Designer Items At Discount Prices

By Liz Reph

Looking for a way to get amazing deals on designer clothing and accessories? Or perhaps your closets are already full and you’d like to sell some quality items? Visiting a high-end second-hand shop just might be the answer – and the Lehigh Valley has several to offer:

Twice Chic Boutique

A high to middle range consignment shop, Twice Chic is located at 129 North 3rd Street in Easton. Owners Tammy Wells and Saundra Henderson originally opened in the fall of 2010, but moved to their current location in August of 2011.

“Tammy is originally from Ohio, and Cincinnati is the mecca of consignment,” explained Henderson. “So she has always been into that scene. And I had been selling jewelry for years, so when we decided to start Twice Chic, we combined our areas of expertise.”

With about 550 different consigners, Twice Chic Boutique carries a wide selection of high to middle-of-the-road brand name items. “Only about 10% of our consigners bring in really high end designer pieces,” said Henderson. “Our clientele likes more of a mix, so that’s what we carry. You can find Gucci and Louis Vuitton, but you can also find brands like Talbots and Anne Klein.”

In addition to women’s clothing and accessories, Twice Chic has also recently begun carrying men’s items. “When we were at our old location on Cattell Street we had an entire room dedicated to menswear,” said Henderson. “We’d like to start that again, and so we are currently building up our inventory.”

Twice a year, Twice Chic Boutique hosts a fashion show to raise money for local charities. Last year’s beneficiaries were Easton’s Third Street Alliance for Women and Children and the Children’s Home of Easton. “Tickets usually cost about $15 per person,” explained Henderson. “This covers the cost of the show, which includes refreshments. Then, after the fashion portion is over, we open up the store and sell items at highly discounted prices – usually about 50% off – and donate 10% of the total sales to the charity.”

“I think our atmosphere is what’s really built our customer base,” said Henderson. “We create a friendly environment with more of a boutique feel. You definitely don’t feel like you’re in a second-hand shop when you come in here.”

For more information about Twice Chic Boutique and its upcoming events, visit twicechicboutique.com.

Designer Consigner

Nestled in Bethlehem’s historic district, Designer Consigner is located at 453 Main Street, two doors down from the Hotel Bethlehem. Co-owned by Alexandra Fly and her mother, Gail Fly, the store carries high-end clothing and accessories from designer labels such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Kate Spade, True Religion, Lily Pulitzer, Prada and Chanel. “You would normally have to go to New York or Philadelphia to find the bulk of what we carry,” said Alexandra. “So when you purchase something from us, you’re getting an original piece that no one else in the area has at a fraction of the price.”

Alexandra and Gail opened Designer Consigner in October of 2011 shortly after the pair moved back to the Lehigh Valley. “My mother and I had been living in Manhattan off and on for a few years and we were always shopping at designer consignment stores,” said Alexandra. “So when we moved back to the area and saw there was a lack of these kinds of shops here, we decided to fill the void.”

Designer Consigner carries a range of items, including clothing, shoes, jackets, and accessories, many of which are still brand new. “So many women come in here with beautiful items that still have the tags on. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard ‘I bought this and never even got the chance to wear it.’” Their most extensive collection, however, is the handbags. “Purses make up a large portion of our inventory,” explained Alexandra. “We get some very exotic ones and sell them very quickly.”

“If you’ve never been here before, we like to show you around and get you to try things on so you can see how they really fit,” said Alexandra. “My mother and I both worked in retail for years and we really enjoy helping people find the amazing pieces that they’ll absolutely love.”

To see a selection of Designer Consigner’s current items, visit designerconsignerboutique.com or instagram.com/designerconsignerbethlehem.

Threadz

Located at 1710 MacArthur Road in Whitehall, Threadz caters to teenagers and twenty-something men and women. Inside the 3,000-square-foot store, color-changing LED lights, a black glittered ceiling and the sounds of house and techno music create a “club-like” ambiance. Owner Mark Gunkle explained, “When I grew up I was really into the club scene, so even though I decided to work in retail, I wanted to bring the atmosphere that I loved with me.”

Threadz, which opened in November of 2010, specializes in high-end mall brands such as Abercrombie, Hollister, American Eagle and Victoria’s Secret. Gunkle, who was born and raised in Allentown, was inspired to launch the store after a visit to Florida. “In 2009 I was down at Jenson Beach and we stopped at several high-end used clothing stores. Right away I thought it would be a great concept to bring to the Valley, because at that time there weren’t many places offering money for quality items.”

Unlike most second-hand shops, Threadz doesn’t work on a consignment basis. “We pay cash on the spot for the pieces we want,” said Gunkle. “It’s our way of helping out the youth, because it lets them put money back in their pocket without having to wait.”

Recently, Threadz expanded its inventory to include two lines of brand new items – Miss Me Jeans and LA Idol Jeans. “We’ll always be an upscale second-hand store,” said Gunkle. “But by purchasing these new pieces wholesale, and then offering them at prices way below what you would normally find in a mall, we’re able to create an even better shopping and saving experience for our customers.”

For more information about Threadz or to view pieces from their current inventory, visit threadzclothing.com or Facebook.com/Threadzclothing.