What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £35 (~$47) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £30 (~$40) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £23 (~$30) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £16 (~$21) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £9 (~$12) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Sizing, above everything. A garment that does not fit is the commonest reason a second-hand clothing purchase disappoints, and it is entirely avoidable by asking for flat measurements rather than trusting the label.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a skirt is worth what is being asked:
- Torn or twisted linings
- Broken zips and missing hooks
- Pilling on woollen fabrics
- Thin unlined polyester
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Natural fabrics with good weight and drape
- Lined skirts with intact linings
- Designer and contemporary labels
- Working zips and fastenings
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeits concentrate in a handful of premium labels and are usually given away by the internal tags rather than the outside: font weight, stitch density on the label edge, and a care label that does not match the era of the design.
Ask for a photograph of the inner label and the garment laid flat with a tape measure across the chest and the length. Both are quick for an honest seller and awkward for anyone who does not have the item in front of them.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a skirt, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give the waist-to-hem measurement in centimetres and your own height. Length mismatch causes most skirt returns.
Check and say. An unlined skirt in a thin fabric is a different product and buyers who have been caught before ask.
Answer it — it is asked constantly and a yes genuinely helps the sale.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the lining is intact and hangs straight
- Work the zip fully
- Measure the waist and length flat
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Laid flat, front, whole skirt in frame
- A tape running waistband to hem
- The composition and size label
- The zip, the lining and any snag or mark
Details to confirm before you commit
- Flat waist doubled, hip, and length from waistband to hem
- Fabric composition and whether it is lined
- Style: A-line, pencil, pleated, wrap
- Zip or elastic fastening, and whether it has pockets
When to buy
Steady with lifts in spring and before the party season. Midi and A-line styles sell fastest.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a skirt sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell skirt for what to photograph and how to price, or what skirt is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used skirt?
Around £5 to £23 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a skirt before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the inner label and the garment laid flat with a tape measure across the chest and the length. Both are quick for an honest seller and awkward for anyone who does not have the item in front of them.
Is buying a skirt second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Sizing, above everything. A garment that does not fit is the commonest reason a second-hand clothing purchase disappoints, and it is entirely avoidable by asking for flat measurements rather than trusting the label.
See also: all buying guides · skirt value guide · selling skirt · Clothing · condition grades.