Today’s post is about how I shop consignment for wardrobe essentials and trends in real life as well as online.

I’ll explain why I shop consignment for my wardrobe essentials, what I shop, as well as common pitfalls to avoid and touch on the true cost beyond the published price tag.

As a bonus I’ve rounded up links to shop one of my favorite trends this spring, the sheer top, at online consignment shop The Real Real all for under $150.

We’ve all seen them on our favorite shopping avenues, Consignment shops. In case you don’t know, this is how consignment works.

Apart from a traditional thrift or vintage store, consignment shops sell new and used clothing from a private person. That person brings in a collection of items during the shop’s buying hours. The buyer checks the condition of the items and whether it is in season to determine the value and if it will at sell. The seller and buyer enter into a contract where the seller will receive a percentage of the purchase price after the item has sold.

Percentages vary but can range between 25% and 50% (for luxury items this can be as high as 80%) The longer the item takes to sell, the price (and percentage profit) will be discounted accordingly. (Usually a 3 tiered discount)

WHY I make consignment shopping a regular part of my shopping strategy:

1. It’s an ethical way to shop because you’re saving a piece that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
2. Consignment stores do the work for you of finding the best pieces. Their buyers have a discerning eye and only accept what’s in season, and in the best condition. Whereas thrift stores can let items slip through that have damage, stains, or worse smells.
3. You can find new articles at a fraction of the cost.

Click HereWHAT I DO Shop Consignment For are essentials such as:

• Classic Blazers like this double breasted camel-hair version,
• High End Statement coats such as the Max Mara beauty you saw in my Instagram story,
• Heavy duty, long-lasting footwear such as cowboy boots. I will sometimes make a concession for vintage footwear like Ferragamo or those I Magnin slides that I talked about in my post on Vintage Essentials,
• Leather jackets for that worn in look,
• Lastly, trend pieces that I want to experiment with such as a bright pop of color or a sheer blouse.

WHAT I DON’T Shop Consignment for are:

• White shirts – never had any luck with preworn white shirt without stains or fading.
• Personal items such as Undergarments

As you can see my list is pretty focused, but you can find anything you can image when shopping consignment. Just be sure to watch out for these pitfalls when shopping in person and online:

• Stains
• Holes
• Alterations (beware of this; sometimes the size on the tag doesn’t accurately portray the size if the garment has been tailored. So always try before you buy. Or if online, go by the measurements in the description.
• Wear &Tear & Damage. When shopping in person this is easy to spot, but can be hard to see online. My tip is to always, always zoom in on the photos. Most photos on sites like The Real real are a high enough resolution to look for stains, or piling. TRR will usually describe damage or wear and tear. After all , they don’t make a profit on returned items. AND you can always ask them to send you additional photos. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Before you hit the buy button or hand over your debit card make sure you factor in the true total cost. What do I mean? For example, does this pieces need to be tailored to fit you and if so how much is this going to set you back? In addition to tailoring watch our for:

• Repairs: Do you need to fix anything such as a missing button and can you do this yourself?
• Dry cleaning: Is the piece machine washable or do you have to take it to the cleaner? Does it require a special cleaning process like the blazer I’m wearing. Sure, I expected to dry clean it before wearing it BUT the fabric is camel-hair, not just plain ol’ wool. This required special care cleaning and added about 50% to the purchase cost. Not a big deal since this jacket is from Saks 5th Avenue and at $75 a steal!. Just be sure to factor care requirements into your budget.

All that said, consignment is an essential part of your wardrobe and a great way to shop ethically. You can also make a little money on the side by consigning items in your closet.

As I mentioned before I love to shop consignment for affordable trend pieces in stores and online. I mention a few brick and mortar shops in my post on best Bay Area vintage shops. My favorite online consignment shop is The Real Real. Hands down the best site for luxury designer consignment at up to 90% savings. For more information about TRR check out my post on National Consignment Day. 

Xoxo, Ten Key Pieces