Reborn Rich: Secondhand Bargains

IS ECONOMIC DOOM and gloom making your clothing budget shrink faster than a cashmere sweater put in the dryer on high? Us, too. Which is why Express' annual outfit challenge — in which three stylistas assemble ensembles on the cheap — trimmed its $100 budget to $75 and limited venues to thrift stores, consignment boutiques and vintage shops. With accessories for as little as a buck and designer dresses for less than $10, it's no wonder the fash pack has been flocking to secondhand stores. "There seems to be a growing appetite for what we're doing and the kind of merchandise we sell," says Goodwill of Greater Washington's Em Hall, who blogs at Dcgoodwillfashions.blogspot.com.

That said, uncovering chic bargains still means digging through piles of crusty old shoes to find those $20 Prada pumps. But with vintage increasingly in vogue and the eco movement promoting clothing reuse, it's clear that recycled threads have cycled into fashion. Gas prices may soar, but so can your style cred.

Goodwill Hunting

DC Goodwill Fashionista Em Hall — whose job it is to regularly comb the retailer's stores for the hottest finds — shares her secrets for uncovering secondhand scores. B.L.

If you're a novice thrifter, start small. "If you try to scour an entire store, it can be really overwhelming," Hall says. "Instead, focus on one type of item [shoes, cool T-shirts], which will help narrow down all those racks into a manageable amount."

When in doubt, stick to the certain, hard-to-not-score categories. "Dresses are consistently good at resale stores," Hall notes. "They run such a gamut, from a cotton dress for the beach to an evening gown." She also recommends checking out blazers -- a big trend for fall.

Shop during off-hours. "From Goodwill's perspective, your absolute best time to shop is first thing on Tuesday morning," Hall says. "We receive the largest volume of merchandise over the weekend, sort and tag everything on Monday, and then put it out on the floor." Express' shoppers found that most stores were too crowded on weekends for thorough browsing.

Drop in often. "For most resale stores, volume is essential to the business, and new merchandise will hit the floor multiple times per day," Hall says. "[At Goodwill], you could go in the morning and then stop back in the evening and find 200 to 300 new pieces on the floor."

Think a season ahead. "People tend to clean out their summer closet at the end of summer," Hall says. "You'll find the best buys if you can think about what you need for the next season."

Avoid "thrift store goggles." "Don't buy lots of things just because they're a low price," Hall says. "Approach the thrift store like any other shopping trip and make sure to weigh whether an item is a good investment. It might be $4, but that's still $4 you could have spent on something else."

Written by Express contributor Betsy Lowther