Second-hand and luxury are not two words typically associated with one another. Just hearing the word consignment may garner images of old shoes and smelly sweaters, but make no mistake, there is a vast difference between consignment stores and thrift stores.
Consignment shops are much more discerning about the clothes they accept and typically only take designer or high-end contemporary brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Theory, or Citizens of Humanity. All of the clothing must meet standards such as being freshly cleaned, repaired, seasonally appropriate, and in style. Essentially consignment shopping is like shopping through the closets of all the well-dressed women in your area. Most clothes are about 50% of their retail price and very current. The only noticeable difference between department store clothing and consignment store clothing is the price tag. Another added bonus of consignment shopping is the environmental benefits.
“Consignment shopping is probably the only consumption that is environmentally-friendly. When you buy an item you’re keeping it out of the landfills, where an estimated 85 percent of used clothing winds up every year.”-Readers Digest
While I’d like to think my love of buying vintage items is fueled by my desire to save the planet, truthfully, I shop second hand for two reasons. Firstly, I love the idea that when you buy something once worn by another person you are not just buying an article of clothing or accessory, but rather a story. When I wear my mother’s old ray bans from the 80’s, or the Trina Turk clutch whose owner I will never know, I think about the sunny days and wild nights each item as been through before me, and the many more they will experience long after I am gone.
Trends are ever changing but true style never fades. Just as people grow wiser and in many ways more beautiful as they age, I believe some classic pieces grow better with time. Additionally, there is nothing better than stumbling upon an amazing find and knowing you are the only one who will have it.
This past weekend I visited the Second Time Around store on M street and found five amazing finds for even more amazing prices.
Jamison Vest $24.50
French Connection Sweater $17.50
Earrings $8
Ambre Babzoe Sweater Vest $29.50
Drew Sweater $29.50
A very special thank you to my AMAZING friend and photographer extraordinaire, Chloe Jones. Check out more of her work on chloecolor.wordpress.com and on instagram @chlojone