etzee

Describing the condition of menswear

New with tags, new without tags, excellent, good, worn — and the measurements that make them mean something.

The Metzee team13 Oct 20261 min read

There is no numbered scale for clothing, and the words people use are vague enough that the measurements have to do the real work.

The words

New with tags — unworn, tags attached. New without tags — unworn, no tags. Say why if you know. Excellent — worn, no faults worth naming. Good — worn, with faults you have named. Worn — real wear, priced for it.

Each of those should be followed by the specifics. The word alone is an opinion; the specifics are the listing.

Where to look, in order

Collar and cuffs — fraying, discolouration, the inside of the collar especially. Underarms — staining, thinning, deodorant marks. Hems and seams — loose threads, repairs, let-down hems. Elbows and knees — thinning and shine. Buttons and zips — present, matching, working. All-over — pilling, fading, shrinkage, holes.

Say the alterations

Taken in, let out, hemmed, sleeves shortened, buttons replaced. Not faults — facts. They change what the label means.

Smell is a condition

It is the one thing that cannot be photographed and the most common cause of returns in used clothing. Storage, smoke, damp, perfume: say it.

Measurements make the words honest

"Good condition, chest 54cm flat, length 72cm, sleeve 63cm" is a listing nobody can argue with. "Good condition, size L" is a disagreement waiting for a parcel.

Questions people ask

What counts as new without tags?

Unworn. Not "worn once". Worn once is excellent, and say it was worn once.

Do I have to mention a tiny mark?

Yes. Small marks are the ones buyers feel cheated by, because they look hidden on purpose. Naming the flaw raises the price.

How do I describe shrinkage?

By measuring it. That is the whole answer, and it is why measurements come first.

More: condition words across every category, buying menswear.

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