Family
Revealed! My New Fashion-Related 2026 Obsession
Here's how I recycle my clothes to stay super stylish.
Elena Lacey (Courtesy Poshmark, 3; Getty Images, 3; Stocksy)
I used to own 37 pairs of pricey black pants that I called “my serious businesswoman bottoms."
Tailored trousers from Banana Republic, wide-leg pants from Anthropologie, sassy straight-legs from Rebecca Taylor — I owned black pants for every “boss-lady” occasion.
I wanted to burn them all when I retired five years ago. Instead, I carried my tower of trousers to Goodwill.
But that was then. Now, I’m hip to online resale sites. Apps like ThredUp, Poshmark, The RealReal and eBay help me move my clothes to new homes — and also allow me to stalk clothes and shoes that I covet but could never afford when they’re new.
It’s a personal mission for me to buy fewer new clothes in 2026. Recycling my stuff is one way to enhance my style without adding to my pile.
Here’s how I would unload 37 pairs of pants today: I’d order a big “Clean Out” bag from ThredUp, put my pants in the bag and ship it back. ThredUp would rifle through the pile, photograph and list the items they thought would sell, then ship the items to new homes when they did. If items don’t sell, ThredUp donates them or ships them back to you.
“Black work slacks” is its own category on ThredUp. ThredUp takes a cut, so if my pants sold for $20 each, I’d get $3. Not much … but 37 times 3 is still $111. At Poshmark, an item that sells for under $15 earns you $2.95. If it sells for $15 or more, Poshmark keeps 20 percent of the listing price, and the seller keeps 80 percent.
Each site states its policies on a “how to” page in the app. Many resale apps are ready to declutter your closet, from eBay to Depop (for affordable clothes, such as the Shein brand), to Gilt and The RealReal (for designer duds and top accessories, like Chanel bags).
Depop, a division of Etsy, has a motto I share: “Keep fashion circular.” If you no longer want it, give someone else a chance.
My daughter, Kate, is 38 and an executive in the entertainment industry. She gets inspiration from retailers and influencers each season, decides what outfits she needs, then she “moves the same $500” around Poshmark, ThredUp and The RealReal — buying one piece from Poshmark, say, then “RePoshing” it the next year, or selling something from her closet on ThredUp to earn cash or credits to buy something else. She also rents clothes from Rent the Runway and Nuuly.
Get the Must-Read Newsletter for Older Women
Sign up for the free, weekly newsletter with the latest stories, expert advice, community updates, and more.
This keeps fashion circular — and customers like Kate are fueling a boom in online resale. ThredUp’s 2025 resale report states that America’s secondhand apparel market is growing at a rate of 9 percent per year on average, four times faster than the overall retail clothing sector. In 2024, online resale accounted for 88 percent of resale spending.
Millennials like Kate (born from 1981 to 1996) and Gen Z shoppers (born between 1997 and 2012) drive the market. They’ve led their mothers to online resale, too. In 2024, 58 percent of consumers shopped for secondhand apparel, an all-time high.
Why? The top five reasons, according to the report: “to get better deals, to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, to afford higher-end brands, to ease pressure on the planet, to find one-of-a-kind looks.”
Here’s one tale of resale romance: a few years ago, Kate noticed a guest on the Today show wearing a mustard-colored top and skirt with a metallic sheen. She fell in love with the outfit, looked for it online and discovered it was by Ulla Johnson, an expensive designer brand.
The cost of that outfit when it came out was $1,000. Cost for Kate after three years of resale sleuthing: $146.
“I found the top on Poshmark for $62 (originally $395), and then I spent a couple of years stalking the skirt,” she recalls. “I finally found it on The RealReal for $84 (originally $595). Now I have something to wear that no one else will have this season, and it’s in perfect condition. For me, it’s not about the deal, it’s about scoring certain pieces that I can’t afford when they first come out.”
I also shop the sites with a specific destination in mind. My favorite Ugg boots are a style called Cailyn, which I bought for around $200 ten years ago. I wore the original ones out. After a short search on Poshmark, I found the same boots — new! — for $50.
Online resale is not for everybody. If you don’t shop much, checking out the resale sites might be overwhelming and not worth the wander.
But if you love to shop, like I do, and you like to add a touch of style to your wardrobe, you can find items that make you happy — and keep your old clothes and your cash circulating.
Here are some tips…
Know your brands and your sizes: Online sites are no place to play size roulette and guess whether you’re an 8 or a 10. There’s usually just one of every item, and this item could be new with tags or well-worn. The most popular brands on resale sites are common ones, such as Vuori, Lululemon, Free People, and Anthropologie.
If you know what brands you like and how they fit you, you can set alerts on the apps, and you’ll be notified if your size in that brand comes up. If you're unsure but still want to buy, check the listing for measurements or message the seller.
Know your style. If you see an outfit you like on social media, search for it online to discover the brand, or use AI technology to identify it. For example, you can upload a photo of an outfit to ThredUp, and the site will identify the brand and alert you if the pieces are in stock. It will also alert you to similar items.
My daughter Kate has a keen sense of resale value that she often buys an outfit one year, wears it, and then resells it for the same price or more the next season. If an item is popular and a year or so out of season, it can be valuable because it will be sold out at retail stores.
Quality matters: I prefer to buy high-quality shoes and specialty items, such as distinctive jackets, even though they cost more, because I calculate the “price per wear.” Also, the better an item is, the more value it holds over time.
My all-time favorite boots are expensive, handmade Calleen Cordero boots that I bought new for $650 several years ago. For me, the “price per wear” makes them worth it, because I know the size 8 is comfortable, the heel is low, and they fit even with the compression socks I now often wear. I will love them until I drop. A few years ago, I found a slightly different pair, perhaps even more beautiful, and new, in my size for $200. Sold!
Haggle: You can make offers and negotiate with online sellers or “bundle” your purchases for a deal from a single seller. Discount codes are plentiful and easy to find on the sites. Resale nirvana is when you find a fellow shopper who is your size and has your style.
“That’s the community, and that’s the culture,” Kate says. “I’ve never paid the asking price for anything on Poshmark.”
Know what “NWT” means: It’s “new with tags,” and lots of items on resale sites have never been worn. This is especially true of high-end pieces, as women who can afford expensive items often purchase multiple expensive pieces and rarely wear them.
For me, “NWT” also means Never Wearing (boss-lady black) Trousers again. This old gal is learning new tricks for resale shopping.
Have any of YOU ever used an online resale site? Let us know in the comments below.
More from The Ethel
Relationships
Relationships
Relationships
More for you, from AARP
We are a community from AARP. Discover more ways AARP can help you live well, navigate life, save money — and protect older Americans on issues that matter.