What to do with all those clothes?
We are now in the full swing of November and Scorpio season. With Scorpio governing themes of life, death and regeneration, I plan to talk to you more about sustainability and basics this month. (Late November Sag babies love a quality basic too.)
And, now that Halloween is over…I have one question to kick off this conversation around consumption practices:
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL THAT CANDY?!!
(Stay with me. We’re going to talk about shopping.)
Let’s start by taking a trip down memory lane. Do you remember sorting your Halloween candy after the big evening haul? Maybe you ended up with piles of your FAVORITE treats to eat (woohoo!) or mounds of the gross stuff that was then tossed in the garbage (boooooo!) And, little plastic wrappers were everywhere on the floor after the feast?!
Oh the fun!
Not only was the act of the trick-or-treat exciting but the build up of energy to the event was just as enchanting. The experience of dressing up to go door to door to retrieve the candy made those 1000 Milky Ways, 100 Starbursts and 50 blow pops taste that much better.
I was thinking recently about how the adventure of trick-or-treating is a lot like the experience of shopping for clothes.
First, there’s the dress-up. (If you don’t care to dress for a shopping trip now I bet there was a dressing ritual during your tween years when preparing to head to the mall…am I right?? ;) )
Then, there is the door to door or store to store walk.
Followed by the exchange of “trick or treat” (or a credit card) for the goodies.
Return home and feel the excitement all over again as you admire your haul.
Put the goods away and move on to the next great thing.
Now, let’s return to this question of..,“what do you do with all that candy?”
You eat some, you toss some, you lose some to the couch cushions…and forget those pieces ever existed…
Just like what happens to clothes after shopping. Some pieces get worn. Other pieces stay folded in the drawer. A year later you might find yourself saying..,“I totally forgot I owned this…”
:/
Then, when you feel the pull to shop again, you head back out there and take part in the consumer experience…
…because the consumer experience is FUN just as much as it is a necessity. From my observation, searching for a piece provides a dopamine boost — as much as the unboxing and wearing. There is a reward after the quest. And, like trick-or-treating, we don’t always know what we will be bringing back home. Maybe it’s something forever delicious. (Score!) Maybe it is something that fills the void — for now. Maybe it’s something that enters the deep space of the closet…
At some point, you might find yourself asking…WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THESE CLOTHES?!!
Unlike Halloween candy, we are NOT going to throw them in the garbage. There are other solutions. Let’s explore them below.
Digital Consignment:
Online apps and third party platforms like Chairish, Depop, Everything but the House, Instagram, Mercari, Poshmark, thredUP, Thrilling, and Facebook Marketplace + Facebook Buy/Sell Groups make it easier for you to resell your goods to larger audiences.
Don’t feel like storing old items in your space?
There are individual service providers/freelancers who will list, ship and store your consignment clothes for a mothly fee and/or commission fee. Putting out a call on social media is a great start to finding one of these consignment angels.
Mega Resale Platforms like the The RealReal will authenticate, list and store the goods for you.
Physical Consignment:
Support local vintage and resale shops by consigning pieces in-store. Many shops offer the 60/40 deal: if your items sell and you want a cash payment you will receive 40% of the commission; if you opt for in-store credit to shop again you receive 60% of the commission. If you have specialty pieces to unload, search for individual dealers and collectors to approach through platforms like 1stDibs, Etsy and Instagram.
Donation:
If you are wanting to offer direct and free access to your gently used clothing, consider donating to organizations like Dress for Success or Change Kit Programs. We all deserve. <3
Home Crafts:
Did you know you can make a basket out of old t-shirts? How about a quilt coat from blankets? Let the crafting begin!
