10 Best Pieces to Sell on Consignment This Fall (& How to Make the Most $$$)

Have you been meaning to clean out your closet and earn a little cash for your preloved goodies? Well, September might be the best time to finally get around to it.

One of the secrets to making more money on consignment is selling for the season ahead, not the season you’re leaving behind. Most shoppers buy for the weather and occasions coming up next, which means, for example, summer pieces are much harder to sell once September rolls around. If you wait until fall to consign warm-weather clothing, you’re likely to get less interest — and if it does sell, it’s usually priced much lower.

That’s why September is prime time to bring in your fall and winter pieces – leather jackets, cashmere sweaters, boots, beautiful coats, and designer handbags.

Of course, not everything in your closet has the same resale potential. Certain categories consistently perform better, like when they combine high original retail prices, timeless appeal, desirable materials, and strong seasonal demand.

In this guide, we’ll give you the best items to sell right before fall – and some tips and tricks on how to make the most money from your closet this season. 

1. Designer Handbags

If there’s one category worth checking your closet for first: handbags. Designer bags are some of the strongest performers in the luxury resale market because they aren't restricted by traditional clothing sizes, they tend to have high original retail prices, and their timeless styles often remain desirable for years (or even decades).

Classic styles from houses like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Celine, and Bottega Veneta are particularly appealing to secondhand shoppers. If you’re looking to update your wardrobe, you’ll likely get a good chunk back for designer bags in good condition. 

How to make more:

• Before consigning a bag, empty every pocket, gently wipe down the interior, and wipe the hardware of any spots or marks.
• Look for any original extras you still have tucked away; dust bags, boxes, straps, authenticity cards, and receipts can all make a piece more appealing to consignment shops.
• Resist the urge to heavily condition or repair a valuable designer bag yourself. An improper DIY fix can sometimes hurt its value more than normal signs of wear.

Shop stunning designer handbags here. 

2. Leather and Suede Jackets

A beautiful leather jacket is practically made for fall consignment. Leather and suede pieces generally have higher original price points than everyday clothing, and shoppers often turn to consignment specifically because they can get luxurious materials for less than they would pay new.

Moto jackets, oversized leather jackets, suede bombers, leather trenches, and vintage styles all perform well on consignment, especially when the cut feels current and the material is in good condition.

How to make more:

• Check collars, cuffs, underarms, pockets, and hardware before bringing yours in. Those are often the first areas to show wear.
• Give the jacket a chance to air out after months in storage, remove anything from the pockets, and avoid folding leather for long periods before consigning it.
• A piece that arrives clean, fresh, and ready to merchandise has a much stronger first impression on the consignor.

3. Wool, Cashmere, and Designer Coats

Quality outerwear is expensive to buy new, which makes the resale market especially attractive to shoppers searching for wool coats, cashmere blends, trenches, designer puffers, shearling, and other substantial cold-weather pieces.

Material matters the most here. A beautifully constructed wool or cashmere coat from a desirable designer will generally have more resale potential than a similarly styled coat made from synthetic fibers.

Classic colors like camel, navy, charcoal, chocolate, and black can have broad appeal, but don't discount a great statement coat. Fashion lovers often shop consignment specifically to find something more interesting than what everyone else is wearing.

How to make more:

• Check the fabric carefully for pilling, moth damage, missing buttons, loose hems, or staining.
• A fabric shaver can sometimes refresh appropriate knit surfaces, but it can be risky, so we don’t always recommend trying this yourself.
• A professional dry cleaning may be worthwhile for a higher-value coat (if the care label permits it).
• But don't spend too much to repair an inexpensive piece before knowing whether its potential resale value justifies the cost.

Shop one-of-a-kind coats and jackets here. 

4. Cashmere and High-Quality Knitwear

The first hint of sweater weather sends shoppers in search of the coziest knits. Cashmere, merino wool, alpaca, mohair, and premium wool blends generally have stronger resale appeal than basic synthetic sweaters because buyers recognize the value of the material. Designer cardigans, oversized knits, classic crewnecks, sweater sets, and interesting statement sweaters can all be good candidates for consignment. 

And unlike an ultra-specific trend piece, a beautiful cashmere sweater stays relevant year after year, making it the ultimate consignment find for shoppers. 

How to make more:

• Condition is everything with knitwear. Remove light pilling carefully, check for tiny holes, and fold sweaters rather than hanging them on hangers, which can stretch the shoulders.
• Always check the fiber-content label, too. That unassuming sweater in your closet may be more valuable than you realize if it's made from a beautiful natural fiber.

Check out our collection of premium knitwear and sweaters here.

5. Designer and Premium Boots

Boot season has a relatively short selling window, which makes timing especially important. Knee-high leather boots, ankle boots, riding boots, Western-inspired styles, and designer statement boots all attract fall shoppers. High-quality leather footwear can be particularly appealing secondhand because shoppers get the craftsmanship without paying the full retail price.

How to make more:

• Give your shoes a little attention before consigning them. Wipe down the uppers, clean dirt from the soles, remove debris from inside, and make sure both shoes are present in the box (yes, we’ve had people try to bring in just one shoe!).
• Original boxes and dust bags are a bonus if you still have them.
• Most importantly, be realistic about condition. Minor sole wear is one thing; deeply scuffed leather, damaged heels, odors, or significant interior wear can make even an expensive pair much harder (or impossible) to sell.

Shop gorgeous designer boots here. 

6. Vintage Designer Pieces

Fashion is constantly borrowing from previous decades, which means older designer pieces can become desirable all over again. Fashion lovers are always searching for pieces from particular designers, collections, and creative eras. 

That “old” jacket, baguette bag, pair of sunglasses, or designer dress at the back of your closet may have more resale appeal today than it did five years ago, thanks to the cyclical nature of trends!

FYI, right now, clothing and accessories from the '90s and 2000s are especially interesting to today's shoppers.

How to make more:

• Don't try to modernize vintage designer pieces before consigning them. Keep original buttons, labels, hardware, and construction intact whenever possible.
• If you're unsure whether your piece is worth anything, bring it in and let the experts take a look before donating it. Sometimes the piece that feels the most dated to you is exactly what another shopper has been hunting for!

Shop our Vintage Lover collection here. 

7. Designer Blazers and Tailoring

Fall naturally brings tailoring back into our wardrobes. Blazers, trousers, skirt suits, structured jackets, and other polished pieces are especially useful during the transition from summer to cooler weather. High-quality tailoring can also retain more value because construction, fabric, and fit are much harder to replicate cheaply.

Look in your closet for wool blazers, interesting oversized silhouettes, designer suiting, velvet jackets, and beautifully constructed trousers.

How to make more:

• Have tailored pieces cleaned and properly pressed when necessary, but avoid making major alterations immediately before selling. A heavily customized hem or waist can limit the number of shoppers who will be able to wear the piece.
• And don't forget to check the pockets. Finding an old lipstick is fun. Finding it after it has melted into the lining is considerably less so and can dramatically impact re-sellability. 

Shop blazers on consignment here. 

8. Premium Denim

Your jeans probably won't bring in the same payout as a Chanel bag, but the right denim can still be very consignable. Premium brands, flattering silhouettes, excellent condition, and current washes tend to perform best. Dark denim, straight legs, relaxed silhouettes, wide-leg styles, and other shapes shoppers are actively wearing all have fantastic resale appeal.

Quality denim also has an advantage over some other clothing: a little normal wear can actually make it look and feel better – which means it consigns better, too. 

How to make more:

• Skip consigning jeans with excessive stretching, permanent knee bags, damaged hems, or heavy staining.
• Wash according to the care label, avoid overly fragrant detergent, and check that the size and brand labels are still intact. Those small details make pieces considerably easier to identify and sell.

Shop premium denim and leather here. 

9. Designer Belts, Scarves, and Jewelry 

Don't forget the small things! Designer accessories do well on consignment because they can make an outfit feel luxurious without the shopper needing to commit to a full designer wardrobe.

Leather belts, silk scarves, brooches, costume jewelry, sunglasses, and other recognizable accessories can be especially appealing, since current fashion trends are leaning more towards personal styling and statement details.

Accessories are also easy for shoppers to justify buying secondhand: one great belt or scarf can transform their wardrobe without breaking the bank. 

How to make more:

• Gather all the extras that go with the piece. It’s hard to sell incomplete sets, so make sure to include everything you can – like belt buckles, detachable bag straps, and sunglasses cases.
• Gently clean appropriate surfaces and protect delicate items during transport.

Shop high quality accessories here. 

10. Holiday and Special Occasion Pieces

Don't wait until December to sell your holiday wardrobe. Shoppers start thinking about weddings, parties, galas, work events, and holiday gatherings well before invitations start filling their calendars. That’s why September and October can be a great time to consign cocktail dresses, designer gowns, velvet, sequins, statement heels, and evening bags.

The most consignable event-wear pieces usually combine a recognizable designer with a silhouette that still feels wearable and trendy today.

How to make more:

• Consign occasion-wear early. A gorgeous holiday dress brought in to sell two weeks before New Year's Eve has a very small window to find its person. That same dress arriving months earlier has a much better chance.

Browse designer dresses here.

The Real Secret to Making More Money on Consignment

No single designer or category guarantees a great resale price. The pieces that tend to perform best usually have several things working in their favor… Here’s the perfect formula: desirable brand + quality materials + excellent condition + a wearable silhouette + the right timing.

That last part is easy to overlook. If you bring us your cashmere sweaters in March or your sundresses in October, shoppers simply aren't searching for them with the same enthusiasm. Getting a little ahead of the season gives your pieces more time on the sales floor during the exact moment customers want them most.

So as you're transitioning your closet for fall, make two piles: what you're excited to wear again and what you're ready to pass along to the next person who will love it. 

That beautiful coat you haven't reached for in two winters? The boots that never quite worked for you? The designer bag living inside its dust bag? Someone else may be searching for exactly that piece – and you’ll get money right back into your pocket!

Ready to Turn Your Closet Into Cash?

At Current Boutique, we make it easy to give gorgeous fashion a renewed life. Bring us your gently loved designer and contemporary pieces, and our consignment experts will help determine what's most likely to sell. Plus, we handle the rest, like photographing, listing, negotiating, packing, and shipping, so you can sit back and collect the dough. 

Even better, consigning keeps beautiful clothing in circulation, gives another shopper the thrill of finding something special, and gives you a little extra spending money for whatever your fall wardrobe needs next.

Clean out your closet, bring us your best fall and winter pieces, and let us take it from there. Learn more about selling with Current Boutique here.

Photo Sources: Designer Handbag, Leather Jacket, Wool Coat, Cashmere, Designer Boots, Vintage, Blazers, Denim, Accessories, Special Occasion