Spring Stocking

Janet is heading into the city (NYC) this week...possibly today...on a spring shopping spree. Several times a year, she sets off in search of new & exciting goodies for the shops. The trip was delayed by last week's rain, but the sun is shining now and that means the shelves will soon be overflowing with novel pretties in both of stores! Janet has an extraordinary knack for uncovering some of the most unique treasures on her excursions. With prom & wedding season upon us, she is sure to bring back a carload of bedazzled beauties. When I worked at the Newtown store, Kelly and I would wait eagerly to see what "Mummy" would bring back...like two little girls on Christmas morning. The three of us would "ooh" and "ahh" over her latest finds, as Janet unwrapped package after package of sparkling jewelry. Now that spring has officially arrived, Janet is likely to return with a fresh supply of sassy sunglasses, summery scarves/ shawls and a wide variety of warm weather accessories. Rest assured, I will be taking plenty of pictures to share, just as soon as she returns.

Second Hand Rose

On my quest to dispel the most commonly held myths about consignment shopping, I first had to ask others what would be the concerns that would cause them to steer clear in the first place. I covered the "I don't feel comfortable wearing clothing that was on someone else's body" issue in my last post. The close second was a stigma that seemed to be attached to more deep seeded associations. Move over Dr. Freud...I'm going to tackle this one head on! Many people I spoke with said they remembered being forced to wear hand-me-downs or thrift store finds, as a child, because of budgetary constraints. These same people vowed that, once they "made it", they wouldn't touch another person's castoffs with a 10-foot pole...and they would sooner eat an antelope than cross the threshold of one of those dingy storefronts that reeked of Grandma Bernadette's eau de toilette and stale moth balls.

Memories of "leaner days" (not talking about our waistlines, friends) are, I know, still alive & kicking in Janet's mind. When she birthed The Fashion Exchange, it was with the belief that all women, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have a place to find high-quality, aesthetically appealing clothing at prices they could afford. She took that concept a step further when she created such a visual oasis in her first shop. When you walk through the front door of The Fashion Exchange (this applies to both stores, but particularly the one in Newtown...as Janet has had 20 years to add her exquisite touches to every nook & cranny), you would never guess that you were entering anything other than a high-end, top-of-the-line boutique. Between the warmth provided by the cozy gas fireplaces, the soft sound of big band music and the familiar sight of Janet, wearing one of her fabulous vintage hats, sipping tea from a porcelain, Coalport teacup...you can't help but breathe a comfortable sigh as the welcoming ambiance envelopes you.

I speak from personal experience here, which is part of the reason I was so thrilled to be the voice that introduces all of you to The Fashion Exchange. I couldn't "sell" something I didn't feel passionate about...I'm far too transparent. Before I became professionally involved with Janet, I would often make the 25 minute drive to the Newtown shop on dreary days. As Holly Golightly called them, in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (which is how I used to refer to the shop): days when you had a case of "the mean reds". Tiffany's is a little far for a spur-of-the-moment jaunt and is definitely pushing the confines of my single-mom budget, but The Fashion Exchange is manageable on both fronts. For those of you who are too far away to enjoy a real-life visit to one/ both of Janet's shops, it is my hope that my silly ramblings will give you enough of a visual picture that you will begin to feel at home with us...no matter where you are!

"What I've found does the most good is just to get into a taxi and go to Tiffany's. It calms me down right away, the quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there..." ~Holly Golighty~

Consignment Confusion

In my experience, the biggest "issues" people have with consignment shopping are 1.) the idea of wearing clothing that was worn by a complete stranger and 2.) what I like to call "the Second Hand Rose Syndrome". I may have to save the latter for another post as that tackles more emotional/ societal sticking points than I feel like battling today....need more coffee for that one.

We all have come across consignment & thrift stores that are stocked, floor to ceiling, with another man's trash that, by no means, qualifies as any one's treasure! You leave the establishment feeling like they should have a vat of antibacterial sanitizer into which you can plunge, lest you carry a case of Consignment Cooties into your car.

That experience is always in the forefront of Janet's mind, as she (and her staff) are determining which items they will accept for consignment. If any of you hopped over to The Fashion Exchange website, you will see the term of acceptance spelled out clearly: clothing must be freshly laundered/ dry cleaned, on hangers (Yup...everything), up-to-date & in impeccable condition. Janet doesn't actually say "impeccable", but those are the standards to which she adheres...firmly! Every (Yup...every) item is gone over with a fine tooth comb for stains, tears, pulls, snags, missing buttons, etc. That inspection process happens only after it has been decided that the item is currently in-style and/ or a "timeless" piece that is likely to sell.

I must admit, upholding the shop's high standards was one of the most challenging aspects of the job for me. Janet and Kelly (the manager of the Danbury store & my friend, who first introduced me to The Fashion Exchange) are both nodding their collective heads at that statement. I can hear you both murmuring: "You can say that again!". I had such a difficult time telling consignors "No" about any particular item. Somehow, with her lilting British accent, it always sounded much more palatable coming from Janet. I digress...

Because Janet does set such a high bar for quality, her customers soon recognize that they can rest easy knowing that merchandise they purchase is truly of the highest quality. Maintaining that kind of uncompromising quality control standard is no easy task, but it is one of the ways in which The Fashion Exchange is set so far apart from other consignment shops.

P.S. I must remember that not all of you are logistically able to pay us a visit...live & in person...so I offer this piece of advice: throw a scoop of OxyClean when you are laundering clothing of unknown origin. I don't know if it does anything as far as improving the chemical process of cleaning, but those oxygenated bubbles sure make me feel better from a psychological perspective!

Once Upon a Time...

a young lady, with visions of a bright future, moved from the U.K. to New England...and so the dream was born.

Okay, not only will that approach make me sick to my own stomach, it will surely put an end to my professional & personal relationship with Janet. Let's try the less saccharin-coated version.

Janet came to the U.S. 42 years ago with not much more than a flair for fashion and the faith that she could build a new life for herself, here in the states. Because she had an intrinsic appreciation for pretty things, but a budget that would not allow for extravagant indulgences, Janet sought out second-hand stores to quench her thirst. She soon realized that she could add to her pin money by becoming a consignor...and so the dream was born.

In 1984, Janet was presented with a business opportunity she quickly grabbed onto and her first shop, aptly named The Fashion Exchange, opened in Newtown, CT. Since the opening of the shop, Janet has moved the original store from a tiny retail space into a six-room, vintage, 1758 saltbox house. In the summer of 2009, Janet opened a sister store in the town she has called home for the last four decades: Danbury, CT. For 25 years, Janet has worked tirelessly, building her clientele and establishing a reputation that is paralleled by none.

There's the brief history lesson. Stay tuned for the fun stuff: a peak inside this slice of consignment heaven!

Welcome All!

What could be more exciting than to have the chance to combine two of my favorite things in the world: blogging and my lifelong love affair with consignment shopping. When I was asked, by my former employer/ mentor/ dear friend, Janet Falkenthal, to lend a hand with spreading the word of her two, exquisite shops, I couldn't say "YES!" fast enough. We have been working on revamping her website, expanding her client email base and now, finally, we have gotten to the icing on the cake: an introduction to blogland! I have written about Janet's shops, a few times, in my personal blog. Truly, though, this is one subject about which I could never grow weary. So join me, sweet friends, as I bring you inside the wonderful world of The Fashion Exchange. This blog will, hopefully, provide a unique perspective...and dispel many myths...about consignment shopping. As I see it, it is my job...and pleasure...to launch this baby into the vast world of blogging. This "baby", though, is the result of Janet's devotion, perseverance and 25 years of experience as owner of The Fashion Exchange. I will collaborate with her every step of the way and maybe, with a bit of coaxing, she will become a more visible member of this extraordinary community. It could happen! Until then, I will also enlist the help of Janet's fabulous fashionistas: the ladies who are on the scene, every day at both of the shops.