any advice on how to clean out your closet? i have a lot of stuff that's still new with tags or was worn once, that i have had for so long and i know i wouldn't wear...i think it's time to start cleaning out!

i know so many people sell old clothes, but any advice on that? any ebay, swap website or retail boutique advice?

i've tried to sell to beacon's closet, but they have been overly picky, i once went in with an entire bag of vintage/good condition/ brand name stuff and they only took one sweater

I have had VERY good luck at Buffalo Exchange and would highly recommend it to anyone that has one nearby.
As far as cleaning out the closet, make sure to set aside plenty of time!

I did this recently, and I went ahead and made some piles:
Try to Sell
Give away (goodwill)
Toss
Alter

I had recently lost 30 lbs and needed some funds to revamp my wardrobe so I didn't like a frumpy frump in oversized clothes anymore, but there were some items that I really loved and didn't want to get rid of, so I had them altered to fit my new size.

After I made my piles, I went through them again to make absolutely sure I had put things in the correct piles. It also helps if you start with one type of garment, and work from there. So, for example, start with pants, move on to skirts, etc.

If you have some business attire you can donate it to programs that help low income women who are trying to get back to work and on their feet.

http://www.dressforsuccess.org/

I hear Buffalo Exchange is pretty good and for current fashions geared towards young adults there is Plato's Closet if either are around your area.

i dont know of any buffalo exchanges or plato's closet near nyc :(

I give a lot of my old clothes to the salvation army. They are really great because they will come and pick up your clothes for you, so all you have to do is bag them. Dress for Success is great for getting rid of your business suits and around prom time a lot of organizations will take your fancy dresses for girls that need them for prom. The hard part is getting rid of your stuff, so don't be afraid to throw out anything you will never wear.

I just hauled off a ton of stuff to our local Good will, but I did reserve some of my best clothes to take to a high-end consignment shop in my community. They have wonderful clothes and give you 50% of the selling price. It helps feel my habit!

Sounds like your closet is clean and ready for your fall wardrobe. Glad your old clothes could go to a good cause too.

i frequently donate to a local church, usually about 2 bags a season, but some of my stuff that i'm trying to purge is new with tags or high end designer and i wanted to make a little profit off it (grad student living is expensive when you're on next to no income) but i just did some searching and realized there is a buffalo exchange here in brooklyn- i don't know why i've never heard about it- i'm going to get my stuff together and give it a try. any advice on ebay selling?
of course there is my little sister, who generally steals whatever i'm ready to get rid of anyway :)

Yeah, I thought there was one in that area. As far as ebay goes, I'm always skeptical of buying anything. If you do decide to go that route, make sure you provide a good description and good pics. The downside that is having to pay for the listings. I wonder if craigslist would be a good way for you to go. I know it tends to be used more in areas that are more populated, so I would give it a try! Aside from those options, I would think that there's gotta be some high-end consignment shops in NYC...so maybe that could work.

I've heard Craigslist is good, but I tend to just donate my clothes instead of having to deal with it online.

I actually read an article recently about cleaning out your closet and selling your clothes. I think it was in the September or October Vogue. The advice sounds a lot like Bimbi's!! They say ebay is your best bet if you want to mess with it, if not check out the resale shops and do some research on them, then make some piles. If you're not going to wear something, it seems like a shame to just keep it in your closet season after season!

Woohoo! I don't even read Vogue! They should hire me :).

seriously, your fabulous advice is not getting enough credit when you're just sharing it with us :)

LOL, thanks Dazzlin!

They should.

You will never really get anything from the stores that buy back clothing. First I sold a few things then donated the rest. I also let a few of my friends go through my stuff and let them take what they wanted..its always nice to know someone who appreciates your clothing has it..:0)

Yes fashionmom, I do have a couple of friends that I have check out my stuff before I sell them or give them away. I agree, I like having someone I know be able to enjoy the stuff as much as I did. Buut, I disagree about the not getting anything from stores that buy back clothing. As I said, I have had VERY good luck at Buffalo Exchange, I got about $200 there once! The people that work there know their stuff...VERY unlike any of the kids that work at Plato's Closet types of places.

Buffalo Exchange is pretty good, but I LOVE Wasteland. That store is not only awesome for buying back clothes; it is an amazing vintage store to shop. The only one I've been to is on Melrose, and it's conveniently located across the street to Buffalo Exchance. Plato's Closet is another, but not a big fan of that one...I just hate having someone judge my clothes. But I can't take it personally cause I know that they are looking for select items, but STILL. I want to say, "Do you KNOW how much I spent on that? And you only want to offer me 20 bucks?!?!"

LOL...yeah, that's my problem with Plato's. The kids that work in the ones that I've been to have no idea who Betsey Johnson is (blasphemy!) or anything that can't be found at the local mall.
There is no Wasteland near me...wait, I take that back. There WAS a place called Wasteland here in town. Its in the basement of one of the more "hip" stores here. However, I don't believe it was the same type of Wasteland...just happened to have the same name. While they DO appreciate the good stuff I've brought in, I never made much money from it. You only get the money if your stuff sells, and usually its not much. Sure, its better than nothing, but I pretty much did cartwheels out of the Buffalo Exchange after my first experience, LOL.

sigh, i need to get on this. maybe i should just get off my lazy butt and sell my stuff on ebay-- i went through a long phase of buying pretty things that never suited my personal style or fit, they've been totally lonely in the back of my closet for forever now

Yeah, its hard to take the time to sort and sell...but it'll be worth it in the end! Let us know when you post stuff on e-bay (free adverstising, lol).

should look into putting some up on craiglist (creating an ad or putting up pictures - no cost so it's cheaper than ebay) or finding consignment shops like green street consignment (there is 3 in the philadelphia area) they will take lightly worn stylish clothing and sell it for 90 days and give you 40% back- that's what i do every season- they are great. i have gone to plato's closet but they are looking for youth clothing like american eagle and abercrombie- so you know what you are dealing with with them. you could also just try having a clothes swap with friends or coworkers- no money but loads of fun. good luck

I say anything you haven't worn the clothing in a year or longer...it should be going to chairty like goodwill. If it's a pricey item or one you just purchased try eBay, Plato's Closet, or Craiglist. :)