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8.0 LETTERS TO SAVVY-DISCOUNTS ABOUT THRIFT STORE CLOTHING; DISCOUNT CLOTHES AND CLOTHING.

8.0.1 LETTER #1

To find clothing consignment stores, our phone book has a listing under consignment services in the yellow pages. There's over 30 stores listed for Charleston, SC! And then Goodwill and Salvation Army usually have stores in the bigger towns/cities. My first experience with a consignment store was when the wife of my office mate opened one in 1979 for women's clothes! From then on, I was hooked. The secret to these stores is to go often, they get new stuff every day and sales of 30-70% are always going on. When you get tired of your "new" stuff, you just take it back and have them resell the items. You get 40-50% back from selling price.

The bad things: you tend to get too much and hate to give any of it back. And if there's a stain that wasn't noticeable, they won't take it back even with sales slip. Look at the clothing thoroughly before buying! I've found a tear or a stain on a few things that I missed in the store due to bad lighting. In BIG cities, look for the consignment shops in the affluent areas where the originals/expensive stuff will be sold at bargain prices! All of them let you try them on, so once you find the stores, you can look at the labels, quality up close. Don't use my name, please. Just as soon not tell everyone I'm wearing 2nd hand clothes, let 'em think I can afford the Liz Claiborne stuff!

8.0.2 LETTER #2

Go to area thrift stores at least once a month. Their stock changes frequently and you never know what they might get. Once you get to know a store you can spot the new things quickly. When you check on stores regularly you'll find an amazing number of things you can use if you have the patience. Get to know the people who run the store, they might alert you to new stuff that's arrived or about to come in.

8.0.3 LETTER #3

Some thrift stores in the same area may have much better clothes than others. Apparently wealthier people donate to some stores rather than others. In my area the store for battered women had better clothes than the church or humane society stores.

When you check out a store once a month, it will only take you 20-30 minutes to try out any new stuff you like. When I shop, I shop quickly. I pull out clothes that might fit and carry them with me around the store. Then I look at the seven or so dresses I've picked up and try on a couple. On a typical trip I might end up buying one or two.

8.0.4 LETTER #4

When I lived in Palm Beach, Florida, a very wealthy community, a friend came to visit. She immediately wanted to go to the Goodwill store which I didn't know existed there. When we went to the thrift store we found gowns, tuxes and dresses that had been worn only twice. My friend bought a $4000 designer evening gown for $200.

8.0.5 LETTER #5

You'll probably find some great deals on clothes at yard sales this summer. Dingy and slightly stained white items can be rejuvenated with bleach. I soaked some white eyelet curtains in water, bleach and dish detergent and then washed them as usual. I dipped a cotton swab in bleach and used it to eradicate chocolate stains on a white jersey dress and spaghetti sauce stains on a white waitress' blouse. My philosophy is if the garment is ruined anyway, I might as well try bleaching it. Ninety-nine per cent of the time, it comes out good as new.

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