High fashion – on a dime

Do you love high quality clothes and accessories but don’t think you have a budget for them? Think again. You can get a lot for a little — if you have patience and know what you’re looking for.

Thrift, resale, consignment and second hand stores are all great places to find incredible bargains for very little cash. You might also strike gold at rummage sales and estate sales — you never know what treasure might turn up! Resale shopping is also a great way to find season-specific trendy clothes without breaking the bank. Who wants to pay full price for something they can only wear a few times?

Since pricing varies from store to store, the most important aspect of resale shopping for bargains is knowing your brands. Keep on the lookout for the most expensive, high quality brands you can find. Even when you’re paying much less, you might as well get the most bang for your buck.

Here are a few of my other favorite resale shops:

Plato’s Closet: This store is more junior focused (tons of stuff for both girls and boys), but women can find shoes and accessories along with selected garments there. I’ve found brand new shoes for a great price.

Once Again: This store has won multiple awards as one of the best resale shops in the Milwaukee area. You can find everything from super dressy to super casual, including a great jewelry selection.

East Town Women’s Resale: In addition to women’s clothing and accessories, this shop does have a limited selection of men’s clothing. Plus, you’ll find the high-end brands you really want like Chanel, Armani and Versace. I always find something I have to get there.

Elite Repeat: This store has a great selection of everything and has a separate “designer boutique” room which displays all of the higher end brands such as Lafayette 148, St. John and Etcetera.

Fashion Xchange: For teenagers  and college student, this is the place to be! This store has a large selection of junior clothes to weed through if you’re under 25 years old (yes ladies, you shouldn’t be shopping in the junior’s section if you’re an adult). They also have a nice selection of shoes and jewelry.

Modify: This shop in the Third Ward features new and pre-owned clothing for both men and women. They focus on hot, trendy items, but no vintage. Included are a nice selection of shoes and accessories. On top of all that, they feature student artwork, and verything in the store is under $40.

My newest favorite shop is for men only! UR Clothing (which stands for Upscale Resale) has a great selection of high-end designer brands at extremely economical prices. It’s truly amazing. Men, if you need to look great, this is the place to go.

I had a discussion with Terrell, one of the owners and this is what he had to say:

Tell me about the creation of UR Clothing

UR is a combination of our commitment to the community and the fashion world to give men “GQ” style without the “GQ” prices. We believe if you look good, you feel good. This old cliché is very true … most people look at book covers and don’t read the pages — in other words, they judge you before they get to know you. At Upscale Resale, we want to provide that stunning cover at every glance. We have worked really hard to build our brand to give Milwaukee men a New York to France to Tokyo sense of style.

What makes UR different from other resale shops?

We provide a lounge atmosphere for our clientele. UR has an extensive collection of designer suits, blazers, shirts, jeans and accessories. We focus our consignors and search for only the best. We like the notion of quality, not quantity. We pay attention to detail such as design, fabric or even the stitch of a piece of clothing. We also have personal stylists and a tailor on site. We will style you for the workday or a night on the town with some friends.

What brands do you carry?

To name a few: Versace, Gucci, Georgio Armani, Canali, Hugo Boss, Tommy Bahama and Jhane Barnes. Nowhere in Milwaukee can a man get a Versace suit tailored for under $200, except with us. We understand times are hard right now and money is tight.

Do you do anything extra for your regular clients?

We send them email updates, mobile messaging and also information regarding fashion shows or events. We are passionate about image, fashion and prosperity. We want every client to walk out of our store with a smile and the desire to come back.

UR Clothing is located at 181 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward. For more information, click here.