Thread by @dieworkwear

OK, this tweet below was obviously a joke, but some people asked for tips on how to find good clothes on eBay. So here's a thread. 🧵

https://twitter.com/dieworkwear/status/1759693969586589956

1. Know Your Measurements

Sizing is not consistent across brands. One company's size 38 might fit like another company's size 40. The best way to approach sizing online is to know your measurements.

Buy a measuring tape. It costs like $2.

Now, measure the clothes in your wardrobe that fit you best. To do this, lay a garment flat and button it. Then, take the following measurements:

- Chest: Armpit to armpit, measured across the front.

- Shoulder: Shoulder seam to shoulder seam, measured across the back.

Length: Center of the back collar seam down to the hem, measured at the back

Sleeve: Some ppl measure from the shoulder seam to the cuff, but I think it's better to measure the center of the back collar to the cuff. Take both measurements.

Despite the above being done on a sport coat, I don't recommend buying suits or sport coats on eBay unless you've tried on that model and know it fits you. Tailoring is very different from casualwear in that small differences in a cut can make a big impact and be hard to alter.

However, you can use the above technique to measure shirts, sweaters, and casual jackets. Use this as a starting point. A good eBay seller should have similar measurements, which you can use to gauge whether something will fit you.

Similarly, for pants, measure:

- Waist: Measured across the top

- Inseam: Crotch seam to hem

- Leg opening: Laid flat, measured across

- Rise: Crotch seam to top of the waistband, measured across the front of the garment

Write all of these numbers down in a notebook.

2. Look for Good Brands

While you shouldn't get too hung up on brands, brands mean something on eBay because this is how clothing is sorted. Consequently, it helps to know some brands that make quality clothing.

I can't possibly list all of these brands for you in a tweet—and, as always, much depends on how you want to dress/ your aesthetic. But as a starting point, you can check out the search links I've created at Put This On. See the intro to this post:

🔗: blst.to/66dLsNx

3. Know How to Do Boolean Search

The term Boolean search refers to a certain way of creating queries. Here is an example.

Country of origin tags are not always the most reliable method of judging a garment's quality. But when you're shopping online, sometimes they're helpful.

For instance, Scottish cashmere sweaters are reliably good, presuming you've found something in good condition that fits you. So, to find a Scottish cashmere knit on eBay, input the following search term:

(Scotland, Scottish) cashmere

Click the box for "include description."

The search "(Scotland, Scottish) cashmere" pulls up auctions that fulfill two requirements:

- The title or description has to contain the word Scotland or Scottish

- The title or description has to contain the word cashmere

Use the site's filters on the left-hand side to narrow your search. Since I'm shopping for menswear, I've clicked "men's sweaters." This gives me 848 current auctions for Scottish cashmere knits, including this Murray Allen for $60. I can now compare measurements to gauge size

If you know a bit about menswear, you can use Boolean searches to find things other people may have overlooked. For example, Ralph Lauren is a massive brand with billions of items—some good, some not.

But if you use the search:

"Ralph Lauren" (Italy, England)

And click "include description," and you will pull up everything Ralph Lauren made in Italy or England, which the company typically reserves for the better things in their line.

3. Save Good Sellers

If you find a seller with a lot of inventory, they may be a business. In such cases, save their page if you like their stuff. Just like with good consignment or thrift stores, it pays to check back once in a while.

One of my friends, Matt, runs an eBay auction business called LuxeSwap. I think he's one of the best eBay sellers for high-end menswear. New ten-day auctions go up every Thursday. Do a search for #1 Menswear in his store to find his best stock

🔗: blst.to/mZSewTs

4. Search Other eBay Sites

There are different eBay sites designated by different national domains. So there's a French eBay, British eBay, etc. Even if these sellers are willing to ship abroad, their auctions may not show up on the eBay site you use most often.

If you are interested in a particular country's style or brands, it may be worth checking their eBay site. For instance, it's easier to find the UK brand Margaret Howell on . Just be aware that returning something to an overseas seller can be difficult. ebay.co.uk

5. Use Auction Snipers

To avoid getting into bidding wars, you can use auction snipers such as Gixen. These services enter a bid for you at the very last second. The downside is that you don't get a second chance if someone outbids you.

🔗: blst.to/cOPEqhL

6. Check Put This On

Finally, as mentioned above, I round up high-end menswear twice a week for Put This On. These listings are available for free, and we cover everything from tailoring to workwear.

🔗: blst.to/eArhYre

Once a week, we also send out an extra eBay roundup and a list of active store sales to our Inside Track subscribers (subscription costs $5/ month). Basically, if you purchase one thing a year, the savings pays for the subscription.

🔗: blst.to/BhwfiSA

Shopping on eBay can be a crapshoot. You have to do your research online and be willing to put up with some misses. For instance, when buying shoes, you have to know your size & how that converts to other country sizing (e.g., a size US 9D is an 8E in the UK). *Do your research*

It helps to have a good dry cleaner and alterations tailor who can take care of things for you post-purchase. That all said, there's a lot of good stuff on eBay. Aaron Levine tells me that he almost exclusively shops on eBay, and I think he looks tremendous.

IG aaronplevine