above: Lisa Dorsett and Jessica Acre have owned and operated Luxe Luxury Labels in Armonk since 2016.
Our how-to guide for navigating the resale market.
In a world where fast fashion and consumerism have dominated the retail landscape, a growing movement is reshaping the way we shop. The fashion consignment business has experienced significant growth in the last few years and, according to a report by Harvard Business Review, the U.S. resale market is now a $175 billion industry.
If you haven’t yet embraced this new way of shopping, here are some of the benefits to consider.
Designer For Less: Secondhand shopping is a more affordable way to purchase luxury and designer items.
Environmental Consciousness: By choosing to shop pre-owned, you actively participate in reducing waste and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with new fashion production.
The Thrill of The Hunt: Discovering unique, one-of-a-kind pieces not only enhances your personal style, but provides a treasure hunt like experience like no other.
Shop Local: Shopping at local consignment shops contributes to the economic well-being of your community.
Giving Back: Most consignment stores and even some of the big online players donate excess clothing and accessories to local charities, so by selling your pieces, you are often indirectly helping those in need.
So, what does this mean for you?
I spoke to several industry experts who shared their tips and tricks of how to consign and how to shop pre-loved.
Luxe Luxury Labels
41 Maple Ave, Armonk, NY
instagram.com/luxeluxurylabels
For lovers of all thing’s luxury and designer, Luxe Luxury Labels in Armonk, NY, is the ultimate destination. Owned by Lisa Dorsett and Jessica Acre, Luxe has been serving their local community and beyond since 2016. Everything they do is about cultivating personal relationships with sellers and buyers. Lisa told me they see themselves as ‘consignment matchmakers’, as there are certain buyer-seller relationships they have helped foster. “We meet the best people. We develop friendships. We love making people happy”, said Lisa.
If you want to consign, you simply book an appointment and come to the store. Or if you don’t live locally, you can also send your items to them. They get special pieces from all over the world. They inspect every single piece personally to ensure quality and authenticity. Their items are pristine. Lisa shared their top selling brands. They can’t keep Chanel or Hermes in stock. Other top sellers are Dior, Prada, Veronica Beard, Nili Lotan, Zimmermann and Toteme. Handbags are the most sought-after, though ready-to-wear and shoes aren’t far behind.
They have created a unique Instagram based shopping experience that really sets them apart. On @luxeluxurylables their Reels allow you to see the clothing on a body making the experience relatable and more personal. You simply DM them if you see a piece you want.
the realreal
therealreal.com
The RealReal is the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated resale luxury goods, with more than 34 million consignors and sellers. They set themselves apart from other online players by offering a ‘concierge’ service, meaning one of their experts will come to your home, help you edit, authenticate, and photograph each piece. You get paid automatically, monthly for any items sold. Your commission rate ranges from 20% to over 70% based on the selling price of the item. While they recommend you take advantage of their concierge service, you can also simply fill out their online consignment form, pack your items and ship to them for free…they do the rest.
Meet Kari Romeo, Elite Account Luxury Manager. One of the Connecticut’s experts, Kari knows how to find value in your closet. She will literally become your consignment guru. According to Kari, these are the hot brands you should sell now…Chanel, Hermès, Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, Celine, Dior, Prada, YSL, The Row, Valentino, Tom Ford, Gucci and Rolex. Not only do they sell fast, but they also often sell for close to the original retail price. While handbags are still the most sought-after category, jewelry & watches are a close second.
They also have physical stores, so visit their Greenwich location at 256 Greenwich Ave any time you prefer to touch and try on.
If you think The RealReal is just for women, you would be mistaken. Their menswear business has grown exponentially, and their designer offering is vast.
Poshmark
poshmark.com
The leading social marketplace for new and secondhand style, Poshmark allows you to connect directly to individual sellers and buyers. With over 100,000 registered users, it is the ultimate destination for DIY consignment. You simply photograph an item that you want to sell on your smartphone and list the item in less than 60 seconds. While Poshmark does provide prepaid shipping labels, you must ship it yourself to each individual buyer. Once the item is delivered, you get paid, less Poshmark’s 20% commission.
Sounds easy enough, right? But here is the challenge, you need to gain followers just like any social platform for ultimate success. This is why we love Courtney Brockwell. Courtney, like Kari Romeo provides a white glove service. She doesn’t officially work for Poshmark, but she is a master seller and has a significant audience to tap into. She will come to your home and help you part with the items you can’t seem to let go of. She will do everything for you…you never even have to go onto Poshmark. She takes 50% after Poshmark’s 20% for this service.
While you can even sell non-brand, one-of-a-kind pieces on Poshmark, Courtney said that big brand names like Chanel, Gucci, Chloe, YSL, Ulla Johnson and Veronica Beard are top sellers that garner the highest return. She also does well with Zara because they never make the same pieces twice. This makes older season styles highly sought-after, allowing you to get triple the retail price in some instances.
If you are wondering how much money you can make, Courtney’s closet hauls yield anywhere from $500 – $3,000 for the seller, depending on brands, styles, quality.
If you are a shopper and new to Poshmark, here is a quick insider’s tip: You can negotiate prices with the seller. Not just the ultimate treasure hunt, but if you like to haggle too this is the marketplace for you.If online shopping isn’t your thing, here are three of our favorite consignment stores to frequent.
Roundabout Resale Couture
606 Post Road East Westport //
48 West Putnam Ave. Greenwich // 1061 High Ridge Rd. // roundaboutcouture.com
Established in 1989 by Laurie Perren, Roundabout Resale Couture is not only a local favorite, but one of the original purveyors of luxury resale. Each location offers a different selection. Laurie described Greenwich as a “Bergdorf Goodman,” Westport as a “Barneys” and Stamford as a “Anthropologie,” each servicing the specific style needs of the women who live in these locations.
Laurie told me that her top sellers aren’t necessarily brand-specific. Of course, designer handbags are the most sought-after, but depending on the location and season, anything from leather and shearling outerwear to dresses can become top sellers. Laurie also fills her racks with closeout items from other boutiques which is why the stores never have a shortage of great finds.
You don’t need an appointment to consign, though it is recommended. Laurie only wants your most pristine pieces, though they will sew on a button for you if needed. They will price and send you an email list of all your items. Consigners get anywhere from 40% to over 65% of the original price depending on the item. Unlike many other consignment locations or the big online players, Laurie doesn’t adjust your commission when something goes on sale.
Bring your pieces in earlier in the season (spring in February/March and fall in August/September) if you want to make sure your items move. If you have something great and it is off season, Laurie will still take it and hold it in their warehouse until she is sure it will sell. This applies to shoppers too. The early bird gets the Chanel bag. “I love clothes. I never get sick of good clothes,” said Laurie. This is perhaps the secret to her ongoing success.
Cloud Nine Consignment
339 main st, westport
consigncloud9.com
The newest addition to the Westport resale world, Cloud Nine Consignment, which opened in 2022, is the quintessential secondhand boutique. Owner Cindy Cossuto has been in the consignment business for 14 years so Cloud Nine showcases her expertise and her knack for finding the unusual piece.
When I visited the store, she showed me special pieces like a reversible mink coat (think mob wives), a never-worn Ralph Lauren Collection gown and one of the best denim assortments I have seen. Top sellers are of course designer handbags, but she also does well with luxury knitwear from brands like Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli.
Her consignment process is simple. Just drop your items Monday through Friday…no appointment necessary. Consignors enjoy a 50/50 split and unsold styles are marked down after 90 days. At the end of the sale period, the consignor can decide to pick up their unsold pieces or to allow Cindy to donate them to charities like the Boys & Girls Clubs.
If you haven’t shopped resale because you are afraid of buying a fake, don’t be. All the mentioned consignment retailers have a strict authentication process. They either have experts on staff or they use 3rd party authenticators as needed. While it very rare, if a piece gets missed, all will offer you a full refund.
Treasure hunter, lover of a good deal, style maven who wants the unique or just interested in being kinder to the environment, no matter your “why”, consignment shopping and selling offers something for every fashion enthusiast.