How to Care for High-End Clothes (So You Can Sell Them on Poshmark Later, Duh)

Cathy Vandewater

Aug 30, 2022 • 8 min read

In a previous post, I covered why resellers should consider acquiring nicer items for themselves when they shop (tl;dr: if you need new clothes, why not buy stuff second-hand stuff with resale value as an investment and enjoy amazing quality in the meantime?). But the tricky part with owning actual nice stuff and nice worthless crap is that you actually have to take care of it. Gah! But fear not--as with anything else in life, caring for bougie items comes down to a series of habits to get into. Once you work them into your routine, it will be second nature. And you'll get a boost out of lovingly emptying your beautiful bags and stuffing your gorgeous boots. Let's dive in!

Everyday Care for Leather Shoes and Bags, and Fancy Accessories

Regularly Clean and Condition Leather Pieces

I use a leather cleaning/conditioning spray on a rag as soon as I get a new-to-me piece home, and go over corners and scuffed spots with some Dr. Marten's Wonder Balsam. Touching up every 6 months to a year with balm/leather conditioner is probably sufficient for keeping leather from drying out, but I also try to be good with wiping visibly dirty shoes as soon as I get home to keep things in tip-top shape.

Empty and Wipe Down Bags Regularly, Especially Makeup/Travel Bags

This is a great way to catch spills and stains before they set, avoid stretching or stressing the leather from weight, and just for staying organized in general. It's also a good idea to stuff bags with with tissue, craft paper, or even another, smaller bag if it's going back into the closet between uses. This is a pro tip for boots too! (I'm working on a boot stuffing project involving cedar chips and my sewing machine that I'll post about soon).

Actually Put Your Sunglasses Away. Like, in Their Cases.

A scratch-reducing revelation! I'm also actually using proper sunglasses wipes instead of my shirt to clean them. Another tip: if you get sunglasses second-hand that don't come with a case, get a nice case for them on the second-hand market too. A beautiful case helps keep you excited to both enjoy your sunglasses and to put them away when you're done with them. And don't be afraid to think outside the brand: I recently got a great deal on vintage Dior sunglasses with no case, but Dior-brand cases were stupid expensive, even used. So I got a Kate Spade case in an adorable color instead for $10 on eBay instead and I'm just as happy with the quality and look. Bonus: its bright color makes it very easy to find in my bag.

Be Mindful of Color Transfer

New dark wash jeans and light color bags do not mix. This is another reason to quickly inspect and wipe things when you get home is that the longer color transfer marks sit, they more likely they are to be permanent. Google your specific material to clean properly and safely. And don't forget...

Test an Inconspicuous Area First when Cleaning

I have made this mistake 999 times, but still hoping to learn and stop ruining things :|

Be Patient with Stain Removal

I've often seen cleaning results on my third or fourth session patiently working on something I loved. Getting aggressive with a magic eraser or bleach when I was getting impatient has not ever paid off for me, though, and ruined more items than I care to admit. Walk away when you're feeling the urge to go nuclear!

Everyday Care for Fine Fabrics

Inspect Clothes and Stain Treat Immediately After Wearing

Resell rehabbing has taught me that the longer a stain sets, the harder a time you'll have getting it out. Grandma's Secret has always worked great for me, but I know Mogi Beth swears by dish soap with a little baking soda. One thing's for sure though: once your stained item has gone through the wash, do NOT dry it in the dryer until you're positive it's all the way out. This will set it and make it truly impossible to remove. But if it didn't come out on its first trip through the dyer, and you've hung it to dry, just try again: I've had luck on the third or fourth attempt many, many times. Don't give up hope!

Hand Wash 100% Silk, Wool, and Cashmere

And use wash bags for other delicates that are machine washable (anything with clasps or hooks, for example). Woolite is my BFF--I buy it in a huge jug and decant into something smaller to save on money and plastic waste. But I've already heard great things about the Laundress line.

Note: take care to separate your colors even when hand washing. St. John's Santana knits, for example, have washed really well for me by hand, but they do bleed a lot.

Store Items Properly

Try padded hangers for hanging delicate silks, garment bags for storing wool blazers and pea coats, and boxes and cedar galore for wintering wools and cashmeres. Remember: an item is not a bargain if you only get to wear it one season before moths or wire hangers destroy it, no matter how little you paid. Amazon's a good source for bulk cedar accessories and garment bags of all sizes, thought I'm sure you can find them second hand too, especially if you just need one or two. For hangers, I found a huge pack of perfect vintage padded hangers on eBay for around $1.50 a piece and in rainbow colors. (Bonus: these make your closet look *so* glamorous).

Don't Put things Away If They're Visibly Dirty

This is why inspecting clothes when you take them off is important: stains will set, and any food spills will attract moths. Lightly worn clothing without spills or spots, though, especially outerwear, will benefit from properly hanging up between wears and airing out vs. frequent, aggressive cleaning.

General Tips:

Steam Your Own Items While Steaming Stuff for Resell

This is such a fabulous habit to get into. Steaming kills germs and freshens clothes that are difficult to wash, but it also makes all of your clothing look expensive and fabulous. 10/10 highly recommend while your steamer is out anyway.

Read Care Tags

But don't let them scare you too much. The good thing about nice second hand clothes is you can learn a bit about clothing care without losing $500 if you misjudge. Generally, I hand wash anything that's 100% wool, cashmere, or silk, even if it says to dry clean, unless there's color blocking or a pattern I suspect will get ruined. I also usually hand wash 100% rayon and viscose, though these can definitely shrink on you, so proceed with caution.

Acquire Good Care Products and Don't be Afraid to Experiment

Another great thing about reselling: you'll use your garment care and repair items to their full potential. I've recently acquired some color depositing shoe polishes, patent leather cleaner, leather repair glue, and a leather color match tear repair kit: all for my own items, but they've been immediately useful for things I'm selling too.

Some caveats: be sure to disclose any repairs you make, and tread very carefully with color depositing products on handbags vs. shoes. You don't want a buyer ruining a white top with their new second hand bag that you coated in shoe polish.

Stock Your Personal Closet with Classic Items

Can't go wrong with an LBD. And you'll have to do a lot less stain treating, too.

High-end is not really the place to splash out on trends, at least for yourself, in my opinion. Your buyers likely feel differently, and that's why we're able to make money reselling! When buying for me, I look for 'boring,' at least in terms of pictures online: solid color dress, tops, skirts, and pants in basic cuts and styles. You'll find the best deals, and you'll get the most wear out of these items. And most importantly: when you wear them, people won't notice the individual items of clothing. They'll just notice how great you look.

And that's the post! Did I miss anything? Share any care or shopping tips below!

XOXO,

Cathy @ ClosetWitch

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