Haven for Resale Items Still Offers Great Deals

Stores open, stores close. But resale always seems to hang in there.

Back in 1983, I found Clothes Heaven in Old Town Pasadena, where good clothes go when they are passed on. It is still in the same location and still owned by Larayne Brannon.

On a recent visit, we found the store bulging with merchandise and energy. Label lovers get their fill here with Escada, Armani, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Calvin Klein and St. John heading the list of top sellers.

One black St. John evening jacket with gold and silver paillettes would go with everything and might have cost around $900 new but it is still in mint condition for $298.

For those who like the ethnic look for spring, there was a very au courant brown and white Vivienne Tam dress in a stretchy mesh fabric (a slip comes with it) for $98 that was $300 new.

In a top consignment store such as Clothes Heaven you can figure the resale price to be about one-third of the original retail price, but sometimes the deals are even better.

A pair of bronze leather Gucci mules were tagged at $98 (new $400) and a brand new pink suede jacket (with the original hangtag still on it) came from the Gap and was only $69 (retail $168).

For the haute couture pieces, check out the mezzanine where we found a classic lightweight wool crepe Chanel suit that sold about two years ago for $3,000 or so.

This black beauty with the pewter chain is yours for $698. Brannon gets her inventory from all over Southern California and from San Francisco and New York, and the consignment deal is 50%-50%.

We also love the thoughtful touch of providing change for the parking meters.

Clothes Heaven, 110 E. Union, Pasadena. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Major credit cards. (626) 440-0929.

Weekend Supersales: Next Thursday and Friday, the folks at the Nancy B factory store will offer remainders on the Physical Attraction label and others at 50% and more below wholesale. There are many items for the larger woman as well.

Nancy B factory store, 11759 Sheldon Ave., Sun Valley. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Checks and credit cards accepted. (818) 768-7273.

Check https://www.bargainsla.com for more deals.