Can you sell a midi skirt that is damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on midi skirts
These are the flaws that move a midi skirt down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Pleats that have dropped or lost definition
- Bobbling on knitted midi skirts
- Stretched waistbands
- Very trend-specific prints
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £4 to £18. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £10. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Check pleats are still sharp and evenly spaced
- Inspect the waistband for stretching
- Measure the waist and full length
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- Full length on a hanger or laid flat, front
- A tape running waistband to hem
- The fabric close up, showing texture and drape
- The zip, lining and any snag or mark
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged midi skirts want these confirmed:
- Waist, hip and waist-to-hem length in centimetres
- Fabric composition and whether it is lined
- Cut: A-line, bias, pleated or straight
- Whether there is a slit, and the fastening type
Fabric, style and length: “Satin Bias Cut Midi Skirt, Sage, Size 10, 78cm”. Put the centimetre length in the title — on different heights a midi becomes a maxi or a knee-length, and that mismatch is the main reason these come back.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Measure waistband to hem and give centimetres, plus the height it sat at midi length on you. Both facts take a minute.
Hold it to a window. Unlined satin and jersey midis are often sheerer than they photograph.
Say so and how high. It changes the garment considerably and buyers ask.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Structured fabrics that hold a shape
- Pleats that are still sharp
- Designer and contemporary labels
- Full linings in good condition
If the work would cost more than the gap between £10 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Strongest spring through summer with a second lift before the party season. Satin and pleated styles sell fastest.
Getting it to the buyer
Light and cheap to post. Fold with tissue for satin and bias cuts, which crease sharply.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full midi skirt selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged midi skirt?
Yes. A damaged midi skirt typically is worth £2 to £10 against £10 to £40 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Pleats that have dropped or lost definition
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is structured fabrics that hold a shape — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Measure waistband to hem and give centimetres, plus the height it sat at midi length on you. Both facts take a minute. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what midi skirt is worth by condition · how to sell midi skirt · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.