The Deal World: A Slew of New Vintage Stores Make Fashion Frugal

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A FEW YEARS AGO, luxe boutiques were opening faster than you could say, "Be mine, Jimmy Choo." But changing times — and less change in consumers' pockets — means that now it's resale retailers and outlet stores that are setting up shop around town. This summer alone, two upscale consignment stores debuted (Georgetown's Julep and Old Town's Mint Condition), and a new temple of vintage, Treasury, came to 14th Street. "People are more conscious of what they're spending," says Jennifer Donohue, owner of Old Town off-price shoe and dress store Treat, which just moved to larger digs. "In this economy, everyone is a discount shopper." Still, when deal hunting, use the same judgement you would at Saks. "Don't buy something just because it has a designer label," says Arlington personal shopper Wendy Pilch, aka Spendalla (Spendalla.com). "If it's not a classic or in style anymore, just say no." We put on our platform sandals (scored at half-price, of course!) to explore the latest spots for the greatest deals.

1) Mint Condition (114 S. Royal St., Alexandria; 703-836-6468)
The creaky, dark wooden floors of this Old Town consignment store have clearly been around for eons, but the women's dresses, separates and shoes lining the racks in the skinny rowhouse seem fresh from a recent catwalk.

"People think consignment stores are a cluttered, stinky experience, but they don't have to be that way," says owner Toni Henderson, who has secondhand chic in her genes: her mother operates a similar shop in Minneapolis. On two snug-yet-neat levels, Henderson organizes stock by size and color. Styles veer between night-out glam (Jimmy Choos in satin and rhinestones for $218) to colorful and slightly preppy (lots of J.Crew).

» Best bits: Frocks for day or night, including a peacock feather-trimmed cocktail dress by Carmen Marc Valvo ($274) and a nice stock of skirts, such as a black eyelet number by Zashi ($26).

» Surprise hits: Barely worn shoes by Tibi and Manolo Blahnik; a $25-and-under bin of T-shirts and scarves upstairs.

2) The Attic At Hysteria (125 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria; 703-548-1615)

Alexandria stylistas hit sister stores Shoe Hive (115 S. Royal St; 703-548-7105) and Hysteria for head-to-toe fashions. Pumps, boots and flats by designers such as Bettye Muller and Butter come from Shoe Hive; blouses, party dresses and work wear by Tibi, Mint and DVF rule at the latter. Since June, Hysteria has been stuffing its second story with past-season deals from both shops.

Think a Vince blue silk taffeta skirt (once $245, now $61), Mint cocktail frocks for about $100 each and marked-down boots and ballet flats. The deals are great, but the access is limited: It's open Wednesdays and Thursdays and, as a special for Express readers, this Friday, Aug. 14.

» Best bits: Cashmere scarves ($75) and opera-length gloves (shown, $45); and pants by Diane von Furstenberg and Theory for $100
or less.

» Know that: You'll be trying on items among the racks (though behind sweeping dressing room-style curtains), but this just adds to the girly, sample-sale vibe.

3) Julep (1525 Wisconsin Ave.; 202-298-5999)
The trendy Georgetown boutique also known as We One You Two (at least until its new sign is finally approved and hung) dipped a toe into consignment earlier this summer, converting its second floor into a spot where regulars could resell past splurges.

The idea was a hit, so the store has moved to 100 percent consignment, featuring many of the same upscale brands — Lela Rose, Diane von Furstenberg, Bettye Muller — the boutique once hawked, but at a fraction of the original cost. "We had so many friends with stuff to clear out of their closets — often with tags still on," says partner Thalia Attinger.

» Best bit: A wide mix of high-end labels, such as Bottega Veneta woven pumps for $125 and a Dolce & Gabbana frock for $175.

» Surprise hit: A stash of gently and never-worn designer kids' clothes, selling mostly for $5 to $20.

4) Second Time Around (3289 M St. NW; 202-333-2355)
A branch of this East Coast chainlet of consignment stores debuted in Georgetown late last summer and immediately pulled in a wide range of high-end and mid-priced labels — Milly, Tibi, Free People — priced at one-quarter to one-third the original price. Recent scores include a Kooba bag, sold for $210 instead of the original $600.

You'll have to dig through stuffed racks for the best stock. But there's a constant influx of new stuff, from both consigners and new boutique sale pieces the company buys in bulk. A bargain corner includes vintage frocks and J Brand jeans for 70 percent off.

» Best bit: The Michelle Obama's- closet-deep assortment means plenty of prices, sizes and styles on hand.

» Surprise hit: Costume jewelry (funky bangles, chandelier earrings) for $8 to $22; vintage bags (shown, $26).

5) Treasury (1843 14th St. NW, second floor; 202-506-6908)
Cathy Chung and Katerina Herodotou earned a fash-pack following for Listopad, their traveling vintage clothing emporium. The duo — known for sussing out choice retro and secondhand dresses, guy's shirts, shoes and bags circa the 1940s to 1980s — turned their business into this brick-and-mortar boutique on 14th Street NW, just above St. Ex restaurant.

Butterscotch wood floors and pale, boutique hotel-ish curtains set a serene, easy-to-navigate scene for reasonably priced vintage picks such as a retro Lufthansa messenger bag ($42) and a new Cheap Monday bikini ($42).

» Best bit: The jewelry and accessories — pendant necklaces, bow ties (shown, $30) — and '60s and '70s shoes in near-mint condition.

» Know that: The spot's open only Thursday evenings and Friday to Sunday during the day.

6) Treat (103 S. Saint Asaph St.; Alexandria; 703-535-3294)
"Many shops' sales are down, but we've been doing well this year," says Jennifer Donohue, the sleekly stylish owner of this two-year-old "sample sale boutique," which recently relocated to larger digs on Old Town's St. Asaph Street.

The digs — minty walls, apothecary jars full of colored glass, a loungey dressing room area — suggest haute boutique, not outlet. But the stock here, ranging from past season to just weeks out of your fave big-box store, wears price tags about 50 percent below those of retail. Expect names such as Julie Haus and Kooba.

» Best bit: Pieces by designers who are not often seen in these parts: Sally Tseng's ikat print top ($99); Loeffler Randall's skyscraper sandals (shown, $275).

» Surprise hit: A jeans wall that puts Barneys Co-Op to shame, with pairs by Seven, True Religion and James ($75-$129).

ON THE COVER (top): Toni Henderson, owner of new consignment boutique Mint Condition (114 S. Royal St.; Alexandria; 703-836-6468), one of several discount fashion retailers that have opened this year.

PHOTO GALLERY: We turned up so many haute — but not pricey — buys at local bargain stores, we thought we'd share a few more.

Written by Express' Jennifer Barger and Betsy Lowther
Photos by Lawrence Luk for Express