Seasonal Fashion Cycles and When to Resell Key Designer Items

From Louis Vuitton to Hermès, designer fashion items maintain rather high resale values, especially if you sell them at the right times. Understanding how seasonal fashion cycles and market trends impact resale value can help you maximize your return on investment.

Before listing your products, learn the best times to resell designer items, including the ideal time of year and how long you should wait.

When Is the Best Time to Resell Designer Items?

The best time to resell high-quality designer items depends on many factors, including the time of year. For example, Moncler jackets sell for a lot more during the winter, while Loewe bags hit their peak during warmer seasons. So, you shouldn’t cut your Gucci sandals’ prices if they aren’t selling in December. Instead, consider archiving the listing until April or May.

You should also consider how soon is too soon to resell designer items—and how late is too late. Rare and name-brand items often maintain or increase in value as time passes. However, easier-to-find products and specific fashion styles may lose their value if you don’t resell soon enough. The best time to sell your particular product will depend on exactly what you’re selling, along with various other factors.

Factors That Impact Resale

While every designer product is different, you can often estimate your item’s resale value by considering its condition, the latest market trends and the current season of fashion.

Seasonal Fashion Cycles

Fashion sales rely heavily on the time of year and local temperatures. For example, sandals are more popular in warmer months when people want to keep their feet dry and cool. On the other hand, boots, gloves and jackets will generally be more popular when it’s colder. Most designers and manufacturers release products within fixed seasonal fashion cycles, such as spring/summer and fall/winter collections, which you should be aware of.

Like a used Christmas tree on Facebook, people are more likely to buy a seasonal product at the beginning of the season. Many people may justify spending a bit more on a name-brand product if they know they can use it through the entire season. On the other hand, a fashion item someone buys at the very end of the season could be dated and out of style in another six months.

Of course, many regions are warm or cold year-round, so you can hypothetically always find someone to buy your product online any time of the year. However, selling when the seasonal fashion demand is highest can help you land the best possible resale price.

Market Trends

Fashion resale is an unending tug-of-war of supply and demand. Common fashion products generally lose their resale value over time, especially if fashion trends push demand in another direction.

Newer items often have better resale value within the first few years of being released. This is when the demand is usually the highest, especially if nothing has “replaced” that particular fashion style just yet. For instance, one brand’s web crossbody bag may only keep a high resale value until the same brand releases its next crossbody design.

On the other hand, rare and vintage items with distinct brand names, such as Louis Vuitton and Rolex, tend to maintain their value long-term. Their resale prices may even rise over time, regardless of other market trends. Even so, demand can change quickly, especially if newer products make the older designs feel dated.

Experts use search data, market analyses, and other tools to determine the best times to resell. For example, for a pair of Prada leather slingback sandals, resellers will look at how many of those specific products sold in the last year compared to other slingbacks. They’ll also analyze how much the sandals sold for compared to previous years, how often people searched for them and when the sales skyrocketed—usually spring and summer.

Item Condition

While it goes without saying, fashion products in good condition will almost always sell better than those that have been worn, torn and stained. When reselling designer items, it’s crucial to accurately report your product’s condition, including any imperfections and how much it’s been worn. Even if it doesn’t have any tears yet, a Saint Laurent jacket you’ve repeatedly run through the washing machine could be one “night out” away from its breaking point.

Many fashion resale marketplaces only accept products in excellent or fair condition. So, it’s important to take care of your designer products when and if you use them to guarantee the best possible resale value. Additionally, you should be honest about each item’s condition to avoid receiving poor customer reviews and being removed from reputable marketplaces.

Product Presentation

Similar to your item’s condition, how you present your designer item can significantly impact its resale odds. When buying online, potential customers want to guarantee that your used product is actually in good condition. So, you’ll need to take several high-quality photos.

Many resellers use professional-grade cameras, extensive lighting and plain backdrops to capture their fashion products. Good lighting and multiple camera angles give potential customers the best possible look at what you’re selling. Numerous photos can also prove that you’re not trying to hide any obvious imperfections.

In addition to your photo, you’ll need to give your resale item a good description. Don’t assume that readers know everything about your Valentino blazer. Describe the product’s material, size, color and condition in as much detail as possible. When selling online, a detailed description can also improve your product’s search engine optimization (SEO) and make it easier to find on Google.

Resell High-Value Designed Items With The RealReal

While you may have to wait several months, knowing the best times to resell designer items can help you make the most of your fashion investment. By considering the factors listed above, you can safely list your used designer products at higher prices and play the market in your favor.

With up-to-date market data and professional-looking listings, the RealReal’s online marketplace is an excellent platform for reselling designer items. The RealReal uses real-time internal and external data, including search data, competitive analyses and demand signals, to estimate the highest possible resale price. Sell with us today to try it for yourself.