- If you’re spending less time in an office these days, you can turn to your old office wardrobe for some extra cash.
- You can sell blazers and shoes on a number of online resale marketplaces, or even put together a garage sale.
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Many workers are finding themselves in an office less often than before the pandemic, and some haven’t gone back at all.
So what to do with all those office clothes hanging in your closet?
Here are some ideas.
Get cash for your clothes
You can sell your work clothing online at resale marketplaces, including Tradesy, Poshmark and thredUP.
On Poshmark, for example, sellers take photos of their items and set their prices. The company charges a flat fee of $2.95 for all sales that are less than $15, and a 20% commission for more expensive orders. The buyer pays for shipping.
Those who want to sell their clothes on thredUP first order a “Clean Out Kit,” which comes with a prepaid shipping label. After you send your items to the company, it photographs, prices and lists them on their platform.
Have jewelry that you mostly wore to the office?
Online marketplace I Do Now I Don’t can help you sell earrings, rings, necklaces and brooches. (Items just need to be valued at at least $150).
You photograph the pieces and set the prices, though if an item sells, the company has an authentication process. It also charges a commission between 10% and 20%, depending on the cost of the sale.
… or in person
Another way to make money off your work clothes is to bring them to a consignment shop. On the website of NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals, you can search for a store by ZIP code or merchandise type.
Items are usually priced at anywhere between 25% and 75% of their original cost, said Adele Meyer, the executive director of NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals.
Many sellers say that even if they do go back to the office, they expect to wear a more casual wardrobe than pre-pandemic.
Donate them
If you’re feeling charitable, there are many people who would benefit greatly from getting your old work clothes. Your donations can also earn you a tax deduction if you itemize (Bankrate.com has a guide to help you value your given away items.)
Dress for Success provides low-income women with professional attire that they can wear on job interviews. The not-for-profit has dozens of locations around the country (and world), and you can search for a site near you on their website.
You can also find a charity that will pick up your items at DonationTown.org. One of the non-profits they list is the Vietnam Veterans of America, which takes clothing, shoes and accessories for those who served in the war.
Here’s how to make money off the clothes you used to wear to the office
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