In troubled economies, consumers and businesses alike are trying to squeeze every penny out of their dollar as possible. While some shoppers opt for the generic brand, others still just can’t shake the idea of changing their first choice when it comes to purchasing the designer brands they know and love. One way to get the same designer brands and other quality goods at bargain-basement prices is through consignment shopping. These one-stop shops enable shoppers to take advantage of steals on name-brands at a fraction of its original price, while also providing an outlet to sell new or gently used clothing, jewelry, wallets, purses and other accessories to earn a little extra cash over the holidays. Consignment shops in La Jolla contain some of the highest quality, name-brand men’s and women’s wear in clean, organized stores that often look more like designer boutiques than thrift stores. Ann Siner, owner of My Sister’s Closet, La Jolla’s newest and largest consignment shop, said vintage shopping doesn’t have to be about digging through racks of mismatched items. “It’s like no retail store you’ve ever seen,” Siner said. “We’ve taken the dark, dirty, dingy side of business and turned it into the three C’s — cute, clean and current. It’s the most win-win-win concept I can think of. It’s recycling at its best.” Consignment shopping offers both buyers and sellers a unique experience, with most shops offering options for those wishing to unload items in their wardrobe they don’t get much use out of anymore. My Sister’s Closet, for example, gives sellers the option to take 55 percent of the selling price in in-store credit or 45 percent of the selling price in cash as soon as the item sells. Items that are not sold in 60 to 90 days are donated to thrift stores or nonprofits that benefit homeless pets or women’s groups, and the items donated by the consigner become tax deductible. Shoppers, meanwhile, usually happen on rare finds, often at high discounts. “Most items are priced at 70 to 90 percent below retail,” she said. “People have the opportunity to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.” David and Alexandra Collett, owners of the new Take 2 Ladies Consignment Boutique, take pains to offer shoppers one-of-a-kind wares. The duo relocated the store from Rancho Penasquitos in September to bring to La Jolla some major name brand items — including Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo shoes, Tory Burch merchandise and Stella McCartney handbags — all in excellent condition. “We vet the clothes carefully,” Alexandra said. “We’re only looking for clothes that are in excellent condition and reasonably current — preferably not older than two years old.” Shopping for quality clothing and accessories is not just a woman’s game. Men, too, enjoy finding great deals on name-brand clothing from Armani to Zegna, and shops like La Jolla’s Le Chauvinist know that. The exclusively men’s consignment store contains unique gems like a leather Western duster, several derby hats, original “Mad Men” ties from the early 1960s, ostrich and alligator cowboy boots, about 40 pairs of “Snapper” cufflinks and a wide selection of Western belt buckles. New items — marked in red on the price tag — include genuine Panama hats, Eleon T-shirts, silk pocket squares, ascots and Per Pedes Peruvian pima cotton “conversation starter” socks. “The Per Pedes socks are quite unique,” said Le Chauvinist president Salvador Viesca. Le Chauvinist is the only store in San Diego to carry these particular socks. “We had one gentleman buy three pairs on a Sunday just for fun,” said Viesca. “He told us he got such a great reaction from the ladies, that the following Sunday, he bought 11 more pairs of them.” Costumes in the store are also a hit with locals, and Le Chauvinist regularly sells them to the Old Globe Theatre, local productions and guests of themed parties. Panama hats and seersucker, linen suits, sport coats and trousers also seem to be a hit during Del Mar racing season each year. “I have one very important rule in our store that is never broken,” Viesca said of advice he gives his employees — including son Salvador J. Viesca V. “We never sell anything to anybody just for the sake of making a sale. We want every customer to come back, as well as to tell his friends and co-workers about us. There exists no substitute for word-of-mouth advertising, and our continued success over the years proves that.” Other consignment shops in La Jolla have stood the test of time, much like Le Chauvinist. Second Act West has been in business for nearly 30 years, and owner Patti Alksne sells all clothing types from casual to elegant, plus sizes to petite, and a wide variety of accessories and designer brands. Alksne said the beauty of consignment shopping is a process she calls “trading up.” “When you buy a washer or dryer, you don’t just throw out your old one. You trade it in for a new one,” she said. “It’s the same with consignment.” She charges $50 to open an account at the store — an investment to reap the benefits of 40 percent of the selling price or use the profits to “trade up” clothing items and accessories. One of the most unique attributes of La Jolla’s consignment shopping scene is the variety. Shoppers and sellers can likely find someone in the community who buys and sells items that are well suited to their tastes, whatever they may be. Echoes Boutique, which offers high-quality resale designer women’s wear, features more than just elegant fashion. Sisters and store owners Lamara Sigalov and Natella Popova select upscale fashions, including cashmere items, and in-season designer purses and jewelry. For those that find that perfect piece that’s not the perfect size, Echoes also offers specialty tailoring by Popova. In addition, Sigalov and Popova give sellers peace of mind knowing their items, which are kept for two months, will reap rewards — with cash returned or in the form of karma. “If we sell the items, we write a check to you,” said Sigalov. “If not, you can pick the items back up or we can donate them to Community Research Foundation’s Step Forward program.” For those looking for cut-rate luxury, Designer Consigner offers vintage indulgences, with many of owner Heidi Larson’s pieces, including estate jewelry, eveningwear, designer wedding dresses and cocktail and prom gowns in big names such as Chanel, Ungaro, Christian Lacroix, St. John knits and Fendi, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. A home to all things fur, the store offers an entire rack of cozy, elegant winter wear including full-length coats, stoles and jackets in real and faux fur. “I get customers from all over the world, and it’s largely because of the fur,” she said. Some of the specialty services offered by Designer Consigner include shipments all over the world and free alterations for fur repairs. Whatever they’re in the market for, La Jolla’s consignment community likely offers it. For those new to the consignment game, Larson bestows sage advice. “Buy it now,” she said, “because it will be gone tomorrow.” • My Sister’s Closet/Shop Well Suited, Costa Verde Shopping Center, 8610 Genesee Ave. Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., (858) 455-0045, www.mysisterscloset.com. • Le Chauvinist, 7709 Fay Ave. In addition to gently used items, the store carries its own branded items. Mondays through Fridays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., (858) 456-0117, www.lechauvinist.com • Take 2 Ladies Consignment Boutique, 6786 La Jolla Blvd. Mondays through Fridays 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., (858) 459-0095, www.take2ladiesconsignor.com. • Echoes Boutique, 7705 Fay Ave., Mondays through Fridays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sundays. Items can be brought to sell Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. (858) 459-6588 • Second Act West, 7556 Fay Ave. Suite B, Mondays through Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sundays 1 to 5 p.m., (858) 454-6096. • Designer Consigner, 1002 Prospect St., second floor. Items are kept for 90 days, and profits split 50-50 once the item is sold. Tuesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (858) 459-1737