High Style, Low Cost

Let’s face it. January can be a bit of a downer. Weaning ourselves off sweets and wine and sleeping in hit hard this month. We know that on top of the winter blahs, many of us are facing Christmas bills on a tighter budget. So instead of retail therapy, we’re looking for a little give and take.

Dig deep in your closet to find clothes that don’t fit, flatter or find their way on to your lovely curves any longer. Pack them up and take them to Vespucci Ladies Consignment, one of Calgary’s premiere consignment shops for women.

Vespucci has been in the consignment business in Calgary for over 20 years but its location was bulldozed during the recently completed Glenmore Trail upgrade. Owner Diane Rawlinson is no quitter and hired John Brown of House Brand to design her some new digs on the corner of Elbow Drive and Heritage Drive SW.

The result is the nicest consignment store we have ever visited complete with high ceilings, big windows, wide aisles and funky retro finishings. Fortunately, high style doesn’t translate to high prices. We found several of last year’s sweaters, shirts and accessories for under $25. With over 8,000 square feet of floor and thousands of items, there is something for everyone and generally something new everyday.

Consignments are accepted from Sunday to Friday during business hours without an appointment, making it extra convenient. Your outfits stay in the store for four to six months at regular price and you collect 40 percent of the selling price. If your item does not sell it will eventually be marked down. Therefore, the earlier in the season you consign the more likely your item will sell for full price.

Labels like Prada and Gucci are naturally welcome but don’t think Vespucci won’t take your Gap or Banana Republic items too. Anything is acceptable as long as it’s in good shape and in style.

Vespucci is currently accepting spring and summer consignment and they have slashed prices on winter stock by 60 percent making good deals even better. The sale is on until stock is gone.

Sometimes giving is better than receiving. But hey, why not do both? Upgrade for now and purge for later while softening that retail-therapy bill in the process.

Vespucci Ladies Consignment
www.vespucci2006.ca
(403) 252-9558
8248 Elbow Drive SW

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