RESALE SHOPS ARE GREAT HOLIDAY HELPERS

By Leslie Ness

Can you have a green Christmas that is still merry?

This is what I pondered as I went hunting in second hand stores in hope of finding items that I would be happy to give or receive. These are considered “green gifts” because, of course, they are being reused.

The answer I came to? Most definitely, yes! In fact, this enjoyable work assignment turned into a shopping spree.

One place that is sure to deliver if you are shopping for a book lover is Half Price Books. It might not always have exactly what you are looking for but they do issue gift certificates. Which is a bonus because gift certificates require minimal packaging! Half Price Books also sells music and movies.

Next I went to two consignment/resale stores: Red Door Consignments on Nottingham and Act II Resale Boutique on Stella Link. Both stores offered a wide selection, including plenty of such trendy brand names as Anne Taylor, Express, The Limited, The Gap, and Old Navy. I returned home the happy owner of one pair of Gap jeans and two cashmere sweaters from J. Crew and Banana Republic, all for under $25 each. These stores also displayed a variety of shoes, jewelry, handbags and scarves. There were definitely many adorable things from which to choose. I have no doubt you could find something for even the most particular people on your shopping list.

Finally I visited two thrift stores: Second to None and The Cottage, both on Westheimer. Here I definitely found a few things that I would not mind having, (like a cushy sofa and a perky vintage red tea kettle.), but I found less in the way of presents. That is not to imply that buying a gift at either of theses places is impossible. There were games, baby toys, and baby clothes that would work very well for the tots on your list.

If you are shopping for a discriminating adult, however, you might have less luck. But, then again, you might hit the jackpot. If a person were shopping for me, she would have noticed a beautiful silver, seemingly antique teapot at the checkout and realized immediately that she had found a gift with my name written all over it!

Second hand shopping might require a little more effort because you cannot go into it with a specific list. But my new wardrobe is a testament that there are very nice second hand gifts to be had.

Editor’s note: Leslie is our new intern. She is not used to shopping at resale shops, so we sent her off to several to see her reactions.

My quick tour of Montrose area resale shops revealed good selections of Christmas stuff at several, notably at the Junior Forum. Legacy Resale has more items for men than the others, and the Guild Shop has a jewelry collection that rivals a department store. Legacy Resale is having a warehouse sale on Saturday, November 24, from 8 am to 1 pm at 1006 Taft. For $5, shoppers can fill a grocery sack.