How to List Winter Coats, Knitwear and Boots to Sell

Coats, jumpers and boots are some of the most useful things you can list when the weather turns. They're also the items buyers ask the most questions about. Will it fit over a hoodie? Is it real wool? How bad is the bobbling? A good winter listing answers those questions before anyone has to ask. Here's how.

1. Photos that show weight, texture and fit

Winter pieces are bulky and often dark, which makes them hard to photograph. A few habits help:

• Use daylight. Near a window, out of direct sun. Black coats and navy knits lose all their detail under a ceiling light.
• Front, back and a hanging shot. For coats, hang them so the shape and length are clear. For knitwear, lay it flat as well, because heavy knits stretch on a hanger.
• Get close to the fabric. One close-up of the knit, the wool or the leather tells buyers more than a paragraph.
• Show the labels. Brand label, size label and the fabric composition label, each in focus. Buyers check them, and so should you.
• Boots: every angle. Both sides, the toes, the heels from behind and the soles. Soles and heels show wear first.
• Show the inside. Coat linings, boot insoles and the inside of a cuff are where wear hides.

2. Titles: brand, item, size, fabric, colour

Use the words buyers search for, in a plain order:

Brand + item + size + fabric + colour + one key detail

For example: "Barbour Waxed Cotton Jacket Men's L Olive Corduroy Collar" or "Dr. Martens 1460 Leather Boots UK 6 Black".

The important rule: only put what the label tells you. Brand from the brand label. Size from the size label. Fabric from the composition label. If the label says 60% wool, don't call it a wool coat; say wool blend. If there's no composition label, leave the fabric out or say "feels like wool, no label". Getting this wrong is a fast route to a return.

For more on titles, see our eBay title formula.

3. Measurements buyers actually use

Tag sizes vary a lot between brands and decades, especially on coats. Measure the item flat, buttoned or zipped, and give numbers:

Coats and jackets

• Pit to pit (armpit to armpit, across the front)
• Length (top of the shoulder seam at the collar to the hem)
• Sleeve (shoulder seam to cuff)
• Shoulder width, if it's structured

Knitwear

• Pit to pit, length and sleeve, as above
• Mention if it's been laid flat to measure, since knits can stretch

Boots

• The size on the label (and which country's sizing it is)
• Insole length, if you can measure it
• Shaft height and heel height for tall or heeled boots

Put measurements in a short list near the top of the description, in the same order every time. Our Vinted description guide has more on layout.

4. Honest flaws, said plainly

Winter items have their own common wear. Check for:

• Knitwear: bobbling, pulled threads, small holes (check against the light), stretched cuffs and hems.
• Coats: worn or torn linings, missing or loose buttons, stiff or broken zips, marks on cuffs and collars.
• Boots: scuffed toes, worn heels, creasing, salt marks, tired insoles.

Name each flaw, say where it is and how big it is, and show it in a photo. A buyer who knew about a small mark before buying is far less likely to ask for a return. Our guide to photographing flaws covers the photos.

5. Timing your listings

There's no magic date, but a few plain habits help:

• List as the weather turns, when buyers start looking for warmer layers, rather than waiting until the middle of winter.
• Get the bulky items up early. Coats and boots take longer to photograph, measure and pack, so don't leave them all for the busiest weeks.
• Weigh the packed parcel before you set postage. Coats and boots are heavy and bulky, and postage can change the price a buyer sees. If you sell in the US, our peak season shipping update has this year's dates.
• Refresh anything that hasn't moved after a few weeks: new first photo, check the title, check the price.

Where ListSnaps fits

ListSnaps turns up to 4 photos into a draft title and description. Include a clear photo of the brand and size label: it won't invent a brand or fabric it can't see. You add the measurements and flaws, and it writes them into the draft. Then you check every detail and paste the listing into the marketplace yourself.

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