Local Shops Offer Cash for Castoffs--Especially Those Old Levi’s

The pursuit of vintage clothing has become popular, and not just with textile junkies and fashion individualists. It’s also catching on with tourists, particularly visitors from Japan.

As a result, entrepreneurs have been putting together collections of old jeans, etc., and are getting enormous prices for them. Which also means they are paying high prices to those bringing these items into their shops.

You might consider going through old trunks and contacting private sources to see if what you have is what they want. Look at the Levi’s first. If, by chance, you come across a pair of Mom’s or Dad’s old Levi’s that were made before 1967, they’re worth a nice hunk of change.

For Levi’s made in the ‘30s or ‘40s, you could get as much as $500 a pair even though they may be frayed and faded. If you run across Levi’s with the rivets on the outside, hang on to them: They were made before 1936 and are worth big bucks. The owner of Planet Americana, 1021 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, will pay close to $500 a pair for old Levi’s. (310) 314-1933.

Here are some of the better vintage clothing stores with reasonable prices for selling to or buying from:

Aardvark, 21434 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. (818) 999-3211. ‘50s to ‘70s clothing with a little ‘20s tossed in. Some of the garments are re-creations.

Hubba Hubba, 3220 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. (818) 845-0636. Vintage ‘30s to ‘60s clothing all in good condition. Average selling price $50-$60.

Iguana Vintage Clothing, 14422 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 907-6716. Men’s and women’s vintage clothes of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

Playclothes, 13045 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 985-1306. Vintage fashions from the ‘30s to ‘60s. Some children’s clothing. Good prices.

Ragtime Cowboy, 5213 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 769-6558. Vintage ‘20s to ‘80s and much more than cowboy stuff.

Rebecca’s Dream, 16 Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. (818) 896-1200. The specialty here is Victorian-era apparel and accessories. They buy on appointment.

Weekend Super Sales

There’s a good selection of sales to hit this weekend. Past Perfect, one of the Valley’s better women’s resale stores, is slashing prices by another 30% on some of its inventory. 12616 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 769-8872.

The Cotton USA Outlet store is having a parking-lot sale Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where women’s casual cotton apparel with slight flaws will be marked $5 for separates and $10 for dresses. 22559 Ventura Blvd. (818) 225-8725.

Finally, Chic Conspiracy, for many years a women’s resale shop of good standing, is closing its doors and everything is going for practically peanuts. 10955 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles. (310) 475-5542.