Field Trip: Second Chance Boutiques

4920 Fairmont Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20814
(301)652-6606
www.secondchanceboutiques.com


I definitely visited Second Chance a month ago, but I had such a good trip that I have felt some major guilt about delaying my report.


If you're not already in Bethesda during the day, you'll have a hard time catching this shop during the week, as the only evening hours are on Thursday. I managed to squeeze in a stop on a Wednesday afternoon, when there was a good bit of traffic in and out of the store. 


Second Chance is certainly a high-end consignment shop.  There was some major eye-bugging going on as I gawked at some of the items and their prices.  But I am fully aware that the prices are just a fraction of what this stuff costs on the runway.  The most expensive items are found directly in front of the cash register.  These are the best of the best labels in the store.  As you walk further into the store, you'll find a circular rack full of the store's latest acquisitions, which makes for easy, quick browsing if you have the opportunity to pop in on a regular basis.

I would never ever wear these, but I sort of love them.
Anchors, you know.

Everything else is sort of all over the place.  There is organization of tops, bottoms, dresses, etc., but each rack has a good mix of brands. Second Chance actually takes up two storefronts, but I was assured that there is no bias toward which brands appear on which side of the store.  It's more of a space issue than anything.


AND SURPRISE THERE ARE MEN'S CLOTHES.  Guys, do you want a reeeeeeally nice suit?  Check out the back of the left side of the store.  You'll be lookin' sharp.

Ahhhh Chico's sighting!  Run away!

Second Chance is a consignment store.  I have absolutely nothing to offer up for consignment, so I just shopped.  And here's what I got:

Steve Madden patent pumps, $10 in the shoe sale bin!

A BADGElY MISCHKA GOWN!
FOR TWENTY BUCKAROOS!

Back view, la ti da.

A little tailoring for fit and I'll be good to go in this baby.  I was elated.  That's all I can say.


Bottom line: if you're looking to splurge on something divine, Second Chance is a good bet.


♥

The Find: The Washingtonian names area's best stores

The Washingtonian just posted a brief interview with Brooke Kao, who names the area's best vintage and thrift stores:

Best designer consignment: Second Chance, Bethesda
Best consignment prices: Frugalista, Columbia Heights
Best vintage: PollySue's, Takoma Park
Cheapest prices: Goodwill, Rockville
Largest thrift selection: Unique Thrift Store, Falls Church

Obviously, we've got a lot of catching up to do.  And Brooke, if you're out there reading, let's be friends.

♥

Field Trip: Montgomery County Thrift Shop

7125 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-0063
www.mocothrift.org


After asking the Twitter crowd if there were any honest-to-goodness thrift stores in the District that I didn't know about, I was tipped off about the store that will forthwith be referred to as MoCo Thrift.  Yeah, it's in Bethesda, but it's only a few blocks from the Metro.  So, it counts.  At least, to me.  It counts.


The shop was bustling when I stopped in on a Thursday morning, although half of those in attendance were volunteers from the many county agencies that staff the shop.  The crowd was friendly, and I could ask those around me—volunteer or shopper—what they thought of a piece.  


Be prepared if you shop here, as they don't take plastic.  But you really should shop here.  They have blazers for $8.  Suits for $12.  Nice Steve Madden shoes for $5.  

These are blue, I promise.  Steve Maddens!

You'll see some of my haul in the next few days, but for now I'll tell you this: I got two button-down dress shirts, a Kimchi Blue dress that must have cost $50 at Urban Outfitters, and a seersucker blazer for $27.  Seersucker.  $27.  Heaven.


The best deals appear on Sundays, as the store is open on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.  And on those days, everything is half-off.  If you're having a hard time with the math (we know how I am with numbers), I could have gotten two shirts, a dress, and a blazer for $13.50.  THIRTEEN DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS.  HECK YES.


So take a look around if you visit this shop on a Sunday afternoon.  You may see me swimming through the racks, asking all the women which pieces I should get.  (Answer: all of them.)


♥

Field Trip: Mustard Seed

7349 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-907-4699
http://www.mustardseedshop.com/

I've wanted to visit Mustard Seed since I first started researching the secondhand stores in the area.  It was definitely worth the wait.  (Can you see the store, there, behind the mounds of snow?)

The store is bright and organized, and it's immediately clear that it's a choosy kind of place.  If you want to sell them your clothing, you have to make an appointment online--don't expect to get an appointment right away.  If they want your stuff, they'll give you half the selling price up front.  I've heard mixed reviews from friends who have sold items to Mustard Seed, but on the buying side, I'm fully in favor.

The vintage selection is small, but officially cool (according to me).  Everything you'll find is in mint condition.  Mustard Seed also carries some new clothing toward the front of the store.  I believe during my visit they had several styles of dresses and women's tops by Tulle.  The men's section is small, but MC seemed to enjoy the selection and had a field day trying to put on a pair of boots that he eventually gave up on.

The women's selection is pretty casual--there are no long gowns, but you can find a few short dresses--but there is a good range of styles and colors.  There was not a lot of "ugly" in this store, as I like to say. Some stores are full of ugly.  Maybe you can consider this cat sweater to be of questionable taste, but I found it hilarious and definitely considered getting it.  All my cat lady friends understand.

I've been looking for dress pants and jeans for a while, and tried on a pair of Sevens that were only about $20 bucks.  But those were a petite size, and that just wasn't going to work for me.  What I did find, and fell in love with immediately, was a pair of Rich and Skinny jeans that seemed to be made for me and my long legs.  They're obviously denim, but I think they'll pass for dress pants with a blazer or button-down top.  They're almost high-waisted, and have some great details--like leopard print and purple accents on the inside of the waist band, and some tiny purple stitches on the outer waistband.

The price tag said $36, and while that's more than I like to spend during a regular thrift trip, I had seen this same brand in the store at the W Hotel in Times Square the day before visiting Mustard Seed.  At the W, I was afraid to look at the price tag on the jeans.  MC made the decision for me--I had to have them.  To give me peace of mind, the associate I spoke to said that Mustard Seed does accept returns.  But these babies are mine.

I don't visit Bethesda often, but when I do, you can be sure I'll be stopping by Mustard Seed.

Photos of my awesome new pants after the jump!