Secondhand Designer Clothing Gift Ideas for Men: The Complete Honest Guide

Someone asks me this question in some form almost every week. They want to give a man in their life something that feels genuinely thoughtful, something with real quality behind it, but they do not want to spend a fortune on a brand new item that will be forgotten by February. The answer I give them every time is the same: buy secondhand designer. It is the most honest, most sustainable and, honestly, most impressive gift move you can make. A vintage Ralph Lauren polo or a beautifully kept Barbour jacket tells a story. It shows you thought about it. It lasts. And it costs a fraction of what it would new.

I run Revaleur, a shop built entirely around carefully selected vintage and secondhand menswear from brands like Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Barbour and similar. I source every piece myself, check every seam, and I only list things I would happily wear or give as a gift. So when I say secondhand designer clothing makes a brilliant gift, I mean it from real, daily experience, not from a marketing script.

This guide covers everything you need to know: which brands to look for, which specific pieces work best as gifts, what to pay, how to handle sizing when you are buying for someone else, what condition means in practice, and how to present a secondhand piece so it lands as the special gift it is.

Why secondhand designer clothing is such a good gift idea for men

Let me be straight with you. Most men are hard to buy clothing for, because most clothing gifts are either too generic or too risky on fit. A secondhand designer piece solves both problems at once. It is specific enough to feel personal. And if you pick the right category, a polo shirt or a knitwear piece, it is forgiving enough on fit that you do not need to get it perfect to the centimetre.

There is also the quality argument. A vintage Lacoste polo from the 1990s is made from heavier, better cotton than almost anything you can buy new today at the same price. The same is true of older Ralph Lauren knitwear, vintage Barbour overshirts, and 1980s and 1990s era Tommy Hilfiger. These brands built their reputations on genuine craft. The older pieces prove it. When you give someone a well-kept vintage piece from one of these labels, you are giving them something that will genuinely outlast a €40 new shirt from a high street retailer by years.

And then there is the sustainability angle. More people care about this than they let on, especially men who would never call themselves eco-conscious out loud but quietly feel better about owning less, buying better and not feeding the fast fashion machine. A secondhand gift aligns with that feeling perfectly. You can read more about why this matters in our piece on why secondhand designer clothing is better value than fast fashion.

The best brands to look for when buying secondhand designer gifts for men

Not every designer brand translates equally well to the secondhand market as a gift. You want brands that are genuinely recognisable, hold their quality well over time, and are widely enough available that you can actually find good pieces. Here is my honest breakdown of the best ones for gifting.

Ralph Lauren

The single best brand to buy secondhand as a gift for a man, in my opinion. Ralph Lauren is universally recognised, genuinely loved across generations, and the older pieces, especially from the 1980s through to the early 2000s, are made to a quality that the current mass market lines do not always match. A vintage polo shirt in excellent condition will cost you somewhere between €20 and €55 depending on the label, age and condition. A heavier knit, a rugby shirt or a harrington jacket will sit between €40 and €100. The Polo label is the sweet spot for gifts, widely known without being flashy, and extremely wearable.

One thing worth knowing: vintage Ralph Lauren pieces often have country of origin labels from USA, Hong Kong or Taiwan from this era, which is actually a good sign. It points to an older, better-made piece. If you want to dig into the detail, our guide to how to value a vintage Ralph Lauren polo is a genuinely useful read before you buy.

Lacoste

Lacoste has a timeless, slightly preppy elegance that ages remarkably well. The classic petit piqué polo is one of the most iconic garments in menswear and makes a brilliant gift because almost any man can wear it. Older Lacoste pieces, particularly from before the mid 1990s, are made from heavier cotton and feel noticeably more substantial than newer versions. Expect to pay €18 to €45 for a good secondhand Lacoste polo in very good condition. Knitwear and lightweight jackets from the brand also come up regularly and sit in the €35 to €80 range.

Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger from the 1990s is having a genuine moment right now. The bold logo pieces from that era, rugby shirts, crewneck sweatshirts and colour block jackets, have become genuinely sought after. They make great gifts because they are both nostalgic and current at the same time. Pricing is accessible: a 1990s Tommy sweatshirt or polo in good condition will cost you €20 to €60, while a heavier fleece or jacket can go up to €80 or €90 for the best pieces.

Barbour

A secondhand Barbour is one of the most impressive gifts you can give a man who values quality outerwear. The wax jackets in particular are legendary for longevity, and a used Barbour in good condition has often been rewaxed once or twice, which means it is actually in better functional shape than a neglected new one. Overshirts and quilted jackets from Barbour also come up regularly and are excellent gifts for men who spend time outdoors. Budget €60 to €150 for a good secondhand Barbour piece depending on the style and condition.

Gant and Hackett

Both brands are slightly under the radar compared to the names above, which means they are often better value on the secondhand market. Gant in particular makes beautiful cotton knitwear and oxford shirts that hold up brilliantly over time. A secondhand Gant lambswool jumper or heavy knit in excellent condition is the kind of thing a man will reach for every single autumn for the next decade. Expect to pay €25 to €65. Hackett is similar: quintessentially British, classic in the best sense, and available at accessible secondhand prices.

Stone Island and C.P. Company

For a man with a more streetwear-influenced or technical aesthetic, Stone Island and C.P. Company are two of the most covetable labels on the secondhand market. These pieces hold their value well and carry real cultural weight. A secondhand Stone Island sweatshirt or overshirt in good condition will typically run €80 to €180, while C.P. Company sits in a similar range. They are higher price point gifts, but for the right recipient they will absolutely land. Authenticity matters here more than with most brands. Stone Island in particular has a specific badge system that is worth understanding before you buy.

The best specific pieces to buy as gifts (by category)

Brand is one thing. The specific item matters just as much. Here are the gift categories I would steer you towards, with honest notes on why each works.

The polo shirt

The single safest and most universally appreciated secondhand menswear gift. A polo sits between a t-shirt and a shirt on the formality scale, which means it works for weekends, casual Fridays, holidays, and golf days alike. It is also one of the most forgiving fits in menswear. A slightly larger size reads as a relaxed fit rather than a mistake. Ralph Lauren, Lacoste and Gant are your best bets here. Budget €20 to €55 and look for pieces in very good or excellent condition with no collar fade, no pilling and tight, intact ribbing at the cuffs and placket.

Knitwear: lambswool, cotton cable and crew necks

A quality knit is probably the most underrated secondhand gift for men. When a man receives a genuinely well-made lambswool or cotton jumper, even one with a few years of life behind it, and it fits well and feels great, it becomes a wardrobe staple that gets worn constantly. Ralph Lauren, Gant, Hackett and even older Lacoste knitwear are all excellent here. The price range is wide: simpler cotton crewnecks from €25 to €55, heavier lambswool or merino pieces from €40 to €90 depending on condition and label.

Overshirts and lightweight jackets

An overshirt, think a heavier flannel or cotton shirt worn open as a jacket, is a brilliant practical gift and very wearable across different styles. Barbour, Ralph Lauren (their workshirt and CPO styles in particular) and Tommy Hilfiger all produced great versions of this piece. A well-kept secondhand overshirt in the €35 to €75 range is a genuinely useful, season-spanning gift. Similarly, a vintage fleece or harrington jacket from any of these brands makes a fantastic gift for a man who lives in casual layers.

A rugby shirt

This one feels specific, but hear me out. A vintage rugby shirt from Ralph Lauren, Hilfiger or even an old school Rugger label is one of those pieces that men genuinely love but rarely buy for themselves. The heavy cotton, the contrast collar, the slightly boxy fit. It is casual, comfortable and has a heritage feel that men respond to. Vintage Ralph Lauren rugby shirts are particularly sought after. You will pay €40 to €80 for a good one in excellent condition, and it will be one of the best things in his wardrobe.

A classic outerwear piece

If budget allows, a secondhand designer outer layer is a standout gift. A Barbour wax jacket (€90 to €160 secondhand in good condition), a Ralph Lauren harrington or field jacket (€60 to €120), or a Stone Island overshirt (€80 to €160) all make the kind of gift that gets remembered. The key with outerwear is to be more conservative on sizing, fit matters more here than with polos or knitwear, so if in doubt, go for a medium rather than a small.

The sizing question: how to get it right when buying secondhand for someone else

This is the question I get asked most often, and it is the one most gift guides skip entirely. Here is my honest answer.

First: vintage and older secondhand pieces almost always run smaller than modern sizing. A medium Ralph Lauren polo from 1992 will fit more like a modern small or small medium. A Lacoste polo from the late 1980s labelled size 4 (their old sizing system) corresponds roughly to a modern medium. If you are buying for someone who usually wears a medium today, consider buying a large in a vintage piece, especially if it is a polo or a knitwear item where a slightly roomier fit is perfectly acceptable and arguably more classic.

Second: when in genuine doubt, go bigger rather than smaller. A slightly large polo worn with the collar popped or untucked looks intentional. A slightly small one just looks uncomfortable. This rule applies especially to knitwear, where a larger size drapes better than one that is stretched.

Third: if you are buying from a curated shop like Revaleur, ask. We measure every piece before listing it and are always happy to advise on fit for a specific recipient if you tell us their usual size.

What "condition" actually means when you are buying secondhand

Condition grading in the secondhand market varies wildly between sellers. Here is what to actually look for, and what the terms mean in practice.

• Excellent / mint condition: No visible wear, original feel and colour, no pilling, no fading. This is what you want for a gift. It should look virtually new in photos.
• Very good condition: Minor signs of use, perhaps very light softening of colour, but no damage, no visible pilling, no marks. Totally acceptable for a gift, and what most good curated shops aim for in their listings.
• Good condition: Noticeable signs of wear. Light pilling on knitwear, slightly faded cuffs or collar on a polo. Not ideal for a gift unless you are comfortable with the specific flaws and the price reflects them.
• Fair / acceptable condition: Avoid this for gifts entirely. These pieces have significant wear and are best suited to personal use where you know exactly what you are getting.

When buying online, always look for close-up photos of the collar, cuffs, armpits and front placket. These are the areas that show wear first. A seller who does not photograph these areas is either careless or hiding something. Both are reasons to buy elsewhere.

How to check you are buying something authentic

Authentication is a real consideration for the higher-value brands, particularly Stone Island, C.P. Company and older Ralph Lauren pieces. Here is a quick practical guide.

For Ralph Lauren: check the stitching on the pony logo. On genuine pieces it is clean, tight and three-dimensional. On fakes it tends to be flat, slightly off-centre or poorly defined. Country of origin labels are a useful guide too. Vintage pieces will typically say USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan or similar, while modern fakes often have inconsistent or unconvincing labels. Our blog on how to spot fake vintage Ralph Lauren goes into the full detail.

For Stone Island: the badge is the key. It should be removable (attached by a zip), the lettering should be perfectly consistent, and the fabric patch should match the garment fabric. There are very specific details to check depending on the era of the piece.

For Lacoste: the crocodile embroidery is the tell. On genuine pieces it is precise, slightly raised and well-defined. On fakes it is usually flat, slightly blurry or poorly proportioned.

The safest move is always to buy from a curated seller who has already done this work for you. That is the whole reason shops like Revaleur exist.

How to present a secondhand designer gift so it actually feels special

This part matters more than people realise. A secondhand piece that arrives in a scruffy poly bag with a crumpled label feels like an afterthought. The same piece, freshly laundered, folded neatly and presented in tissue paper in a decent box, feels like a considered, curated gift. The quality of the item does the work. You just need to frame it properly.

A few practical notes:

• If the piece has any faint odour from storage, wash or air it before gifting. A clean, fresh-smelling piece makes an entirely different first impression than one that smells of a charity shop. Our guide on how to remove odour from vintage clothing at home covers this in full if you need it.
• Iron or steam the piece before wrapping. Vintage knitwear and polos can flatten and crease in storage. Five minutes with a steamer makes them look brand new.
• Include a short handwritten note about why you chose it. Something like "this is a genuine 1990s Ralph Lauren polo, made properly in the USA, and I thought you would actually wear it" goes a long way. It turns the gift from a piece of clothing into a story.
• If you are not confident about the size, it is completely fine to include a note saying so, and to offer to exchange. Most reputable secondhand shops, including Revaleur, will work with you on this.

Price ranges at a glance: what to budget for secondhand designer gifts

To make this as practical as possible, here is a quick reference for realistic price ranges on the secondhand market for men's designer clothing in good to excellent condition.

• Polo shirt (Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Gant): €18 to €55
• Cotton or lambswool knitwear (Ralph Lauren, Gant, Hackett): €30 to €90
• Rugby shirt (Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger): €40 to €80
• Overshirt or CPO shirt (Ralph Lauren, Barbour): €35 to €75
• Harrington or field jacket (Ralph Lauren, Gant): €50 to €120
• Quilted or wax jacket (Barbour): €70 to €160
• Stone Island or C.P. Company sweatshirt or overshirt: €80 to €180
• Tommy Hilfiger 1990s crewneck or logo sweatshirt: €25 to €65

These are real market prices from curated shops. You will occasionally find pieces cheaper on peer-to-peer platforms like Vinted, but with less curation, less authentication and more risk. For a gift, I would always recommend buying from a shop where someone has already done the condition checking for you. The extra few euros is worth it for the peace of mind alone.

If you are looking for a starting point, take a browse through the Revaleur collection. Every piece is personally sourced, checked and photographed, and if you want advice on what would work as a gift for a specific person, just get in touch. That is exactly what we are here for.