What to List in January

A new year brings fresh energy, and January is one of the best months to set your closet up for success. Shoppers arrive with events on the calendar, gift cards to spend, and a strong mindset around refreshing their wardrobes. Based on what we’re seeing on Poshmark, here’s what’s trending in January and how you can take advantage.

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January Shopping Mindsets to Know

As you decide what to list, keep these shopper behaviors in mind:

• Event dressing, including winter formals, school dances, charity galas, and early prom shopping
• New Year resets focused on fitness goals, routines, and lifestyle refreshes
• Wardrobe refresh, replacing staples after the holidays
• Treat-yourself shopping driven by gift card redemptions and post-holiday splurges

Prom Dresses, Eveningwear, and Occasion Pieces

Formal dresses and eveningwear are some of the top-performing categories throughout the month.

Don’t forget occasion jewelry
Brands like Kendra Scott, David Yurman, and Swarovski often complement formal outfits. Think of jewelry as an easy add-on that helps complete the look.

Clear photos, accurate details, and competitive pricing go a long way in these categories.

• Anchor your closet with formalwear – lead with premium dress brands and use mid-tier labels to drive conversions.
• Lean into the New Year reset – refresh activewear listings and highlight versatile, easy-to-style pieces.
• Use trends thoughtfully – trendy items are great for storytelling and engagement. Avoid overstocking.

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Trending Now

Need more inspiration on what to list? Here’s what shoppers are searching for on Poshmark.

• Bag charms & Customization +55%
  • Personalizing luxury and everyday bags with trinkets, ribbons, and assorted charms
• Boho-Chic Revival +38%
  • Chiffon ruffles, lace inserts, and flowing silhouettes inspired by recent runway collections
• Barn Jackets +34%
  • Rugged, utilitarian waxed cotton or canvas coats with corduroy collars, shifting from rural workwear to urban high-fashion staples
• Corduroy Trousers +31%
  • Wide-leg and straight-cut pants in textured courduroy, replacing traditional denim
• Moto Jackets +23%
  • Distressed leather racing jackets with paneling and bold hardware
• Suede Hobo Bags +22%
  • Slouchy, oversized handbags in rich suede textures, particularly in earth tones and deep jewel colors.

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Core January Keyword Themes

1. Occasion & Event Keywords

Naturally include these when relevant in titles or descriptions:

• formal
• evening
• prom
• gala
• cocktail
• wedding guest
• black tie
• homecoming
• winter formal

Example:
“Mac Duggal Evening Gown, Formal Prom Dress, Size 6”

2. Fit, Silhouette & Style Keywords

Shoppers often search by how something fits or looks, not just brand:

• maxi
• midi
• mini
• fitted
• A-line
• strapless
• long sleeve
• sleeveless
• wrap
• bodycon

3. Material & Fabric Keywords

Especially helpful for dresses, activewear, and premium items:

• satin
• silk
• chiffon
• velvet
• lace
• sequined
• leather
• suede
• knit
• stretch

4. Activewear & New Year Reset Keywords

Strong for January fitness-driven demand:

• activewear
• workout
• performance
• training
• gym
• yoga
• athleisure
• breathable
• moisture-wicking

Example:
“Lululemon Performance Tank, Activewear Top, Size M”

5. Occasion + Jewelry Keywords

Good for basket-completion categories:

• statement
• dainty
• layered
• gold tone
• silver tone
• crystal
• cocktail ring
• drop earrings

Here’s to a successful start to 2026!

Listing, engaging, and optimizing your closet helps you connect with buyers and drive sales. During the holiday season, shoppers are searching for gifts and looking to score deals. 

This playbook will help you think like a merchandiser: what to list, when to list, and how to “wrap it in a bow” (adding details & using the right key terms) so the right buyer finds you at the right time.

We’ll break this down into 2 major sections:

• Holiday Timing: when to list what during the season
• Fine-Tuning for the Holidays: how to talk about your items so they are searched & discovered beyond just Poshmark

Use this as a guide to schedule your listing efforts, prep your closet, and stay ahead.

1. Schedule ahead: Block time in your calendar to list new inventory during the early periods so you’re ahead of competition.
2. Refresh older listings: Don’t just add new items. Update photos/descriptions of strong performers from earlier in the year and re-position them for holiday.
3. Shipping & readiness matter: During the holidays, shipping speed matters. Gather all your shipping supplies (polymailers, boxes, shipping labels, thank-you cards) ahead of time.

Use this guide to help create an appealing title, craft a strong description, and include what trends you should lean into for the holidays.

Here are some themes and keywords you can incorporate into your titles or descriptions to match holiday-shopping mindsets. These can also be good for Posh Show titles:

• “Gift Ready,” “Perfect Holiday Gift,” “Stocking Stuffer,” “Gift Under $XX” “Gifts for Her”
• “Holiday Party,” “New Year’s Eve,” Festive Season,” “Celebration Wear”
• “Winter Wardrobe,” “Cold-Weather Layer,” “Cozy Chic,” “Holiday Cozy”
• “Limited Edition,” “Holiday Drop,” “Special Offering,” “Exclusive”
• “Ships Fast,” “Ready to Send,” “Perfect for Gifting”
• “Bundle Deal,” “Gift Bundle,” “Set Of,” “Match Set”

When setting up your listing (title + description), think about the occasion and the style. For example:

• If you’re listing a velvet blazer: mention “holiday party blazer,” “velvet dinner jacket,” “evening wear,” “gift for him/her.”
• If you’re listing a cozy knit set: mention “holiday cozy set,” “winter lounge,” “gift set,” “matching top + bottom,” “snow-day style.”
• If you’re listing accessories or giftable items: mention “perfect gift,” “under $XX,” “holiday stocking stuffer,” “gift ready.”

• Keep the title clear but include one or two of the holiday-keywords above (e.g. “Velvet Emerald Blazer Holiday Party Ready”). Include the brand if you can.
• In the first line of description, add some tips like “ideal for gift-giving,” or “perfect for holiday events.”
• If there are bundle options or multi-item sets, highlight: “Bundle two items & save” or “Gift set: matched top + skirt.”

Here’s how you might execute:

• Source listings based on Holiday Themes.
• Need a little bit of help? Check out our gift guide!
• Review your current inventory and identify items that can be re-positioned for gifting or seasonal events such as holiday parties.
• Refresh listings: update photos, descriptions, and add holiday keywords.
• Create a listing schedule that works for you: aim for x new items/week leading up to late November.
• Discount items that are “going out of trend” to make space for your new inventory.

• List gift-friendly items, bundled offers, and partywear.
• Use the keywords and themes above.
• Host Holiday themed Posh Shows. Use terms like “holiday ready” and “gift deals” in the title to draw in shoppers & viewership. Think Black Friday deals/ Second Sunday/Cyber Monday

• Track what types of items gain traction. If gift bundles perform, list more.
• Use Offer to Likers, Closet Clear Out, or special promos (if available) to drive additional traffic.
• Engage your community through social media by sharing behind-the-scenes content (wrapping, shipping prep). On Poshmark, respond quickly and set fast-shipping expectations.

• Emphasize “ready to ship” or “last chance for delivery” where applicable.
• Start listing items for New Year’s Eve and new year, new me wardrobes. 
• After the holiday gifting season, evaluate what succeeded and plan your inventory refresh for Jan/Feb.