Sell / Consign / Donate

Not so long ago, people had few pieces of clothing and they wore them every day.  This is thankfully not the case anymore.  Now we have a huge amount of options to choose from and, naturally, certain favorite items are worn much more frequently than others.  Which is why, every so often (I recommend quarterly), we need to sift through are wardrobes, and identify those neglected items.  The goal here is to have a closet filled entirely with favorites and no duds!

Unworn items could fall into a number  of different categories.  Before you go crazy, keep in mind that just because you haven’t worn something much doesn’t necessarily mean you should get rid of it.  I recommend taking a few minutes to see if you can figure out what to pair it with in your wardrobe.  Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes (a friend) to pair things in your closet that you might not have thought about yourself. 

If you determine that an item really is ready to go, you have a number of options:

Sell: eBay is the best way to get the most money for items you want to sell.  There are fees, however you won’t be splitting the profits as you will with a consignment store.  Because eBay is virtual, the items that sell best are designer labels that online shoppers will be searching for and ready to buy.  Lower end and no-name brands likely won’t do well.  Note that when you list your item, include as much detail as possible in your listing to get the most and highest bids.

Consign: As you have learned by now, I'm Second Time Around's #1 fan.  Founded in Boston years ago, the company is expanding at an unbelievable rate and now has stores all over New England and in NYC, Chicago, D.C, etc.  To consign with STA, you'll need to call ahead to make an appointment.  You are allowed a maximum of 30 items, and I recommend bringing a mix of clothes, shoes and accessories.  If at least three items are accepted, your account will be created and you'll be able to track your inventory online.  Click here for New York Magazine's list of the city's consignment and thrift shops.

Donate: Items that can’t be sold can be donated to organizations like Housing Works and the Salvation Army that resell the items to raise money for their causes.  Note that many of these places also taking home goods (dish ware, furniture, etc.)  You should be able to drop by at any time during business hours.  Don’t forget a receipt for your tax return credit!

Recycle: Articles of clothing that are worn out can also be strategically disposed of.  In New York City, I go to the the Clothing & Textile Recycling stand stand in Union Square’s GrowNYC Greenmarket on Mondays or Saturdays to drop off old clothes, sheets, etc.  GrowNYC also accepts usable clothing items for donation and provides receipts.

I love cleaning through my closet.  Out with the old to make room for the new!