Point Out That
Diamonds Can Provide
Him With An
Obvious Advant,a ge.
The Diamond Tennis Bracelet.
So versatile, you can wear
it on the court or on the town.
We will be happy to show
him our wide variety.
Above:
Never been worn, waiting for a
buyer.
Left:
Window displays at the
ClothespORT are changed monthly.
telta)
ip-i
FineJewelets
Est. 1919
Br/Hie/Hee Sinre /919
30400 Telegraph Rd. Suite 134, Bingham Farms • 642-5575
N
'
THE JEAN PEOPLE
Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri. 10-6
Thurs. 10-9; Sat. 10-5:30; SUN. 12 - 5
INSIDE ORCHARD MALL
Orchard Lake Road at Maple
851-1260
ers — both volunteers and a
handful of paid employees — as
friendly and attentive as any
saleswomen in leading depart-
ment stores.
"Look at this kiddush cup,"
says volunteer Arlene Barris,
pointing to a silver cup behind a
glass counter that also offers jew-
elry and handbags. "It's beauti-
Mrs. Barris and Mrs. Franklin
believe the key to ClothespORTs
success is quality. This is not a
dumping ground for torn skirts
and shirts missing their buttons.
"We don't put things out that
aren't in good shape," Mrs. Bar-
ris says.
Nor are clothes allowed to
linger forever. Items are coded by
ticket color, and those that don't
sell are donated to area shelters.
As with the Council Thrift, the
ClothespORT has many design-
er clothes. A Nipon silk dress sells
for $25, a Lord and Taylor match-
ing sweater and skirt is $16, and
a Calvin Klein wool dress has a
$15 ticket.
There's also a plus-size rack,
maternity wear and a vintage
section. Shoppers interested in
the latter will find some real
gems, like a 1940 blue dress in
mint condition, but don't come
on a full stomach, just in case.
The vintage collection has a lot
of gruesome 1960s leftovers —
nauseating colors in nauseat-
ing patterns. (Then again, a
woman who entered a 1960s
look-alike contest shopped for
a "Janis Joplin wardrobe" at the
ClothespORT. She won second
place).
Also on sale at the Clothes-
pORT:
• Men's two-piece suits, all in
excellent condition and selling for
between $29 and $40.
• Baby Dior pajamas for the
fashion-conscious infant.
• A large purse with a needle-
pointed scene of a bull fight, and
a 1940s brown handbag that
looks like it has never been used.
• Four tuxedos.
• Golf shoes.
• Wedding gowns.
• Embroidered tablecloths.
And if wearing used clothing
isn't your style, don't forget oth-
er uses for this affordable attire,
ClothespORT workers say. One
customer regularly comes in in
search of old furs, which she cuts
up to make into teddy bears.
Most of the items for sale are
from regular donations, averag-
ing about three a week. It's
busier, of course, during Decem-
ber when everybody suddenly
starts thinking about tax season
(donations to both Council Thrift
and the ClothespORT are tax-de-
ductible.)
"I hope we didn't offend any-
one," Mrs. Franklin says, "but
last December we got so much
stuff we had to turn people
away."
Another source is "bereave-
ment pick ups." ORT workers will
go to homes where a loved one
has died and remove whatever
the family asks. It's often too
painful for surviving spouses to
even look at a beloved's clothes.
Mrs. Franklin always is espe-
cially careful when going through
the purses and pockets of cloth-
ing donated from such homes.
"Something might be a keep-
sake," she explains, adding that
she has found a mother's long-lost
siddur, a soldier's letter to his wife
during World War II and pho-
tographs. All are returned to the
family.
One of the most-anticipated oc-
casions at the ClothespORT are
"bag sales." Customers, who can
be seen outside long before the
shop even opens on such days,
can purchase selected items on
the floor. The clothes are then
stuffed into a brown bag and sold
for $10.
It's not a "bag sale" today, but
it is 50 percent off blue-tagged
items. A regular customer, a gen-
tleman in his mid-50s, drops by
for a look.
"Hello," the workers all greet
him.
He's looking over the jewelry:
silver brooches and earrings and
bracelets. There's an elegant
white-beaded purse, too, and
some necklaces.
He has bought a lot here, but
that's not the only reason he
comes. The staff asks how he's do-
ing, what has he been up to?
"I like it here," he says. "I've
found peace of mind and good
company."111