How We Price Your Items
Ever wonder why a $1,200 designer dress might resell for $250, while another piece holds nearly half its original value? Welcome to the unpredictable world of resale!
At Consign Couture, every price is chosen with care. We want our prices to be fair and reflect what a piece is actually worth on the resale market. Because no two garments are alike, we don’t use a one-size-fits-all formula. Instead, we weigh a handful of key factors, starting with the original retail price and comparable resale listings across platforms.
Below, we break down the four categories that shape our pricing the most: brand name, current trends, condition, and scarcity.
Brand Name: Does a Designer Label Always Mean Higher Resale Value?
Some brands simply retain their value better than others. This is driven by the brand’s reputation, desirability, and current trends that shoppers are looking for.
To determine our price for many luxury and designer garments, Soph, our lovely assistant manager, will find the original price of an item (if possible), and then other comparable resale prices on The RealReal, Vestaire Collective, Fashionfile, and others. By doing this process over and over again, we learn which brands keep a higher percentage of their value, and which ones don’t.
Some brands that retain a higher percentage of their value: (sell for 30-50% of their retail value):
- Sezane
- Clare V.
- Staud
- Reformation
- Doen
- Jenni Kayne
- Anine Bing
Some brands that retain a lower percentage of their value: (sell for less than 30% of retail value)
- Akris
- Akris Punto
- Jil Sander
- St. John
- Lafayette 148
- Max Mara
- Escada
- Etro
- Marni
- Armani Collezioni
- Eileen Fisher
While many of these high-end brands make beautiful and well-crafted garments, they are frequently not as sought-after. Therefore, their resale prices dip.
Current Trends: What’s Hot, What’s Not, and Why It Matters
Fashion has a funny way of coming full circle. Brands that shoppers weren’t particularly excited about five years ago can suddenly become some of the most desirable pieces on the resale market.
For example, if you had asked us five years ago where Ralph Lauren would be placed between those two lists, it would certainly have been on the lower one. In recent years, that has changed. Fashion trends among Gen Z are pushing the appreciation for rich colors and textures. Ralph Lauren, with their timeless and preppy vibes, is now flying off our racks.
Condition: Why Condition Can Make or Break the Price
No matter the brand or style, an item’s condition plays a big role in how we price it!
If something is brand new with tags and in pristine condition, we’ll generally price it around 50% of its original retail value, sometimes a little lower depending on the brand and style. For items that have been worn but are still in good to like-new condition, we typically aim for around 40% of the original retail price.
We also believe that items with a few imperfections deserve a second chance! We call these “as-is.” They might have a small hole, loose stitching, a stain, or another little flaw. Some imperfections can be fixed with a bit of TLC, while others may be permanent.
When pricing these pieces, we evaluate on a case-by-case basis. We consider what it might take to repair the item, whether that’s time, money, or a little extra love, as well as what someone might be happy to pay for it as-is. Our goal is to find a fair price that gives each piece the chance to find a new home!
Scarcity: The Rare
Sometimes, the harder an item is to find, the more someone might be willing to pay for it. Vintage pieces in great condition, limited editions, special collaborations, and discontinued styles can all be a little more sought-after. When lots of people are looking for the same piece, resale prices may go up a bit depending on how rarity and interest.
Putting it all together: So, What’s Your Designer Piece Really Worth?
Pricing secondhand fashion is part science and part intuition. Brand reputation, current trends, condition, and scarcity all work together. No single factor tells the whole story.
Our goal is always the same: to price each item fairly, give every garment a chance at a second life, and help you find something you’ll love at a price that makes sense.
Have something beautiful sitting in your closet that deserves a second life? We’d love to see it! Stop by Consign Couture in Portland’s Multnomah Village or learn more about consigning with us. If you are ready, book your consignment appointment now!
