Can't sell designer plus sized clothes, what would you do?

[Mrsredlipstick]

I've always sold my clothes on eBay or through resale boutiques but they're just not shifting.

Due to my career in fashion and beauty they are brands such as Max Mara, Ralph Lauren and Dolce Gabanna.

I have lost a lot of weight and where my clothes used to get snapped up they have practically no Interest. I'm asking about 20% of what I paid.

The dress agency has said that since WLJ she has no call for the bigger sizes.
I know that approximately 10% of the population are on these drugs (source Good Housekeeping magazine). I would have taken them myself if I hadn't been poorly.

I'm about to move and was hoping to not take them with me. They are four sizes too big so can't easily be altered .
Has anybody had any luck selling their clothes or have I missed the boat?

Thanks for the pointers! ❤️

I have sold a lot on vinted included designer items. The stuff that sells quickly are brands that I think younger women want in smaller sizes.

I tend to put things on at an optimistic price but reduce after a week and after two to three weeks just take down and donate.

Are you checking how many views/favourites you are getting on items as that should give a clue as to if people are even looking at things.

I wouldn't also put 10 black trousers on at the same time for example - maybe put a couple of tops, dresses, trousers and coats so it doesn't look dodgy. You can then add a few things each day which helps keep you at the top of the algorithm as well.

Good luck!

I am a 20/22 and 6ft tall.

I have sold some things not as high end label as yours on Vinted but much less sold than I was selling and I have had to reduce the prices quite significantly.

Good luck OP.

Maybe try reducing them.

Or just a thought are you on insta. Emily Jane Johnston also tall and about a size 18 now lives in America but she still has a lot of followers in America and UK has a massive collection of Ralph Lauren jumpers from her mum. You could perhaps comment on some of her posts (just an idea).

You could tell us your ebay or vinted user names.

The issue is that there is just SO much clothing on second hand sites at all price points and all sizes. There may be less demand for larger clothing but that's less of an issue than the millions of garmets flooding the market, so price comes down. We all have far too much.

I have been struck by how much prices have dropped recently. I buy Toast, Margaret Howell etc on vinted and prices have really gone down. As others have said I won't pay more than I'm prepared to lose. I do think if you drop your prices then things will sell

20% less than you paid is too high. I never pay more than 50% including p&p.

I also agree that as a buyer on Vinted I am prepared to take a risk on an item not fitting if it's £10, or £20. £150 is a lot to risk on something which may not fit you or suit you, however well described. I also have seen so many adverts with "worn once" that I really don't believe that any more. Everything on Vinted which is not BNWT is described as brand new or barely worn to try to boost prices.

I am not disbelieving you OP when you say your items have been loved and cherished, and steamed/ironed before sending but again, there is no guarantee of that from a customer's pointr of view. I'd also say modelling isn't a great idea as the reason you want rid of these items is that they don't fit you any more, so you'd be modelling something too big.

There’s a combination of factors.

the sheer quantity and availability of second hand clothes via Vinted has increased competition and reduced the value- there are over 500 max mara wool coats even when filtered for beige, wool

people aren’t wearing so much formal wear these days.

the economy

your target market is putting their kids through uni / thinking about contributing to their living costs well beyond previous expectations

you have mentioned your photos and description. Vinted isn’t like eBay where historically there’s been a flowery tract extolling the item and the kind of person you’ll be if you own it. Stick to detailed (really detailed) condition, composition, measurements. Photos taken in good light against a plain background with no clutter visible.

That’s all. no one cares that it would look great at x event, I’ve got eyes and know where I want to wear something. No one cares why you are selling, weight loss or change in fortunes is none of my concern. No one cares that fluted sleeves and ruched collar make this a real statement of style etc. again. I’ve got eyes.

EBay, how long have you posted on it? Have you use the eBay app with photo AI so it looks like a studio photo not flat on floor or hanger on door. Worth ending listing and relist. Coats would start to shift in next few weeks since it been so warm and no one wearing it.
Vestaire Collective, bigger cut but designer items.
Depop.

maybe put retail at £1000 and selling £150?

I would personally never buy from Al edited photos, you can clearly see it and reality can be faaaaaar from it . Especially if it's expensive item.

The photo of item is not AI, the background is. So it does what Adobe and Canva would do but with less steps and in case no design software is to take photo and remove background to white, or grey or blue. That is it. So products are not AI just background.

You can still spot AI backgrounds and they are so unnecessary. I don’t want a studio photo. I want clear images of what you’re selling from multiple angles, including one of the labels.

Yes, video options so you can see item. I prefer natural lighting and AI white only main and back, otherwise just natural for multiple close ups. Fabric material tags. AI white background is what the main brands reselling on these platforms uses too. Boots product shot etc.

Have you tried Thrift+?

@Pistachiomonster

My things would fit you perfectly!

I can’t comment on the demand aspect of certain sizes. But I do sell on Vinted a lot. One thing I have noticed on Vinted is that my items shift WAY faster on the weekend after most people’s pay day. Ie end of the month. I tend to list stuff then and it goes really quickly. As the month goes on, people have less disposable cash.

@Mrsredlipstick would you be willing to put some of your items on Vinted so that we can find them ie maybe with your MN username as a searchable term or even in your user name? (Sorry I’m not very familiar with Vinted so can’t give a better specific proposal)

I agree. It's risky buying second hand and £150 is a lot to lose if it's not as listed and doesn't fit or suit you.

I’m an 18/20 but I’d not take the risk on Vinted where I then have no recourse to deal with it if it doesn’t fit

I wouldn't buy anything which looked AI. I have bought stuff on Vinted and eBay which was in the £100s but only from 2 very specific brands that I own and I'm very familiar with and (a) only sell limited numbers compared to Max Mara (b) from sellers who presented them well with detailed information. These 2 brands are virtually impossible to fake and are going to be sold either by fans or professional retailers of end of season stock.

I have Max Mara coats but if I didn't I wouldn't buy them from ebay or Vinted. I'd search second hand shops.

@Mrsredlipstick, an alternative approach would be to sell on eBay with their authenticity guarantee. MaxMara is one of their approved brands.

It's only free if you sell for £200+. At lower prices, the fee is £20.

Thinking back to my marketing studies, it's a long-standing truth that higher prices add perceived value. You might find your wardrobe sells better for more!

If it doesn't turn out that way, you can always reduce prices and pay the fees if needs be.

@GarlicEverything oh thank you for that.

I did sell a £300 coat a few months ago so there may be some truth in that.

I'm going to redo my listings on Saturday.