For those of us who love to shop, sorting through racks of clothing to find those perfect pieces is never a chore – it’s a hobby. The thrill of locating your newest must-have item feels the same no matter what store you’re in – including consignment shops. Whether you think of them as thrift, upcycled, second hand or consignment stores, there are many in Oakville and Burlington that sell those high-end brands you love, but at a more affordable price.

The definition of a consignment shop is simple: you bring your unwanted items to the shop and they sell them for you on your behalf – and you can earn a little money too. Think of them as the stylish middleman between your unwanted clothing and the consumer. As a consumer, the list of benefits goes on. At a lower price than what you’d pay for new, it’s easy to update your wardrobe with your favourite brands. Just like any retail store, the selection will vary from season to season, and from day to day, depending on how often new inventory comes in. That’s all the more reason to visit consignment shops frequently to see what’s in stock. The consignment shops in Oakville and Burlington will gladly accept your clothes, handbags and shoes that just sit in your closet because you don’t wear them anymore – with a few conditions.

Most shops request that you make an appointment and bring in your items for inspection. Most consignment shops generally prefer items that are trendy, higher end name brands and designer items  (it’s best to check with each store first). Make sure your items are in ‘new’ condition and dry cleaned or washed and ironed (and on hangers). Also check that each piece has its clothing label, zippers work, buttons are all accounted for and there are no holes, stains or pet hair. Also note that if clothing smells of cigarette smoke, it won’t be accepted.

Each shop has its own pricing policy and will select items to sell based on their own customer’s preferences, as well as supply and demand. Usually items will be kept in stock for a designated amount of time (each store may vary), and any unsold pieces will be returned to you (or donated after a certain amount of time if they’re not picked up at the end of the contract). You’ll receive a predetermined percentage for any items that have been sold.   

Stores are usually looking for a wide range of brands, such as: Coach, Chanel, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Banana Republic, Diane Von Furstenberg, Elie Tahari, Burberry, BCBG, JCrew, Lululemon, Theory, Tory Burch, Stuart Weitzman, Seven for all Mankind, Olsen, Lida Baday, Marc Cain, Save the Queen, Desigual, Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Prada, Pink Tartan, Dior, and Gucci.

Did we also mention that this is an environmentally friendly way to recycle and feel fashionable? Bringing your items in to sell is rewarding, knowing they’ll be able to call someone else’s closet home – and a bit of extra cash in your pocket never hurts. Shopping consignment is a fun way to build your wardrobe since you never know what you’ll find on the rack. Something just may instantly stand out as your newest must-have.

by Becky Dumias

Local Links

By Consignment, Oakville
byconsignment.ca

Closet 112, Oakville
closet112.ca

My Girlfriend’s Closet, Bronte
mygirlfriendsclosetburlington.ca

Treasures and Trends, Burlington
treasuresandtrends.ca

Nearly New Shop, Oakville
maycourt.ca

Second Chance, Oakville
secondchanceoakville.ca

Twice The Fun, Burlington
revolverclothing.ca

A Rennaissance Woman, Burlington
arenaissancewoman.ca

Plato’s Closet, Oakville & Burlington
platosclosetoakville.com
platosclosetburlington.com

Style Encore Oakville & Burlington
style-encoreburlington.com
style-encoreoakville.com

Jewellery is art in wearable form and it is very personal: we’re each drawn to different styles and colours. It might also be the reason you’ve tucked an old piece away, not knowing what to do with it. Working with a local custom designer results in something uniquely yours – even if it’s repurposed from an old or worn out piece. We asked some local designers what they’re currently creating for clients.

It’s a Ring Thing

Custom designed engagement and every day rings are keeping jewellers busy in their studios. Sonali Singla of Luxe Jewellery in Burlington says 90 per cent of the custom work she does is rings, particularly halo engagement rings – a style that “makes the diamond look bigger, giving you a big look without the price tag.” She frequently does vintage styles with mill grain and intricate detailing, and notes that the gold preference is in 14K white. “Yellow gold is a very rare request in the market currently,” Singla says. In addition to diamonds and sapphires, they’re using emeralds as well as mossanite  and morganite. “They’re diamond alternatives which have taken off recently, because they’re more price friendly.”

Most customers are asking Amer Mazzawi of Classic Jewellery in Burlington to create white gold diamond engagement rings, or matching wedding bands. “The most popular designs are halo rings which feature a square or cushion cut centre diamond, with a split or  a thin shank set with small round diamonds,” he says. He notes that another trend is a solitaire oval cut diamond on a very thin shank and small round accent diamonds on the shank. “On the other hand, some customers are asking for an alternative to diamond rings by looking at colour gemstones, like blue sapphires or morganite.”

Burlington designer Mariel Pagliai says her customers fall into two groups: those looking for a fashion piece and others who want a piece created to highlight a key moment in their life. “It’s a mixture of feelings, memories and love. Those pieces transcend through time,” she says. “What the hands say is often louder than words.” Regarding stones, she says birthstones are very popular, as people feel a connection with the piece. “For high-end pieces, such as platinum and white gold, diamonds are preferred.” Pagliai is well known for her custom fingerprint pieces and creates wedding bands with a loved one’s fingerprint on them.

Custom work at Avalon Fine Jewellery in Oakville can be anything from resetting old rings – perhaps engagement rings that have been passed down or inherited – to original pieces that are created from scratch after sketching out a client’s ideas. “We can sit down and make them exactly what they’re looking for,” says Terry Paunkoff.  His creations are usually based around customers’ requests for 14K
or 18K white or yellow gold, and platinum. “White gold has been dominant in the last 10-15 years, but I believe yellow gold is making a comeback. It’s not 50-50 yet but it’s getting closer,” he says. Paunkoff says he likes to observe what a person’s overall fashion style is, as this gives clues to what the desired piece should look like.

A Jewel Renewal

Reworking or repurposing older pieces gives them new life. Mazzawi says customers who bring in old broken jewellery that was inherited usually want to use it to create something new. “In most cases, we were able to create cocktail right-hand rings, because most of the time they provide me with several different size diamonds or gemstones that make it challenging to create a balanced yet pleasing design.” Repurposing doesn’t necessarily mean something antique – even something purchased 30 years ago may have lost its luster. “Jewellery before the 2000’s was predominately yellow gold, and now most clients want white gold,” notes Singla. “Before, it used to be very heavy and chunky. Now, we see sleek, dainty styles are trending. They’re usually bringing in rings, and turning them into a new style of ring, or a pendant.”

No matter the style, something old or something new, the end goal is always a beautiful, personal piece to be worn and enjoyed.

by Becky Dumais

Local Links

Mariani Jewellers, Oakville
marianijewellers.com

Mariel Pagliai, Burlington
marielpagliai.com

Avalon Fine Jewellery, Oakville
avalonfinejewellery.com

Classic Jewellery, Burlington
classicjewellery.ca

Luxe Jewellery, Burlington
luxejewellery.ca