It pays to clean out the clothes closet

Nearly every closet has at least one splurge outfit hanging there in perfectly good shape, a reminder of a rash purchase that didn't work out. It's too precious to give away but takes up coveted space.

That's where consignment stores come in. They are the savvy solution for people with unwanted clothes that deserve a second, fabulous life, and they can garner a little moola in the process. "Somebody else will get really good use out of it," said Paula Iorio-Rosato, of Labels on Phinney Ridge. "So get a little bit of your money back and have somebody else use it."

Consignment shops sell your clothes and typically return 40 percent to 50 percent of the sales price to you at the end of a set time period, usually two to three months. If clothes don't sell, they are returned to the owner or donated to charity.

Victoria Yee, a clothing designer, consigns regularly at Le Frock on Capitol Hill. She can make more money selling handbags and shoes on eBay, she said, but clothes don't photograph as well and people like to touch fabrics.

She brings in clothes that she hasn't worn in months, ones that no longer look good on her and pieces she doesn't like. Consigning also helps her be a more disciplined shopper. She tries to buy unusual, high-quality clothes that will consign well if she doesn't love them.

"I like buying nicer things, and I can sell them back," Yee said. "I view clothes as more of an investment."

Guide to consign

Smart consigning starts with the pieces you bring in and knowing your consignment shop. They all have different aesthetics, and it helps to know what they want.

Consignment shop owners recommend bringing in current items bought in the last three or four years. Designer labels are even better.

One common mistake is to try to consign clothes that are fashion no-nos. If you don't want that Saks Fifth Avenue blazer from 1989, chances are the stores won't either.

"If something's expensive, and if they've had it 10 or 15 years, [they think] it's worth a lot and the fact is it's not," said Alexandra Oncken, owner of Alexandra's Exclusively Designer Label Consignment in downtown Seattle. "It's one of the biggest misconceptions about consignment."

It's also wise to have realistic expectations. Consigning will not get your money back from the original purchase. Shops sell pieces for up to one-third of the retail price, depending on the condition and the brand.

"People kind of forget if you get it brand new in a store, brand new means it's never left the store," said Gentry Michaels, who works at Le Frock. "You can get things on sale at a department store for up to 70 percent off. Come to a store like this, it has to be at least 70 percent [off]."

Here are some other consigning tips:

• Call ahead. Some stores' consignment appointments are booked up for two months. Others will take pieces you bring in that day.

• Accessories sell well. Bring in jewelry, handbags, scarves and hats in good condition.

• Stay seasonal. Most stores don't have storage for pieces out of season, so bring in winter clothes in fall and in early winter, and summer clothes in spring and in early summer.

• Designer labels sell. Labels sell better and are a requirement for some high-end consignment stores.

• Use care. Make sure the items are in good condition. Stores won't take pieces with buttons missing, shoes with uneven tread and so on.

• Be flexible. A consignment store has a specific audience, and might send you elsewhere if the owners feel they can't sell an item.

• Be patient. Your item may be on the floor for two to three months and possibly longer if the store puts it on sale.

• Check the kids' clothes. A few consignment stores sell children's clothes.

"You can save so much money all the way up until 8, 9, 10, when it kind of dies and they stop growing so quickly," said Wendy Douglas, owner of Me N Moms.

Selling direct

If you don't want to wait for your money, selling clothes for cash is another option. Some consignment boutiques buy for cash in addition to consignment, while other stores specialize in cash purchases. You typically will receive less money than from consignment, however. For example, Le Frock offers around 25 percent of what employees think the item will sell for whereas consignors receive 40 percent of the final sale.

Michaels encourages people with nicer or more unusual pieces to consign. The store prices it a little higher to see if it will sell, and also will put it on sale. The trade-off is that the piece might not find a new owner.

"The best consignors recognize you're going to do the job for them," Oncken said. "If something doesn't sell at the price you thought it would, it's because nobody bought it. We just keep marking things down and have a sale rack in the back as a last-ditch effort to get something for a piece."

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com