Big step today: consigning clothes - YouLookFab Forum

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Big step today: consigning clothes

krishnidoux

Veteran

I am just back from the consignment store where I left about 20 pieces of clothes including my love-at-first-sight over-the-knee flat Spanish leather boots (snif!) (But I never wear them) and my beloved palazzo elephant leg Guess By Marciano jeans (I'm barely 5'3", even with the highest heels and best intentions, they still overpower me). I have been wanting to do this for a very long time and never got the courage to offer my used clothes for sale. But now I did! Whew!

First, I had taken an appointment (it's a month in advance). I prepared in advance everything I was ready to sell, made sure in was cleaned and ironed, put it in garment bags and once in the boutique the owner took a look at everything, taking what she thought would sell. She priced and made a list of everything she took, and now we'll see if people will buy it. If not, and if I don't phone for it, it will go to charity.

It was a big step for me in taking control over my wardrobe and letting go of a lot of old pieces I hung on too as if they were gold. Then at the store, seeing those very pieces either rejected as not sell-able, or priced very low, was an eye-opener. I started to see them truly for what they are: clothes. Old clothes.

It's funny how we attach sentiments, feelings, memories to an item UNKNOWINGLY. I thought I was passed that, well, err, no.

How about you guys? Was it difficult, for those of you who consign clothes, to do it the first time?

(below: pick of the now gone palazzos in question...)

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18 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

christieanne

Veteran

I just consigned for first time last week - starting slowly with shoes.

Very hard to part with some beautiful ombre blue high heels that were my first purchase on first NYC trip. But I never wear them. And some perfectly fab Tahari flats that have a brass bit on front - I was sensible and decided what $$$ they would bring would benefit me more since I never wore them (and they were a steal at purchase).

It was sort of insulting when the owner rejected my never/rarely worn Anne Klein stacked heel boots because they have a square toe (she said they were dated) and some jcrew sandals because they were impractical (I know, that's why I never wear them )

After a bit, I just had to laugh at myself and have became more determined to edit myself at point of purchase better. So yes, I can totally relate. Just think of what you can do with the store credit or $$.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thanks for your comment Christieanne. I'm glad I'm not alone!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

You ladies are so brave: I think that my self-esteem would go out the window if someone rejected one of my old "treasures" - I just try to feel good after I send them to Salvation Army and hope that the money they bring in will do good for someone (and someone else is going home with a treasured new piece for their wardrobe!)

Meredith1953

Veteran

I have always donated to the ARC or Idaho Youth Ranch and I am for the most part unsentimental about parting with things. I don't eliminate things that I don't have a replacement for though. I did recently consign a couple of purses that sold and that made me feel good. I'm with Lyn in that I like that someone else can be wearing and using something rather than us just holding onto things.

missvee

Veteran

I know how you feel - I haven't consigned for a few years now, but when I did, the owner looked at my stuff and said, piece by piece, no, no, no! Here I thought I was bringing in some real treasures, but to her they weren't really saleable. She did take a couple of basic pieces, and they sold eventually, but I didn't think it was worth the bother in the end. I give anything nice to a local animal charity shop and the rest to the Salvation Army which sells it for about $2 a bag-full!

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

I usually donate clothes (to Emmaus, a local thrift store) since I love the idea that someone could be looking for the perfect jeans/dress or whatever and something I donated could make their day. I am someone who is very fussy about the fit, style and condition of what I own, so I don't mind donating clothes, even if they are well loved pieces.
I would consign if I could (I would love to have some extra spending money) but consignment stores in France usually carry higher end brands.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Consigning can be such a humiliating experience. It can truly depend on the person who assesses your items if they take them or not. I try not to be offended if they reject NWT or perfectly in style items. I think of it as a kind of bonus - if I can consign it's a little extra mad $ to buy other things that will work. If not, it's a tax write off. Separating the emotional tie to the item or the "but it cost $XXX why am I only getting $x? is the hardest part. Cheers to you for making the big step.

san

Veteran

I also say cheers to you for taking this big step! The things you took into the shop, like those very nice jeans in the picture, are worth going to a boutique, which is what a consignment store is. Some things aren't ready to be sold by the bagful. Please keep us posted as to how this works out for you. I'm sure there are quite a few readers like myself who want to know more about placing gently used items into good homes.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I used to donate all my used clothes until I became conscious recently of how much of an industry it is... and that these clothes are not given, but sold, with many in-betweens making money out of them.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/stor.....07H_vEgdK0

I understand that to get to the ones in need, some handling must be paid somewhere, and since we don't pay to donate, then it has to come from the other end... but it seems it is more than just that. It's a lot of people making money off your donation at every stage.

"According to various estimates, here's what happens to your clothing giveaways. In most cases, a small amount of the items, the best quality castoffs -- less than 10 percent of donations -- are kept by the charitable institutions and sold in their thrift shops to other Americans looking for a bargain.
(...)
"... about 70 percent of your old donated jeans are being used as cloths to wipe oil off of engine parts and the remaining 20 to 25 percent of pants that left your closet with no value are ultimately sold in Africa, where American clothes are extremely popular, for an average price of about $7 per pair."

Then this other enlightening perspective, from another article:

"Many people often think that the only reason Africans buy second-hand clothing is because of poverty. This is actually not true.(...) It is widely known that because of the high cost of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein shirts, clothing sellers rarely import them into the country. What one would find instead are cheap imitations, which are normally low quality products imported from Asia. The quality of the imitations are often so bad that once one sees them one would immediately know that it is not the real thing. (...) One item of second-hand clothing that is always in high demand is bra. (...) the quality is normally very good and they are normally affordable."
(source: http://www.betterplace-lab.org.....est-africa)

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thank you for your supportive and therapeutic comments! Once it is recognized by others that it is a hard experience, then it is not so bad any more.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Krisnidoux - They also did a similar news story in Canada about certain groups selling donated clothes. Our local Sally Ann has come out saying that they do not do it; and that things we donate here are sold here. My friend and I were browsing one day and came across something we had donated ourselves ... :p lol.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Krish for posting about your experience! Eye opening indeed. I'm glad you were able to let go of the things that were weighing you down unnecessarily. I must confess I have a bag of clothes sitting on the sofa and I've been procrastinating and trying to decide what to do with it...consignment? Donate to Goodwill or other thrift shop? Ebay? YLF giveaway? I would try consignment but I'm afraid I would undergo the same "humiliation" as the previous posters.

christieanne

Veteran

I donate typically but thought I'd give consigning a try. I guess I feel a bit guilty staying at home (not sure why after 20 yrs of working more than full time but that is a different issue) and still wanting some "mad" money for new things after major closet cleanouts.
Plus, I can use store credit at the shop and an extra discount there (and i like the place) so it is still recycling.

A lot of things I give away go to friends or friends (kids things for example) directly or to Goodwill. We save household items for twice a year white elephant sale for a school fundraiser. I am going to take some workwear to a local Dress for Success group after reading Claire's story about her volunteer efforts.

I am curious to go by and see how the three pairs of shoes did and i found two more pair and a handbag for their consideration. It's addictive once you start clearing out and whatever doesn't sell, goes to charity anyway.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Goldenpig, I encourage you to try it. If only just to have a different experience with your clothes. Putting in consignment was hard, because I was nervous and wondering if anyone would want my clothes at all, and an eye-opener when I did it, but I learned from this. And now I think it will be easier in the future to let go of clothes, to have a more frequent turn-over going on in my wardrobe.

Lyn, that is hilarious. Were you tempted to buy it before you realized it was yours?

Christieanne, thank you so much for your input. I will be following your experience too.

When I was in posting in the developing world, donation was a no-brainer. Anyone - a driver, a cleaning lady, a guard - needed your clothes. I had a stronger feeling then that it would make someone happy. But here it's different. I think clothes are expensive and are not going to get any cheaper, given the rising price of cotton. Also, if the very quality of new items keep going down, what we already own may actually end up having more value (better fabric, sturdier make, well sewn etc). Therefore, second had shops can only become more mainstream.

Someone suggested on a different thread donating to women's shelters. I have also done it and think it's a good idea, since women who leave abusive situations often do with little more than what they have on their back.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations on braving the consignment store! It is indeed a strange experience to bring one's clothing there. I have been surprised when I did it; some of the items that I thought were excellent were rejected. (For example, a really simple Comrags dress, because the woman stocking the shelves said it wouldn't work for most women due to the cut; this was mysterious to me because it was an easy A-line shape!) Other items I only brought in on a lark (thinking they were past their prime or not much good) and they took them. Hmmm. I think it depends somewhat on the store's location and the clientele.

My consignment store's stock goes to a woman's shelter if it does not sell, so I like that arrangement.

It is tough to let go of things but very freeing; it gives you space to reimagine the new you!

BTW, I got rid of my big wide leg jeans, too. Saw the photos and agreed they swamped me. Sigh....

krishnidoux

Veteran

So, Suz, you had this experience too!
I was surprised that the shop owner rejected some nice blouses and shirts. "No, here, these don't tend to sell" was her reasoning. This was in a more upper finicky neighbourhood, although one could qualify the shop as more indie and eclectic. Afterwards I wondered if in some more well-to-do areas women would consider a shirt, a blouse to be too much of an intimate garment to be shared?

In the end, did you make lots of $$$ with your sales?

bj1111

Veteran

krish, congrats on the clean out, congrats on consigning them and braving the judgment, and congrats for living to tell the tale.

u agree with you about the need to have visual space in the closet and emotional space from the clothes.

off to find a dress for success to donate...

krishnidoux

Veteran

Bj1111, may you have success in your quest! That is a very good way to put it, "emotional space from clothes"!