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For the love of the mall, I can’t get enough shopping. There are so many clichés about women and shopping. Name them, and they describe me. I read my fashion magazines with relish: Vogue, W, In Style. I shop when I’m in need of a pick-me-up. I love outings with my girlfriends, especially when we can make a day of it. And like those Macy’s holiday commercials, I am that woman whose parking space you want, but alas, I was just dropping off my purchases to free up my arms for more shopping. But with two children, a home, and a lifestyle of travel and fun, shopping can make quite a dent in my wallet, especially when I prefer wearing well-admired labels, which is how I discovered the world of consignment shops. So how does a consignment shop work? Women like you and me can take in their unwanted clothes to these shops that sell the merchandise and take a cut of what the seller makes. Sure, some consignment shops may not be as upscale as others, carrying well-worn items that aren’t worth the drive, but the newer boutique owners have become very particular in what they will accept in their store. Some won’t sell anything less than designer clothing. Others won’t accept anything more than 2 years old. No stains, no missing pieces, and no worn-and-washed-a-thousand-times looks. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, they even offer new, never worn items. But the most beautiful thing about a consignment shop is that the items they sell are typically up to 70 percent off original prices. A Second Glance “We just had a girl come back in because she bought a pair of Armani shoes for $12 and saw them at Nordstrom for $178,” said Mary Addison, the store's manager. “She said she was so excited she just had to see what else we had.” Armani isn't the only name Addison drops: Manolo Blahniks, Nike, Brighton handbags, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne often pepper the inventory as well. Backstreet Boutique For designer fashion, this is the consignment shop to visit. “I carry everything that a woman can wear or carry that's expensive,” said the shop's owner Joey McCraw. Strictly a designer-label consignment shop, McCraw offers great clothes at a good price, but nothing's exactly dirt cheap – her markdowns are just a fraction of the price. Still, a steal at Backstreet can get you a Chanel jacket, originally marked as $2,400, for $1,000. Chelsea's Closet This store carries closet staples such as streetwear, casual attire and and formalwear, plus wedding dresses, both new and slightly worn, by designers like Mon Cheri, Mori Lee, Eden Bridal and Angelo. Brand names like Casual Corner, Petite Sophisticate, Jones NY and Neiman Marcus are available, along with department store shoes and handbags. This just in, but soon to go, a Kate Spade handbag. Couture Consigner Walking into this stand-alone shop is like walking into a high-end boutique, complete with chandeliers and a baby grand. Designer names like Seven Jeans, Armani and Jonathan Martin fill the racks, along with formalwear and wedding dresses by monikers like Monique Lhuillier. “I offer higher-end clothing,” said owner Rosalee Birch, who highlights a recent steal: brand new, never-worn Prada shoes that she sold for $50.
D.I.V.A.S. stands for Divinely Inspired Virtuously Anointed Sisters and is the brainchild of mother/daughter owners Sherry Slater-Karim and Veronica Slater. With more than 250 consigners, you're bound to run across names like Kasper, DKNY and St. John, as well as Christian Dior handbags and Prada shoes. “If you're a hat person, we have hats that typically sell for $400 to $500 for $125 to $150,” Sherry said. Maggie's Closet Lynn Walker and Maggie Kolkanapta, a mother-and-daughter team, operate this consignment shop complete with weekend fashion shows. Handbags like Dooney & Burke and Coach are common, as are shoes by Anne Klein II, Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger and Steve Madden. Clothing labels include names like Dolce & Gabbana, Bebe and J.Crew. A recent find: Michael Kors cropped summer pants for $19. Psycho Sisters Looking for something a little more hip? The name of the store should say it all with colorful designers like Betsey Johnson, BCBG and Diesel, as well as vintage clothes and costume rentals. A search through the racks can also locate names like Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie & Fitch. A fifth location can of course be found in Little Five Points!
Encore carries many higher-end brands like Dana Buchman Ellen Tracy and St. John. Looking for a deal on handbags and shoes? This store's got 'em from Louis Vuitton and Prada to Ferragamo. A recent steal? A Chanel handbag worth $2,400 went for $900. Fantastic Finds A mix of both trendy designer labels, such as Juicy Couture, Seven Jeans and Manolo Blahniks, and more conservative name brands, such as Lilly Pulitzer, Burberry and Liz Claiborne. Special “Good Bye” racks feature merchandise as low as $5, including an Armani Exchange 100-percent silk blazer for $25. Another deal? A Giorgio Armani two-piece, black pinstriped suit for $350.
Tabú Resale Boutique Offering trendy, vintage and couture clothing, as well as clearance racks as low as $5, you'll find names like Chloe, Marc Jacobs, and Coach beside Rockin Republic and Seven Jeans. “We combine high-end designers with more contemporary, fun, young apparel,” said Alison Stock, the store's manager. Merchandise is so current, a Gucci hobo bag still offered at the designer store for around $1,300 sold at Tabú for just over $400. Panache Consignment Boutique Panache features merchandise found throughout Macy's, Neiman's and Bloomingdales, and specialty store labels such as Talbots and Ann Taylor. Shoes have more common names, like Cole Haan, but are in very good condition and at great savings. Handbags by Prada, Coach and Louis Vuitton make their way through the store quickly. Unique Consignment Boutique This boutique provides all your clothing needs under one roof, from custom-made purses, boutique attire, handmade jewelry, wedding dresses, and, yes, designer names like Chanel, Gucci, Miu Miu and Judith Leiber. A Mon Cheri wedding gown, selling for $399, is more than half off the price found at wedding stores. Owner Susan Walter has fun with her in-store events, including a Girls' Night Out special sales event held monthly. Upscale Resale This shop offers a selection of clothing for women, juniors and children. For you, you'll find lots of Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and Jones NY. For teens, there is plenty of Abercrombie & Fitch and Aéropostale. They also offer a selection of tennis outfits, shoes and handbags. “I can't pinpoint a specific bargain as greater than another because none of my tops are over $10 and none of my pants are over $16,” said owner Mary Kay Elfberry. Online Steals Ah, the Internet. I can't even remember the days of shopping pre-Web. If you are like most people and wear clothing for a few years, you don't care about fashion being last season, and thus, a visit to the worldwide Web just may be your pot of gold. From slightly used clothing, purses and shoes found on auctions like eBay (I just got a pair of brand new Burberry slides for $10) to discounted labels on sites like Overstock.com and Bluefly.com, you'll find name-brand and designer labels, as well as couture galore. Vintage Style When it's not the name on the tag that matters, but you're looking for that one-of-a-kind dress, vintage is key. Even Hollywood elite turns to vintage dresses for award shows, like Reese Witherspoon did for her gown of choice at the Academy Awards this year. For great vintage dating back to 1900s, head to Little Five Points and visit Stefan's. Worth the drive, this vintage shop features clothing from 1900 to the '70s, including costume jewelry and men's tuxedos and clothing. Racks Worthy of Searches Not into wearing someone else's clothing? Have no fear. Deals are yours for the taking, if you spend the time pursuing racks oft filled with more bad fashion than good. But when you find that one item that makes you swoon for a price, these stores are worth the look: • Loehmann's. This New York-based chain is infamous for the battles between shoppers over merchandise too good to let go. Designer fashions, like Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Donna Karan and Dolce & Gabbana, can be found at up to 65 percent off original prices. 120 Perimeter Center Place, Atlanta, 770-391-9389, or 2480 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, 404-633-4156. Hours: Mon. - Sat.: 10 - 9; Sun.: 12 - 6. • Filene's Basement. Like Loehmann's, The Basement is known for the fights that break out, this time during the store's Running of the Brides sale, where designer wedding dresses can go as low as $100. Bridal, though, is only a small portion of the store's discounted department store merchandise. 3535 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, 404-869-4466. • K&G Fashion Superstore. Ignore the sign above the door that calls this shop a Men's Center. Once just a man's secret suit discounter, we're lucky this Atlanta-based superstore now caters to women, too. From suits and business attire to casualwear, purses, shoes and urban wear, all prices are heavily slashed from original department store prices. 2949 Canton Road, Marietta, 770-428-9660. Hours: Mon. - Fri.: 10 - 9; Sat.: 9:30 - 9; Sun.: 12 -6. |
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A Girl's Guide to Steals and Deals
D.I.V.A.S. Consignment Boutique
Encore Consignment Boutique