What Sells: Women's Clothing
Women’s Clothing
The online market for women’s apparel varies widely, but in general, clothing sells
below retail. This is especially true for previously-owned clothing because styles
change so frequently — by the time you or someone you might work with is tired of
an item, chances are the rest of the buying market is, too.
The exceptions are classic items that don’t change dramatically from season to season:
Burberry trench coats, St. John knitted suits, Levi’s 501 jeans and so on. Well-known
designer brands tend to do well, though they rarely sell for close to their original
prices.
What Sells
Top-selling brands include:
Designer jeans are also strong sellers online. Popular brands and styles change
from season to season, so last year’s “in” jeans might not sell. These brands are
among the current leaders in designer denim:
Moderately-priced brands often sell for a small fraction of their retail price (if
at all). This list includes widely available fashions from Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Bebe,
Chico’s, Gap, INC,
J Crew, Jones
New York, Liz
Claiborne, Ralph Lauren and
Talbot’s. If the item is truly exceptional and NWT, it can
match the price of a higher-end designer item. Lower-priced brands from Old Navy,
Target and Wal-Mart have very little resale value, so consider selling these lower-priced
brands in lots.
Choose your garments carefully: dresses, sweaters, designer jeans and coats will
usually sell for more than shorts, t-shirts and career clothes. If someone asks
you to sell these latter items, consider offering them as a lot. Make sure each
item in the lot is the same size and style, and, when feasible, the same brand.
Seasonal Factors
Most clothing is seasonal. Holiday-themed items should be sold one to two months
before the holiday (be sure to allow enough time for shipping). Spring clothing
(lightweight and sheer materials, pastel colors and floral prints) and prom gowns
should be sold in March and April, and summer clothing (shorts, sandals and swimwear)
from April through June.
Sell heavy sweaters, fur coats, boots and ski apparel from September through December.
You may still get buyers in January, but you’re competing with store sales (and
many people curtail their spending after the holidays).
Research Resources
For the latest in women’s apparel, look through the pages of People or US magazine — designers
monitor celebrity fashion trends closely for ideas about what to add to their lines;
what you see in the gossip rags often makes its way to the department store. InStyle
magazine remains a great source of information on current trends. Also, be sure
to visit the websites of the top designers listed above to view their current portfolios.
It is best to search eBay to learn what’s being offered for sale online, how items
are bundled and marketed, and what’s selling.
For the latest photos of designer runway collections, visit the following websites
Condition
Inspect clothing carefully for these signs of wear and tear:
- Stains and spots
- Rips and tears
- Dirty or torn hems on long pants, skirts and gowns
- Snags in delicate fabrics
- Moth holes in wool
- Weak seams, loose threads
- Missing buttons
- Stuck or broken zippers
- Odors
- Alterations
- Torn, faded or missing labels
Also, check the pockets of coats, jackets and pants.
Caring for Silk
For dupioni silk, lighter silks like chiffon, China silk, and crepe de Chine,
and multi-color or hand-dyed prints, dry cleaning is usually the best cleaning option,
if the item is soiled or stained. However, for other types of silk, while dry cleaning
helps maintain the original texture of the fabric, it does carry some risks. To
make sure the item gets proper treatment, be sure to tell the dry cleaner that the
garment is made from silk.
If an item needs to be cleaned but is not stained and it is made of higher quality
silk, it will tend to look better and last longer if hand washed. Do not hand wash
it yourself. Instead, instruct the owner or the buyer how to hand wash the item.
Silk can be hand washed in cool or lukewarm water using a mild detergent such as
Woolite, Ivory soap, or Dreft dissolved in the water. Because silk resists dirt
and stains, only a small amount of soap should be used. Silk doesn’t tolerate abrupt
changes in temperature very well, so stay with one water temperature throughout
the wash. Avoid soaking silk as this can fade the dye.
Never use a dryer to dry silk as the friction and lack of humidity and can damage
the fabric. Instead, roll the silk item up in a cotton bath towel and gently press
the water out. Never wring silk. When the item feels almost dry, finer silk should
be hung to dry, while coarser varieties, such as bourette, should be laid out on
a flat surface to dry.
Key Details
Include these details in your listing:
- Brand
- Name of line (not all brands have these)
- Type of garment(s)
- Material (i.e., cashmere, leather, silk, lace, etc.)
- Number of pieces (for outfits and lots)
- Size
- Predominant color(s)
- Condition (New with Tags, New without Tags, etc.)
Storage and Shipping
Keep clothing in a well-ventilated room, away from children, pets, moisture, smoke
and cooking odors. Never place clothing in direct sunlight or next to heating vents
or air conditioners, since temperature/humidity changes can cause damage and light
can cause silk to yellow. For long-term storage, keep silk in a cotton pillowcase
or other material that can breathe. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture and can
cause yellowing and mildew. Silk, like other natural fibers, is a favorite with
moths, so store cedar chips or balls with your silk to keep the bugs away.
Items should be cleaned and pressed and left on hangers, or folded and stacked prior
to shipment. Wrap each item in white tissue paper (do not use colored paper as it
can bleed onto the item) and place it in a plastic bag to protect it from damage
from moisture encountered during shipment. Place the bag in either a bubble wrap
envelope or a sturdy box, depending upon the number of clothing items being shipped
to the buyer.
