Clearing out your wardrobe is hardly a fun prospect, is it? Actually it can be rather daunting when you're faced with all of your clothes at once, as it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees (or the skirts for the tops, for that matter). But if your friends have been documenting their wardrobe clear-outs on social media, you'll know it can be a cathartic process, one which will leave you with extra space and also the opportunity to earn money from your pre-loved items. Our tip? Do it one step at a time. Clear out a couple or drawers or your wardrobe, don't pull everything out at once or it'll be too overwhelming. Also, take before and after pictures – this will let you see how cluttered your space was before, and bring you instant joy at the (more) minimal look you'll achieve post clear-out.
Selling your clothes online has never been easier thanks to a string of apps and resale sites that make it as straightforward as possible. Of course, the thought of generating some extra cash from your clothes is a huge plus but so is the fact that by reselling your stuff, you're extending the lifecycle of a garment and ensuring that your clothes don't end up in landfill.
In terms of the actual clearing-out process, everyone has their own system but just make sure that whatever ends up in the ‘toss’ pile doesn’t actually get tossed – second-hand platforms such as Depop, eBay and Vestiaire Collective are the best place to start selling online. Retailers such as Selfridges, Zara and COS have also started resale platforms, too, aiming to create a more circular life cycle for the items they create. Keep going to see the best ways to sell your unwanted clothes online.
The Best Second-Hand Fashion Platforms
1 of 10Depop
Depopis loved by 26 million users worldwide, you'll find high street sell-outs, niche streetwear hits and vintage clothing on this easy-to-use app. Known for a lower (and flexible) price point, the communication is super quick so be prepared to barter and settle on a good price when selling/buying. And top tip: when selling on Depop, treat your feed like your Instagram, embracing the desired aesthetic for more interest.
2 of 10eBay
eBay doesn't just focus on fashion, but is a great option for anything and everything between. Be careful on Buy It Now/Auction to make sure your luxury items don't sell for 99p (our handy guide will help). If you're selling a designer bag and want to give your potential buyers the assurance it's legit, you can check the 'Authentic Guaranteed' box so that it can be checked before your buyer receives it. Finally, the best time for selling? 6pm on a Sunday.
3 of 10LAMPOO
Launched in Milan, and now available in the UK, Lampoo believes second-hand luxury is the key to a more sustainable future, giving new life to pre-loved items by providing a one-stop-shop for consumers to clear out their unwanted goods while also investing in new trends.
4 of 10Vestiaire Collective
Most fashion editors have a wishlist as long as their arm on luxury resale site Vestiaire Collective, which also offers a concierge service so that you can outsource the entire selling process to the in-house team. It's the largest, and ultimate, resale site for designer clothes and accessories that are verified for authenticity by in-house experts.
5 of 10HEWI
Similar to Vestiaire Collective, HEWI, or Hardly Ever Worn It, offers authentication on pre-owned goods that, as the title suggests, have hardly ever been worn. With a real focus on luxury, this is where you can find those prized fashion pieces at a fraction of the price, and in mint condition. What's not to love?
6 of 10Thrift+
Everything available on Chooza benefits a chosen charity (sellers recommend which they'd like to support during the listing process, with a minimum of £1 and a maximum of 66% of the sale price donated) to make for an almost guilt-free shopping (or selling) experience.
7 of 10Vinted
Vinted is the resale platform for anyone who believes that 'good clothes should live long'. With a global community of 50 million - and activity in 15 different markets, including the UK - make it your one-stop-shop for buying and selling second-hand.
8 of 10Zara resell
One of the latest resale options to launch is Zara Resell as part of its new pre-owned initiative where you can also repair and donate your clothes. As a step towards making high street fashion more eco-conscious, Zara has made it possible to sell and shop second-hand items online in the UK. They have to be clothes, shoes and accessories from the brand, but we're sure most of you have a lot of Zara hanging in your wardrobes that may be ready to be loved by someone else.
9 of 10Cos
Another high street store making more sustainable steps is COS, with cosresell.com. If you're a fan of the much-loved brand then this is where you'll be able to sell a lot of your pieces for a good price. The site will take 10% commission so you'll still get most of the money from the sale. And yes, you can also buy pre-loved COS pieces from other people on here, too.
10 of 10Reselfridges
If you have a designer bag you no longer use, Selfridges will take it off your hands. The Reselfridges service will help you get rid of it quickly. Instead of getting paid for it, though, you'll receive store credit to spend at your leisure. All you have to do is upload some pictures of your item and you'll receive a quote of how much credit you could get for it. Then, Selfridges will arrange a collection date with you and once it has been verified as authentic, you'll receive an eGift card within four working days, perfect if you don't want to wait weeks, or even months to clear out your belongings.