If your closet is overflowing but you still feel like you have nothing to wear, you probably don’t need more clothes. You probably need to get rid of some.

That was very much the situation I found myself in. My closet was full, but it wasn’t exactly inspiring. I had beautiful pieces I rarely wore, things I was keeping “just in case,” and clothes that belonged to a version of me I apparently no longer was.

So I finally did something about it.

I recently consigned 19 designer pieces through The RealReal, and honestly, it was long overdue.

I usually sell my clothes on Poshmark, and I’ve had good experiences doing it that way. But selling everything yourself takes time. You have to photograph the pieces, write listings, answer questions, negotiate prices, package everything and actually get the stuff shipped.

This time, I wanted none of that.

I wanted my closet back, and I was willing to make a little less money in exchange for not turning my closet cleanout into a part-time job.

Why I Chose The RealReal

The biggest appeal was convenience. I wanted to hand over a pile of quality pieces and let someone else handle the logistics.
My consignment rep, Eve, made the process feel straightforward. She was clear, honest and helped me look at my closet with a little less sentimentality.

There’s something useful about having another person ask, “Are you actually going to wear this again?”

Sometimes you need that outside perspective.

We packed up multiple bags in one session, and surprisingly, it wasn’t emotional. It felt productive. I was finally letting go of things that were taking up valuable closet space without actually being part of my life.

Among the 19 pieces I consigned were Dôen, Jimmy Choo and Stuart Weitzman, and a few were already live on the site with starting prices I was happy with.

There was one exception.

I had a pair of current-season Jimmy Choo shoes in excellent condition that still retailed for more than $1,200 new. Similar used pairs were selling for $500 and up, while other pairs on The RealReal were listed around $300.

Mine were immediately listed at roughly $80.

Yeah. No.

I knew I’d make less than that after the consignment split, and watching a pair of $1,200 shoes potentially sell for that little would have bothered me more than I cared to admit.

So I took them back.

They were a little tight anyway, but they’re solid leather, so I figured I could stretch them myself with some thick socks and my Dyson hair dryer and call it a day.

It was a good reminder that convenience doesn’t mean you have to surrender your judgment. If something doesn’t feel right, ask questions or take the item back.

Selling Clothes Yourself vs. Luxury Consignment

I still think Poshmark is great if you enjoy selling your own clothes and want more control over pricing. And let’s be honest, you’ll generally make more money selling a desirable piece yourself. There’s no middleman taking a cut, and you can decide exactly what you’re willing to accept.
But you’re also doing all the work.

You’re taking the photos, writing the listing, researching comparable prices, answering messages, negotiating, packaging everything and shipping it. If you’re selling higher-end pieces, there’s also the added stress of making sure an expensive item gets to the buyer safely and dealing with whatever happens after that.

Sometimes I’m willing to do all of that because I want the higher payout.

Sometimes I absolutely am not.

When I’m dealing with expensive designer pieces, I actually like having a middleman. There’s something that feels safer about handing over a pair of Jimmy Choos or a designer dress to an established resale company rather than arranging a transaction with a stranger online.

For me, that peace of mind is part of the value. I’m giving up some control and potentially some money in exchange for convenience, professional handling and not having to think about the transaction once I’ve handed everything over.

And honestly? Sometimes I just want the fucking closet space now.

I don’t want another side hustle. I don’t want 19 listings sitting in my phone. I don’t want to answer a message at 10 p.m. from someone asking if I’ll take $75 for a $400 dress.

I want the clothes out of my closet.

That’s the tradeoff, and I’m perfectly comfortable with it.

My Tips for Consigning Designer Clothes

The biggest mistake I see people make with resale is getting too attached to what they think something should be worth.
Resale doesn’t care what you paid for it.

A designer piece can be expensive, beautiful and barely worn and still not sell quickly if the style isn’t currently in demand. Meanwhile, something you bought years ago and forgot about might suddenly become desirable again.

Before you consign, look at what’s actually selling. Pay attention to current luxury trends, sought-after designers and classic pieces that consistently hold their appeal. Keep everything in good condition, and include original packaging, dust bags or documentation when you have them.

Most importantly, be honest with yourself.

If you haven’t worn something in six months and can’t remember the last time you even considered wearing it, there’s probably a reason.

And if you’re keeping it because maybe someday you’ll suddenly become the person who wears it, I have news for you.

You probably won’t.

What Happens When Something Doesn’t Sell for What You Want?

This is where people can get discouraged with consignment.
You consign something you paid a lot of money for and assume it should sell immediately for a great price. Then it sits.

It can be frustrating, but resale value depends on demand, seasonality, condition, brand popularity, current trends and what buyers actually want at that moment.

I’ve learned to look at resale as a way to recover some value from things I’m no longer using, not as a guarantee that I’ll recoup what I originally spent.

That mindset makes the process a lot less painful.

The Best Part Was Getting My Closet Back

The money is nice, obviously. That’s part of the point.
But the bigger win for me was the space.

There’s something surprisingly satisfying about opening your closet and actually being able to see what you own. When everything isn’t crammed together, you can appreciate the pieces you love instead of mentally scrolling through a wall of clothes every morning.

Your style changes. Your life changes. Sometimes you simply stop being the person who wears something.

You don’t have to justify keeping it forever.

I’d rather have a smaller closet filled with things I genuinely love than a giant wardrobe full of clothes I’m constantly ignoring. And there’s something satisfying about knowing those pieces might get a second life with someone who will actually wear them.

Would I Consign With The RealReal Again?

Yes, with the obvious caveat that I’ll still pay attention to pricing and speak up if something looks off.
For this closet cleanout, the convenience was worth it. I liked having someone else handle the logistics, especially for higher-end pieces, and I liked not having to manage 19 individual listings myself.

I’ll still use Poshmark when I have a specific piece I want to sell myself and I’m willing to put in the work. But not every closet cleanout needs to become a second job.

Sometimes I want to make a pile, hand it over and move on with my life.

And honestly, getting my closet space back was worth a lot more to me than squeezing every last dollar out of every dress.

That’s what this was really about: less stuff, more space and a closet that actually feels like me again.