Where To Shop

Baby Baby, Northville (248-347-2229;

babybabymi.com ). Kidswear newborn to

size 8, teens, maternity, baby furniture,

equipment and toys. Look for brands

Mimi Maternity, Gap, Brio and Leapfrog.

Bellocchio Upscale Resale, Royal

Oak (248-541-8025; bellocchioresale.

corn). Co-owners Carolyn Joseph

and Carol Dowling — a former vice

president of stores for Dayton Hudson

— bring clothing, shoes, accessories

and home decor to Royal Oak.

Bloomfield Keego Resale Shop,

Keego Harbor (248-681-5424).

Thirty-four years and two

recessions later, Cookie Koblin and

Doris Shanbrom's shop is still thriving.

Cinderella's Attic, Birmingham (249-

593-6678). For old-school vintage fun,

check out this new incarnation of Heidi

Lichtenstein's shop, which opened in

Royal Oak in 1979. Find retro clothing,

toys and rock memorabilia.

Dandelions, A Children's Consignment

Shop, Berkley (248-439-1927;
dandelionsconsignment.com ). "Because

son plays on the floor nearby. "Stores
are smaller, prices are great, and with
kids growing out of clothing so fast,
you don't want to spend a lot of money
anyway.
"It's like thrill shopping. People are
excited by their finds," says Lisa Dunn,
co-owner with Ruth Kochensparger of
Deja Vu, an upscale resale ladies shop in
Franklin that recently celebrated its sec-
ond anniversary. Not only are shoppers
enthusiastic about bargains on name
brands, "they are also happy to tell their
friends about it. The stigma of buy-
ing second-hand is gone," says Wendy
Birnberg, owner of Second Showing,
which carries brands such as Liz
Claiborne, as well as full-size fashions.
"People want to get a good deal."
An additional incentive to shop sec-
ond-hand is to be part of the burgeon-
ing green movement, as consignment
stores tend also to attract shoppers
who identify with environmental issues
such as conservation and recycling. "It's
popular now to live within your means,
and consignment fits in with that mind-
set. Environmentally conscious people
who've never shopped here before
are getting hooked on it," says Nicole
Freund, co-owner of Regeneration, a
funky Ferndale store that opened in

2007, and which carries trendy brands
such as True Religion, retro looks from
the 1980s and a selection of men's
clothing.
The eco-minded sensibility engen-
ders a feeling of community among
customers, consignors and storeowners.
At Second Showing in Farmington
Hills, a group of women huddled over a
Dolce & Gabbana tote that would cost
nearly $1,000 new "It's like a knitting
circle, or mah-jongg," says Panter, who
sometimes shops Second Showing with
friends. "We have fun here,
and we just love it."
Even men, who histori-
cally have not shopped for
used clothing, have begun
trickling into stores like
Regeneration, which is one
of the few shops that sell
men's clothing. "Men are
less inclined to buy second-
hand — we have too much
pride," says Lawrence Hall
of Detroit, who was brows-
ing at Regeneration. "But
when times are tough, you
have to swallow your pride."
Plus, you never know what
you might find! II

Above left: Head to Birmingham's

kids grow like weeds," they say, head

Restyle Child for chic bargains for

here to find upscale clothing, cribs,

the pint-sized set.

furniture and baby equipment.

Above right: Lisa Dunn (left) and

Deja Vu, Franklin (248-855-4567;

Ruth Kochensparger (seated)

dejavuresale.com ). Find upscale and

co-own Deja Vu, housed in an

almost 170-year-old former

residence in historic Franklin

designer items from Chanel, Coach,

Philosophy and Stella McCartney.

Village.

Regeneration, Pleasant Ridge

Below: A needlepoint evening

vintage pieces and fresh, modern

(248-414-7440). Find a combination of

bag is among the finds at

Second Showing.

clothing and accessories.

Restyle Child, Birmingham's Rail

District (248-792-9347; restylechild.

corn). Clothes, shoes and accessories

for infants through size 7, plus a s

election of brand-new lines. Look for

Janie and Jack, Nordstrom and Gold

Rush.

Second Showing, Farmington Hills

(248-987-2134). Look for clothing, shoes

and bags from the likes of St. John and

Judith Lieber.

Smart Chicks Consignment, Novi

(248-347-1600; smartchicks.net ). Look

for pieces from retail brands such as

Chico's, Ann Taylor, J. Jill and Talbots.

— Lynne Konstantin, contributing editor