Clothing Consignment Shops: High Fashion at Discount Store Prices

  When you’re underemployed or out of a job, finding a great-looking outfit for that all-important interview can be hard on the wallet. And if you need to dress for a special occasion, like a wedding, bar mitzvah, or graduation in tough economic times, the thought of shelling out the money for an appropriate outfit can dampen your joy. In times like these, consignment clothing stores can be the answer to your fashion woes.
 
 Most of the clothing in these shops has been worn before, but unlike thrift shops, consignment clothing stores stock only high-quality, very gently used clothing in like-new condition. You’ll pay much lower prices than you would for brand-new clothes—prices for famous label designer consignment clothes are often lower than those you would pay for the same type of item at a discount store like Target, K-Mart, or Wal-Mart—but you’ll look like a million bucks.
 

The internet can help you find consignment clothing stores in your area. Go to Google and type “clothing consignment” and the name of your city and state. A list of stores near you will appear at the top of the page under the heading “Local business results.” You can also find stores listed in your local yellow pages under the heading “Consignment,” and by searching for “consignment clothes” and your city on the yellow pages web site Dex Knows.

Each consignment shop has its own personality and buying preferences, so call or visit as many shops in your area as you can to find out which one matches your tastes and needs. Many such stores stock women’s clothing only, but some also have departments for men. Most offer shoes, bags, and other accessories as well. One store may be a treasure trove of high-tech outdoor and sporting gear, another may stock only the highest-end designer fashions, and another may be the go-to place for everyday, comfortable clothes. Once you know which store in your area stocks each type of merchandise, you’ll be able to easily shop for great deals for whatever need arises.

Where do these clothes come from? Some consignment shops buy brand-new, overstocked items from boutiques or other small businesses, but most get the majority of their stock from people like you. Ordinary individuals bring in clothing, shoes, and accessories that they no longer want, and offer them to the shop’s staff, who determine whether each item fits the store’s style, the season, and current fashion trends, and whether it is in good enough condition to resell. Accepted items are set out in the store for sale, and for each item that is sold, the individual who brought in the item gets a percentage of the sale price, usually around 40%. If you have unwanted clothing around your house that is in good condition and fits the store’s style, you may be able to save even more on your clothing budget by becoming a seller as well as a buyer.

Try consignment shopping for your next interview or special occasion, and you may find yourself shopping for gently used clothing for all of your fashion needs. You can wear high-end, designer clothes for less than you’d pay for discount-store basics.
 
Also see our related forum discussion on how to shop for career clothes on a budget.