What’s up, buttercup?
I’ve been thinking: “Hey, I have written quite a lot of articles on the topic of buying and reselling clothes. But you know what I haven’t done yet? Written a post on what to look out for when going to buy clothes to flip.”
When I started out flipping clothes for profit, I sorta just went around thrift stores and bought whatever I thought would make me money.
Trial and error.
Some of the items I bought were easy to sell, and some others I had to give away to charity.
After doing this for years, I have developed a spidey-sense on what’s worth flipping, and what’s not.
Lucky for you, you don’t need to start from the beginning and figure everything out yourself. I’m here to show you the ropes.
Because there are definitely certain patterns as to which clothes will sell and which won’t.
So, here are my 7 tips on how to detect good deals on used clothes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tip #1: Vintage = extra value
Tip #2: Brand name counts.
Tip #3: Pants > shirts
Tip #4: Oversized clothes sell well
Tip #5: y2k is in right now, folks!
Tip #6: Stick to the basics
Tip #7: Seasonal stuff
CONCLUSION
Tip #1: Vintage = extra value
Know what’s popular these days? Vintage clothing.
If you don’t own a dress that looks like it’s come from the 1900s, you’re doing it wrong.
So what, exactly, do I mean by vintage?
It’s a pretty wide term – you can call pretty much anything that looks outdated or is not anymore in it’s prime condition “vintage”.
However, there is definitely good outdated, and bad outdated, you’ve just got to make sure you know what’s going to sell.
Great vintage items to buy and resell include vintage jewelry and accessories, belts, coats, hats, pants, purses, dresses, suits, shoes, etc.
Plus points for anything made by designer brands.
If you want to find ideas on what vintage clothes to buy and resell then head over to Pinterest and check out some ‘cool vintage clothing‘ boards, or go to Etsy and search for people who sell vintage clothing.
Tip #2: Brand name counts.
I’ve never really understood why people like to buy popular brand clothes (don’t you have any personal style or do you just have too much money laying around?).
BUT to many, brand clothes are the only sole items they like to wear.
So, which brand clothes sell easily?
The higher the demand, the more people will search for the brand, and the more people will see your item.
The most popular brands can vary depending on where you live and what the current trends are at the moment, but I’ve listed some brands that have worked well for me, and that will likely sell well:
From the mid-range: Nike, Zara, GUESS, Calvin Klein, Vans, Converse, Dr. Martens, UGG, Gymshark, etc.
From the high-end brands: anything like Prada, Gucci, Armani, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, etc.
When sourcing these brands, make sure the items are in a real good condition, because buyers are willing to pay more for gently used items that look almost new.
Tip #3: Pants > shirts
A pair of pants or jeans is likely to sell better than a shirt or a blouse.
This is something I discovered after having bought tens of shirts and listing them online. Only a couple of them have actually sold.
The truth is that unless its a brand T-shirt or has some extra quality (maybe a T-shirt of a good band), it won’t sell.
I mean, it’s sensible: why would someone go online to search for a used T-shirt if they can just buy a new one from the store for a few bucks?
Pants or jeans, though, are usually a bit more expensive when bought new from stores, so if you can find an almost new-looking pair of jeans, you can probably sell those easily for a small profit.
But you shouldn’t take my advice as the law – there are always exceptions, and I’ve seen quite a few online stores that can easily sell quirky vintage blouses for around 20 bucks.
Tip #4: Oversized clothes sell well
Any other oversized clothes lovers out here?
Heck yes, baggy clothes are the best and coziest.
Fortunately, they’re also stylish, so you can make some nice dosh by selling your grandpa’s old football tees.
When you’re out thrifting, look out for any baggy T-shirts and hoodies, oversized blazers and sports jackets, as well as baggy pants and jeans.
Tip #5: y2k is in right now, folks!
Low-waisted jeans and cute tank tops? Now that’s a trend I can get behind.
The early 2000s, or Y2K fashion, is making a major comeback.
From butterfly clips and tiny sunglasses to chunky sneakers and statement jewelry – there’s a wide range of items you can mark down as ‘y2k’.
And, if you want some inspiration on what to look for when buying y2k clothing, do a quick search on your best friend: Pinterest.
Tip #6: Stick to the basics
If you’re too lazy to experiment and you want a pretty much guaranteed sale, there are some timeless basics that never go out of style.
Black jeans, whether they’re skinny, ripped, or have a ‘mom’ cut are always in demand.
Black biker shorts have also become a staple, especially when paired with oversized tees.
Here are some more ideas of the basics:
- Black leather jackets
- Trench coats
- Cute sweatsuits (or matching sweatpants & hoodies)
- Bikinis
Tip #7: Seasonal stuff
If you want to make quick money, it should come as obvious to buy clothes that are (or are going to be in a few months) in season.
I’ve made the mistake of buying winter boots in spring and trying to sell those.
And surprise surprise, I had to wait a little over half a year to sell them.
Morale of the story being, buy the right clothes at the right time, unless you’re okay with the clothes sitting in your closet for a while.
CONCLUSION
There you have it: my 7 tips on how to detect good deals on used clothes.
The key to picking good deals is to understand what your buyers are looking for – that’s quality and a good condition.
If you’re able to find clothes that fall under those two categories, it should be easy-peasy to sell them.
Don’t forget to present your items in the best possible light (pictures sell!).
High-quality photos and detailed descriptions can make a big difference, and will help you attract more buyers and close more sales.
If you want to learn to take better pictures of clothes, check out my post on how to take pictures of clothes that sell.
That’s all for today, amigos.
See you in the next one!