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 | £38 (~$51) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £32 (~$43) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £25 (~$33) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £17 (~$23) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £10 (~$13) | 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 blouse is worth what is being asked:
- Underarm staining, which is often permanent on silk
- Snags and pulls in delicate fabric
- Missing buttons and broken closures
- Polyester basics, which sell for very little
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Silk and quality natural fibres
- Designer and contemporary labels
- Intact seams and working closures
- No underarm marks or deodorant damage
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 blouse, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Hold it to a window and answer honestly. An unexpectedly sheer blouse is a common complaint and trivially avoided.
Inspect in daylight. Underarm staining is the single most common hidden flaw in used blouses and the one buyers most resent.
Read the composition label. Silk sells for several times polyester and buyers can tell on handling.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the underarms in daylight
- Hold the fabric to the light for snags and thinning
- Read the composition label
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 or on a hanger, front, whole garment
- The fabric close up, showing texture and pattern accurately
- The composition label
- The underarms, buttons and any mark, snag or pull
Details to confirm before you commit
- Bust, waist, shoulder and length measured flat
- Fabric composition and whether it is lined
- Whether the fabric is sheer
- Sleeve length and neckline, and any mark or snag
Live blouse listings
There is 1 live on WishThrift right now:
When to buy
Steady with a lift in spring and before the party season. Silk and quality viscose 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 blouse 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 blouse for what to photograph and how to price, or what blouse is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used blouse?
Around £5 to £25 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 blouse 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 blouse 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 · blouse value guide · selling blouse · Clothing · condition grades.