boston.com
Thrifty and nifty
Their designer labels are secondhand, but consignment shops' deals are first-rate
October 2, 2008
Rough economy or not, fashionistas love their designer labels. These days, some of the savviest shoppers are staking out consignment shops in search of top labels at steep discounts. "The resale industry has always been recession-proof," says Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, most of whom have seen sales increase by about 30 percent between April 2007 and this past April. More people, Meyer says, are combing their closets for items to cash in - and filling in their wardrobes with previously owned high-end goods. So what's in stores? We checked out a handful of local shops to see what they've got and what we could get for $75. - AMI ALBERNAZ
The Closet
For the past 30 years, The Closet (175 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-1919) has been a beacon for high-end bargain hunters. Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs share racks with fun if less familiar names. For shoppers, there are a few guiding concepts - skirts here, menswear there, size markers thoughtfully placed, but for the most part, rummaging is part of the game. This time of year, as many as 600 pieces come in each day, says manager Robert van Giels, guaranteeing an ever-changing selection.
The Closet accepts designer consignments that are less than two years old and in perfect condition. Many items are marked down after one month, but higher-end brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel are generally exempt. The consignment period is 60 days, and sales are split 50-50. Consignors are paid monthly, rather than at the end of the consignment period.
WHAT $75 BUYS: At $88, the shiny red Prada sneakers that caught our eye were woefully off-limits. An elegantly tattered, peach and red-flecked Bebe blazer ($33) and a flouncy Easton Pearson skirt ($44) come in just two bucks over budget.
Poor Little Rich Girl
If it's vintage you seek, head to Davis Square and Poor Little Rich Girl (255 Elm St., Somerville, 617-684-0157). Racks sorted by decade (1950s through '80s, and a sparser one labeled "From the beginning of time to the 1940s") stand alongside a table of vintage cowboy boots. Chunky vintage jewelry is displayed throughout. The store also stocks a funky assortment of contemporary wares, anchored by standards from J. Crew, Gap, and Banana Republic. Overstock new items round out the selection.
First-time consignors and those who have not consigned within the last three months need to make an appointment. Vintage items (at least 25 years old) and new items (no more than three years old) in perfect condition are accepted. The consignor gets 40 percent of the selling price, or can use the payment as store credit and receive an additional 20 percent discount. Items are kept for 60 days; unclaimed items are donated.
WHAT $75 BUYS: With so many choices, it's tough to decide. We settle on a vintage red straw hat ($34), a pair of turquoise-and-gold screw-on earrings ($14), and beige crochet culottes from the 1970s rack ($28).
Encore Exchange
Though it's been around for more than 40 years, Encore Exchange (318 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-566-4544) is easy to miss. The tiny shop is nestled in Coolidge Corner Arcade, a structure that even those living in Brookline might pass. At first glance, the wares seem aimed at an older set - sober linen tops, floral scarves - but on closer inspection, the selection becomes more eclectic.
A fringed, studded leather handbag and a hand-painted Italian leather number perch on a shelf above the clothes. A wide black Swatch watch sits in a case of vintage jewelry.
Prices start low (a $5 basket with sweaters, scarves, and miscellanea) and reach into the low four figures (for the fur coat rack behind the counter).
Most of the clothes are no more than 2 1/2 years old. Consignors may pick up unsold items after 90 days, or they are given to charity. Consignors receive 50 percent of the sale price.
WHAT $75 BUYS: The day we visited, a Betsey Johnson spring dress with a netted overlay was a must-have ($44.95), as was an olive suede belt ($27.50).
Karma Designer Consignments
In the North End, Karma Designer Consignments (26 Prince St., Boston, 617-723-8338) boasts something for everyone. There are pieces from high-end designers, about half of which are consigned, as well as one-of-a-kind and vintage pieces that owners and twin sisters Joy and Judy Catuogno scout out themselves.
"We have a lot of samples and things from boutique close-outs, which we can bring in at a lower rate," Joy Catuogno says. Soft summer dresses from a San Francisco designer hang alongside consigned Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, and Betsey Johnson wares. Vintage cocktail dresses and costume jewelry round out the selection. For tight budgets, a $10-$20 rack features steeply discounted Ann Taylor and J.Crew. The sisters accept high-end consignments (Gucci, Dior, Chanel) by appointment. The consignment is 90 days, and sales are split 50-50.
WHAT $75 BUYS: A silk Diane von Furstenberg tank top ($60) is tempting. Then it's difficult to decide between a black "Naughty in the North End" T-shirt ($15) and a pair of flats ($10).
Turnabout Shoppe
West of the city, the Turnabout Shoppe (30 Grove St., Wellesley, 781-237-4450) is a mecca for high-end consignment. Racks of neatly displayed Chanel jackets greet visitors at the entrance. Co-owner Herb Kutzman points out one that originally cost $5,000 to $6,000, but is being sold for $950.
"The more expensive something was, the better the buy," Kutzman says. "If we price something too high, people won't buy it."
Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta share space on the shop's gown rack, (the same rack from which gowns were purchased for both of Bill Clinton's inaugurations in the '90s). The handbag selection is similarly star-studded: Fendi, Bergdorf Goodman, Hermès. Upstairs is a room dedicated to shoes (Dell'Aqua, Escada, Chanel); another to pants, skirts, and sweaters; and another to outerwear.
The Turnabout Shoppe accepts consignments by appointment. Items should be no older than two seasons, and are displayed for one year. Sales are split 50-50.
WHAT $75 BUYS: Our budget didn't stretch so far here. An adorable pair of rose-colored, red-buckled Anne Klein flats ($90) were just out of reach, but a tan and periwinkle Coach purse ($70) fit the bill.