Selling a Used Dress 101

I have many friends who tell me they would really love to sell dresses that they own and are not going to use again. Some of them are moms who inherited the bridesmaids' dresses their daughters wore in countless weddings or even prom gowns that were used once upon a time. They tell me they would love to sell them on the Internet but don't know how. So here are some pointers.

First, to buy or sell anything on the Internet, you will need a safe and secure system to pay and be paid, such as Paypal. Paypal has great name recognition, but they aren't the only ones available. My son-in-law tells me Google Checkout is his favorite. You will need to set this up first as it may take a few days to verify your banking information.

While you are getting your Paypal account set up, you can begin finding or taking photos of what you have to sell. I could write a whole blog on the right and wrong way to photograph your dress, but for now just keep these things in mind. A picture of the dress on a real person is the best. It doesn't matter if you can see a face, so crop it if you want. A dress lying flat on a surface is my very least favorite. Look at the difference in the two pictures of the same dress shown here. If you don't already have a digital picture of it, have fun coming up with ways to show the dress in a flattering light.

Once you have your online account and a digital picture, you are ready to submit your ad. At The Green Hanger Shop, you will first register and give yourself a user name and submit your email address. This email address is important. It is the only way a shopper can reach you. On our website, it will not be public, nor will it be shared with anyone other than a potential buyer.


At last, you are ready to submit your ad. You will need to accurately give its size, designer, description, picture, and price. When you describe your dress, you want to be honest, but it's okay to use some salesmanship, too. I like to tell them what is special about what I am selling. For example, I discovered I had a very exclusive designer dress that I knew nothing about until I researched the dress label. I had bought it as a sample apparently at an off-brand store. Now the designer's dresses sell for several hundred dollars! Of course, I am not going to ask much for it because I didn't pay that much.. That's something else to remember. You have to set a price that will attract a buyer and is worth your while. Decide how you will handle the cost of shipping before the sale. I like to include that in the price, so I don't have to add anything else on.

Most of all, don't be afraid to ask for help from The Green Hanger Shop. That is why I am here and what I love doing! I guarantee you; once you make a sale, you will be hooked!

Beyond Words

You fell in love with your dress the moment you put it on and the feelings you have for it and associate with it are beyond description. Now you have decided to part with it and are met with the challenge of describing the details that drew you to it to another bride to be. Using your own experience will help you accomplish a fitting tribute while enhancing your chances of making a successful sale. When you were shopping for a dress, were you looking for a specific designer or did you find one that you came to love? Some designers' gowns are highly sought after and you will want to promote that if you have a popular line. On the other hand, if that wasn't your priority, don't emphasize it in your ad. Next, can you describe in detail the design of the dress? Include the exact color, neckline, dress line, fullness, embellishments, fabric content, and flow of the dress. If someone closed their eyes as you describe it, they should be able to see a mental picture of it. Use adjectives, but try to be exact. For example, "It is a wonderful natural color, not stark white or dark ivory" gives more information than "white". The next question on a buyer's mind will probably be, "Will it fit?" Your measurements as your wore your dress will tell her alot, though she will ultimately have to decide if her body type is a good match. The importance of pictures can not be over emphasized. No matter what your measurements, it is important to see your body type and how the dress looked on a real person in real light. Try to include lots of different angles to catch the bodice, skirt, front, back, train, and bustle. Pictures of a dress on a model or worse, a hanger, are not as helpful. When someone was interested in my dress, and she told me she was barely a size that was larger than my dress, I discouraged her from buying it because I knew how it fit and felt and I knew a larger person would not have been happy with it. If I had been a sales person in a salon, I would have done the same thing. Ultimately, you should desire a happy customer when they invest in your dress. Lastly, there are details that are probably left unsaid. If the wedding fell apart, or you had a tragic event, or became pregnant and couldn't wear it...those details really provide too much personal information and the buyer may be turned off by it. Just remember this is a happy event for the buyer and a financial transaction for you.Your goal is to sell your dress, once. Being descriptive, honest, and open will give you the best chance. Just remember to be patient. There's a dress for every girl and a girl for every dress.