October Drop-Off Guide
What We're Looking For Right Now
Drop-offs reopen October 1 and we're taking winter and holiday. Coats, boots, snow gear, sweaters, party dresses, and the toys that make the wishlist. Here's exactly what to bring this month, what to hold, and the one test every piece should pass before it goes in the bag.
Drop-offs open back up on October 1, and the list has changed again. We're taking winter and holiday now, which means the coats, boots, sweaters, and party pieces you packed away in spring are exactly what our shoppers are hunting for. Here's what to bring in October, what to hold, and how to get more of your bag onto the floor.
Bring Us These
Heavy Outerwear Puffers, parkas, and wool coats from Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia, and Arc'teryx. Rain shells with a real hood move fast in Portland. Check the zipper and the pockets before you pack it.
Sweaters and Heavy Knits Cashmere, merino, wool, and chunky cable knits from J. Crew, Madewell, Eileen Fisher, and Anthropologie. Turtlenecks, cardigans, and sweater dresses all count.
Boots Ankle boots, tall boots, and weatherproof boots from Sorel, Blundstone, Frye, UGG, and Sam Edelman. Sneakers, loafers, and flats still work too.
Snow and Ski Gear Snow pants, bibs, snow boots, insulated jackets, and ski and snowboard gear from Patagonia, The North Face, and Columbia. Mountain season is right around the corner and this is when families are shopping for it.
Holiday and Party Wear Velvet, sequins, satin, and silk from Anthropologie, Free People, Kate Spade, and Banana Republic. Party dresses, dressy tops, festive sweaters, and the good jewelry. If it went to a wedding or a holiday dinner, it belongs here.
Cold-Weather Accessories Scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens in wool and cashmere. Bags in deep fall colors from Kate Spade, Coach, and Madewell.
Athleisure Lululemon, Athleta, and Vuori move every month of the year. Bring the fleece-lined and full-length pieces now.
Shop Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia and more
The Gift Test
Here's the thing about October. From now through December, a lot of our shoppers aren't buying for themselves. They're buying for a sister, a partner, a kid, a teacher, a friend. So the bar for every piece you bring in is simple: would you wrap it?
New with tags is gold right now. So is anything that still looks and feels like the day it was bought. Cashmere without pilling, boots without scuffed toes, a coat with a working zipper and clean cuffs. If you'd be proud to hand it to someone as a gift, bring it in. If you'd feel like you needed to explain it, hold it back.
We're Especially Looking For Natural Fibers
Wool, cashmere, merino, cotton, and silk hold up through a second winter and a third, which is what our shoppers are counting on. It's worth a look at the care tag while you sort.
Please Hold: Halloween Costumes
We're not taking Halloween costumes at all in October, at either store. Please keep them home so we can focus intake on the pieces that will move through the holidays.
Kids: Winter and Holiday Are Open
Parents are shopping for the mountain and for the holiday photo in the same trip. Bring outgrown winter coats, snow pants, snow boots, rain boots, fleece, and the holiday dresses and button-ups that got worn once. Look for Hanna Andersson, Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia, Mini Boden, Keen, and Bogs.
Shop Hanna Andersson, Patagonia, The North Face and more
Men's: Hillsboro
Our Hillsboro store is home to men's consignment, and winter is the strongest season for it. Bring wool and down coats, flannel, quarter-zips, sweaters, and boots from Patagonia, The North Face, Carhartt, Levi's, J. Crew, and Nike. Men's drop-offs are accepted at both stores and go out on the Hillsboro floor.
Shop Patagonia, The North Face, Carhartt and more
Toys: Cedar Mill Only
This is the month toys matter most. Shoppers are building wishlists now, and new-in-box or new-with-tags Christmas toys are the first thing to leave the floor. We're looking for strong brands: LEGO, Magna-Tiles, Jellycat, American Girl, Melissa & Doug, and other well-made toys and games. Before you pack them, make sure everything is clean, complete, and working, with fresh batteries where needed. No stains, no marker, no missing pieces. If it wouldn't pass the gift test, it won't pass ours.
A Quick Check Before You Pack
Look everything over in good light. Stains and pilling are the top two reasons a piece doesn't make it to the floor, and both hide in a dim closet. Check zippers, buttons, and boot soles. Stretched collars and worn-through elbows have usually given what they had. We can't take underwear or socks, regardless of condition.
When To Come In
Drop-offs run the 1st through the 21st of every month, and October 1 is a Thursday. As a current consigner, you don't need an appointment for these items.
Questions? Contact us before your drop-off. Check our consignment page for current hours and availability.