavy, smooth zip and cleanly aligned teeth on the jaw. The camo should repeat with sharp, consistent shapes, and the tags should show even font spacing and neat stitching. A shark hoodie at 60 EUR is almost never real. Ask for photos of the inside labels and the zip pull. A seller who refuses is a seller to skip.

Sizing

Bape uses Japanese sizing and runs smaller than most European labels. Someone who wears a medium in Danish shops usually needs a Bape large, and an extra large for a loose hoodie. Ask for pit-to-pit and length measurements instead of trusting the tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Second Vogue sell clothes?

No. The Second Vogue is an information site. It publishes buying guides for second-hand streetwear and does not sell, buy or swap any items.

Is there a Bape store in Denmark?

No, Bape has no store in Denmark. Danish fans usually order online or buy second-hand.

Is second-hand streetwear worth the money?

Often, if the piece is authentic and in good shape. Older Stussy tees and Bape shark hoodies tend to hold their value, while recent basics cost little and lose little. Condition and proof of authenticity matter more than the year on the label.

What should a first-time buyer start with?

A plain logo tee from Stussy or Bape. It costs less and is easier to check. It also shows you how the brand's sizing works before you look at hoodies or sneakers.