Pre-Owned Fashion Under ₹2,000

Occasion wear is the best buy in this band

An outfit bought for one wedding is typically worn for a few hours and then stored, which is why pieces here are often in near-new condition at a fraction of what they cost. The economics work entirely in a buyer's favour. The questions worth asking are simple and specific: how many times has it been worn, when was it last dry-cleaned, and has it been altered?

Inspecting heavy and embroidered garments

• Embroidery and zari. Run your hand over the work and look for missing stones, beads and sequins, and loose threads along the borders. Repairing heavy work costs real money.
• Underarms and inner lining. This is where occasion wear shows its true history — perspiration marks and lining damage are common and not always visible in photographs.
• The fall and pallu on a saree, and the hem on a lehenga, where wear and pulled threads concentrate.
• Alterations. Look at the seams. An altered garment usually cannot be let out again, so check the measurements are right for you as it stands.
• Storage damage. Yellowing along fold lines and a musty smell mean poor storage. Some of it comes out with cleaning; some does not.

Designer and branded pieces

Ask for the original bill, packaging, tags or dust bag, and examine the construction closely in daylight — stitching, lining, hardware and labels. Meet in person and take your time. If there is no proof of purchase, value the piece on its material and condition rather than on the label, which is the sensible basis for any private sale.

Leather bags, jackets and premium footwear

Leather should feel supple. Check for cracking at fold points, dryness, and colour loss at corners and edges. On bags, test every zip and clasp and inspect the lining and strap attachments. On jackets, check the lining and the zip, which is the most common failure.

Budget for cleaning

Factor professional dry-cleaning into your price for anything heavy or embroidered — it is part of the real cost of the purchase, and worth doing before you wear it.