OC HIGH: STUDENT NEWS & VIEWS : Second Time Around : There’s nothing unfashionable about shopping at thrift stores. And the savings are smart too.

Thrift stores are getting a second look from teen shoppers who not only like the reasonable prices but the fun of putting together unique outfits from the jam-packed racks.

For money-short teens, the price tags on clothes at department stores or specialty boutiques can bring on a chuckle of impossibility. At thrift stores, on the other hand, price tags are usually so low they bring on genuine smiles.

Experienced thrift shoppers know that just because someone else no longer wants an item doesn’t mean it’s past its prime. As a matter of fact, an item’s true moment of glory may be yet to come.

Thrift shops can be a great source for like-new items as well as funky pieces from earlier decades--preppy items from the ‘80s, bell-bottoms from the ‘70s, flower child dresses from the ‘60s.

“We get people from all walks of life. It’s not considered unfashionable to shop at thrift stores anymore,” said George Lucus, manager of the Lutheran Social Services Thrift Store in Lake Forest.

By jumping into the scene and thoroughly combing the racks, nonconformists can create original outfits.

Sometimes new, brand name items pop up--I recently picked up some new Levi’s and Esprit slippers, each for $5.

Trabuco Hills High School senior Jim Collins, a student director at the Greater Los Angeles Children’s Theater, visits consignment stores regularly looking for items to fashion costumes.

“Thrift stores are a good place for costumes because a lot of the clothes are old and cheap,” he said.

Many thrift stores are run by charitable organizations that use the money from sales to help fund other activities. Donations to the shops come from everywhere and range from antiques to unopened packages. Most places sell clothes, purses, jewelry and shoes, as well as kitchen supplies, books, toys, furniture and cassettes.

“If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, they are a great place to go,” said Debbie Burch of Mission Viejo, who was shopping a resale store recently. Her friend found a wedding dress for $25.

*

Here’s a bit of info about some of the local shops, just to get you going. To find shops in your area, keep your eye open as you drive around--some stores are pretty low-profile--and check in the phone book under thrift shops.

Word of mouth also turns up finds, such as Savers, at 19131 Magnolia St. in Huntington Beach, where photographs for this article were taken.

* Discovery Shop

American Cancer Society 2600 E. Coast Highway Corona del Mar (714) 640-4777

Clothes, household items, furniture and collectibles. Shop bills itself as an upscale resale store. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

* Assistance League

1031 W. 1st St. Santa Ana (714) 543-1120

See phone book for other locations.

A wide variety of items is available at the league’s main store in Santa Ana. The Top Drawer gift shop features some of the finer items. Check on Fridays for $1 sales, which are held frequently. Proceeds are used for community projects, such as child care, low-cost dental clinics and funds for students who otherwise would be unable to attend college. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

* CHOC Thrift Stores

(Children’s Hospital of Orange County) 2025 W. 1st St. Santa Ana (714) 972-1242 See phone book for other locations.

Everything from clothing to furniture at CHOC’s main shop in Santa Ana and at its other facilities in county. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

* Goodwill

410 N. Fairview St. Santa Ana (714) 547-6301 See phone book for other locations.

Goodwill’s main store is in Santa Ana, but numerous facilities are scattered throughout the county. Santa Ana hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

* St. Vincent de Paul

180 S. Cypress St. Orange (714) 633-9194 See phone book for other locations.

St. Vincent has four shops in the county. Hours at the main facility in Orange are 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds are used to help needy families.

* Lutheran Social Services

23532 El Toro Road Lake Forest (714) 768-0405 See phone book for other locations.

Proceeds go to Lutheran shelters helping the homeless and battered women and children. Seasonal sales are a good time to buy. Lake Forest store is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

* Saddleback Memorial Thrift Shop

23740 El Toro Road Lake Forest (714) 586-6870

Store has been in operation for 20 years. Better merchandise is put up for sale on Boutique Days, every third Friday and Saturday of each month. Proceeds benefit Saddleback Hospital. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

* Saddleback Community

Enterprises Thrift Store

22331 El Toro Road Lake Forest (714) 581-7112

Proceeds help support a workshop for developmentally disabled adults. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* Salvation Army

710 S. Main St. Santa Ana (714) 547-3562 See phone book for other locations.

The first Salvation Army store appeared in 1895 in England, and the organization now has more than a dozen stores in Orange County. The main store in Santa Ana is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.