My Couture (or as close as I’m going to get),Thrift shops conjure up images of dank, musty places that sell incomplete puzzles and Grandma’s ancient mohair coat. Think again. The world of secondhand has reinvented itself, and consignment stores are happening places where savvy shoppers pick up anything from designer furs to antique record players for a fraction of their original price.
My first stop is Resale Therapy open “by appointment only.” Many customers prefer privacy when they shop consignment. Consignment shopping is different from rooting through the racks in thrift stores — it’s more like a shadchan system whereby the proprietor acts as an agent for the seller; profits are then split. Consignment stores are selective and if you’re lucky enough to own a magnificent designer-label dress or a Ferragamo pocketbook in great condition you can take the item to a consignment store and come out with a nice sum in exchange.
Mashy of Resale Therapy started her business about two years ago and most of her customers keep coming back for more. She shows me a great selection of evening wear shoes boots accessories and sheitels.
Yes sheitels. It’s not something you’ll find in a Manhattan consignment shop but in Brooklyn a well-priced Shevi Kiki Noah or Freeda that’s in excellent condition will sell in a flash. According to Mashy “A woman brought in three wigs last week. All three are already sold.”
Mashy’s store is also haunted by designer enthusiasts seeking a bargain albeit on an entirely different level. Mashy explains that anyone who knows the retail value of a genuine pair of designer shoes will be thrilled to find them at a fraction of the price at the consignment shop in her basement. But Mashy cautions the shoes will still cost a couple of hundred dollars.
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