Gently Used Items are a Boon for Your Budget

There’s a simcha or life-cycle event brewing, and the family budget is stretched to the max. Everyone wants to wear a fresh and new outfit, but the department stores and specialty shops put those amazingly tailored and trendy items just a bit out of your reach, Now there is a solution to finding just the right items to spruce up your wardrobe and give you the fashion lift you crave… without sending you to the poor house.

Whether you’re looking for casual separates, business attire, high-end designers, Shabbat-appropriate ensembles or bridesmaid and evening wear—and top them off with a fur coat or jacket—Bergen County offers you  a plethora of options to retail that will keep you looking like a million bucks at a fraction of the garments’ original cost.

Consignment Shops

Let’s start with consignment shops. While the mention of consignment shops may bring to mind visions of racks filled with dusty vintage dresses, rusty costume jewelry and hats that looked current sometime in 1967, that is not what modern consignment shops look like today. Catering to a certain level of clientele, consignment shops select their merchandise carefully from the closets of women who often replace their wardrobes at least twice a year. By being particular about garment quality, condition and, of course, what label the item is boasting, consignment shops have been able to define their niche within the consignment world and elevate themselves from the masses by offering something special to those who seek it.

Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique

38 Oak Street

Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Call 201-389-6900

http://www.savvychicconsignment.com

Located in the Old Post Office Building next to Winberie’s Restaurant in historic Ridgewood, New Jersey, Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique is an upscale consignment store that specializes in designer and boutique labels. Offering top designer apparel for everyone from teenagers to grandmothers, they carry women’s clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories. Savvy Chic specializes in finding that something special you are looking for! Whether you want St. Johns, Gucci, Prada, Armani, Fendi, Vuitton, Juicy Couture, Free People, Theory, Tahari or that hard-to-find label, Savvy Chic is the place to go. They even have an entire room called The Shoe Box dedicated just to shoes and a wide assortment of vintage jewelry and designer handbags.

Past & Present

253 Closter Dock Road

Closter, New Jersey 07624

Phone: (201) 784-7441

http://www.pastandpresentclosternj.com

Past & Present Designer Consignment Boutique is located in Closter NJ. While their vibrant online shop sells only designer jewelry, shoes, handbags and accessories, their brick and mortar store also carries the highest quality clothing across all categories of apparel from major designer labels only.

Double Take Luxury Consignment

Englewood

35 Nathaniel Place

Englewood NJ, 07631

Phone: 201-569-1112

Ridgewood

189 East Ridgewood Ave.

Ridgewood NJ 07450

Phone: 201-445-2525

Red Bank

97 Broad Street

Red Bank NJ 07701

Phone: 732-383-5482

Short Hills

774 Morris Turnpike

Short Hills NJ 07078

Phone: 973-564-6464

If you’re really in the mood for a fun day of designer label consignment hunting, check out any of Double Take Luxury Consignment’s four locations in Englewood, Ridgewood, Red Bank or Short Hills (Red Bank & Short Hills are open Sunday). The Short Hills Store was the original, and has been in business for over 20 years. The additional three shops opened about two and-a-half years ago.

This chain considers itself a high-end boutique that happens to be selling consignment. With in-store personal shoppers on staff to help, you are guaranteed to find that perfect designer piece, possibly from the current season, for at least 25-50% off its original retail price! Double Take receives its merchandise from all across the country and carries brands from contemporary collections like Juicy, Theory and Anthropology, through top tier designers like Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Prada. Their White Glove service will even come to your home to pick up the items you want to consign. They’ll help you go through your closet…but only if your closet happens to house Chanel, Prada and Louis Vuitton. ( I guess they won’t be stopping by this columnist’s closet any time soon. 🙂

New To You

449 Cedar Lane

Teaneck, NJ 07666

(201) 928-1868

http://www.newtoyounj.com

What list of consignment shops would be complete without a mention of Teaneck’s own New To You, located on Cedar Lane? For nearly 20 years New To You has prided itself on its accessible brands, easy price points and impeccable quality. It has regular shoppers—self-proclaimed “consignment junkies”—who travel in from the Midwest and beyond to grab the best stuff on the racks. So stop by frequently, you never know what might be there one day and gone the next!

Gentleman’s Agreement

20 N. Van Brunt St.

Englewood,  NJ  07631

Phone: 201-568-5511

http://www.gentlemensagreement.net

Looking for something for The Mister? Englewood is actually home to one of the few all menswear consignment shops in the state. (The only one in Bergen County!) Gentleman’s Agreement carries a well curated collection of menswear. Brands begin at the Banana Republic level and move into high-end designer. Celebrating their 18th anniversary this year, owner Sandy Zahn says her stores success is due to her diligence in only carrying items that are in “tip-top shape” and that “you would like to buy.” If it doesn’t pass those tests, it doesn’t see the sales floor.

You may find that not only are consignment shops a great option for you as a customer, but it may be a great spot to consign the wardrobe pieces you no longer wear but still love, and use them to make a bit of spending money to reinvest in a new look for yourself—especially if you are hosting a simcha!

Most shops make it easy to donate. Their terms are posted on their websites but generally fall into the following ranges: After evaluating the clothes, they accept what they think they can sell and price accordingly. After a specified period of time (on average 30-45 days) they will mark the item half off. If the item doesn’t sell after a predetermined length of time, they will return the item or donate it to charity. Consignors can usually expect 40-60% of the selling price, and slightly higher for premier designer labels. Of course, check with the shop for its specific terms before dropping things off.

Bonus!

National Council of Jewish Women Thrift Shop

75 S Washington Ave

Bergenfield NJ 07621

(201) 385-3702

A tricky category, thrift shops can be really hit or miss, depending on what you’re looking for and how much you like digging for that hidden treasure. For a well-recommended treasure hunt, check out the National Council of Jewish Women Thrift Shop. While you’re less likely to find high-end designer labels, you could get lucky and find some great pieces for just a few dollars! Most likely you’ll also find some great options for kids at really reasonable prices. An added bonus is that the thrift shop is associated with a very worthy cause, so you aren’t only a getting a good deal, you’re getting a great mitzvah too! My aunt was able to get a brand new Black Tie Cassini beaded top with a price tag of $500+ for a mere $36!!!  They also carry vintage jewelry, larger sizes, bedding, books, objets d’art, and housewares.

By Tova Gold