How to sell antique clothing?

[cupcake_goth]

No, not vintage. (Or, for that matter, "vintage", because it still freaks me out to see clothing from the late 80s described as "vintage".) Honest-to-goodness antique Edwardian and Victorian clothing. I've got a couple of pieces that I'm finally going to stop being a packrat about, but now I don't know if I should sell them on eBay, on LJ, or just at my clothing sale.

They're not in perfect condition, not by a long shot. The silk linings are shattering, some seams are frayed, that sort of thing. I don't know how easily I'll be able to get clear photos of that. So, with that in mind, where would people suggest I try to sell a skirt and a velvet capelet?

Comments

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

antiquedress.com (http://www.antiquedress.com) buys and sells real antiques, but I'm not sure they'll be interested in anything that has serious condition problems. Maybe if you got them professionally repaired they'd be easier to sell.

[bork.livejournal.com]

Talk to the local antique stores in the area; they'd know.

[thevfrchick.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't hurt to advertise them through several channels.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

You will make more money selling it yourself than selling to a dealer. Condition is important unless its something really rare and a shattered lining can be overlooked if its a designer label. You can look through the Victorian and Edwardian section at closed auctions on ebay to see what things actually sold for as opposed to the asking price. Now, if you don't want to hassle with picture taking and just want to move it then a local shop in Seattle might be just the thing. What I've done in some cases is take a credit with the shop on future purchases. Same principal as selling books you may get more in credit than cash. You can check with on line consignment places too. I take a small commission compared to most on vintage and antique items at 30%. The owner is paid when the item sells.

[martygreene.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on your purposes. If you want it to go somewhere that it will be loved and appreciated for sure, I'd say LJ/your clothing sale. You'll probably get less for it, but you'll know who it's going to live with.

If you want to sell it mainly for profit, I'd follow the advice above.

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Isn't it weird how it's hard for us to think of "vintage" as being from the '80's, but in the '80's, it was totally natural to think of stuff from the 60's as being vintage?

Something to ponder! :)

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

o_O

...the 80's are to today's kids what the 60's were to us

oh my god

*needs a drink*

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

::hands you a glass of absinthe::

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I know it's a *Lot* of perspective! Curse and I were talking about this last night, and he just sort of stared into space for a few moments...

[torreybird.livejournal.com]

at the highschool I teach at, the 80s are a dress up day for homecoming...

one kid told me, "you were so lucky to go to school in the 80s!"
"why?" I asked.
"because you had such great music!"
...

[corwynofamber.livejournal.com]

Depending on your reasons and aspiration for selling, another thought, if you investigate this and think you may not get enough to make them worth selling, is to consider seeing if there would be a (non profit) museum or some such that would take them as a donation and then you take a write off. Sometimes it is more 'profitable' to do it that way.

[djeternaldarkne.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was suggested I contact you as I have some bpal to sell. I have a full bottle of Spooky, and a 3/4 full bottle of Pumpkin King. Can you help?

TOTALLY unrelated and a complete hijack

[brumbjorn.livejournal.com]

If you are interested, my huge assed BPAL order of 120 bottles for my decant group consisting of all the Faces of the Heroine, Lupercalia, Carnaval Diabolique and the Snake Pit is being decanted on Saturday on Capitol Hill if you'd like to join us. We're meeting at noon at the Elysian Brewery and your welcome to join us... and help ;)

There is a bottle of Lump of Coal in it for you...



(and this invitation is open to anyone BTW)