As most fashion-conscious shoppers will tell you, style is not necessarily synonymous with quality.
With so-called “fast fashion” retailers, you might be able to find a good look for a low price — just don’t expect that outfit to hold together very long.
So, how does a style-conscious shopper find that balance between quality and affordability? For many shoppers, the answer is a pre-owned piece. And one shop in North Dallas, Clotheshorse Anonymous, has been offering quality style at a lower price for over five decades.
Two Dallas mothers, Jan Kennedy and Nancy Ungerman, started it as a sort of neighborhood swap, explained the shop’s director of operations, Jennifer Mayrath.
“They were way ahead of their time,” she said. “… I think it all really kind of started with a Fendi bag, and so it just kept going. And they rented a little space in an office building, and then next thing you know, they have a store.” (Ungerman has since sold her share of the shop to Kennedy, who is semi-retired, and still the owner.)
Where personal service meets designer style
So what sets Clotheshorse Anonymous apart from the online resale giants? A knowledgeable staff made up of experts in consignments, designer clothing, and even styling.
“We have a great team here,” said Mayrath, whose experience includes working at Neiman Marcus and Chanel.
There’s also the major advantage of giving shoppers a chance to try on a piece to ensure it fits, unlike nationwide online marketplaces. That’s a big deal, for example, if someone is shopping for jeans.
“Size eight jeans — it can be very different based on what the brand is,” she said.
The shop offers community as well. After all, a business can’t stick around this long without cultivating a loyal clientele. Many stop by the shop a few times a week. Some show up every day.
“You know, after all these years, a lot of our clientele now are bringing in their daughters [and] granddaughters,” Mayrath added.
Indeed, despite fast fashion being so common, the shop is drawing a growing number of younger shoppers. Denim, in particular, is a big draw. At Clotheshorse Anonymous, they can buy a pair of pre-owned designer jeans for a fraction of what they’d pay at the department store: $50 as opposed to $350, for instance.
“You should be comfortable and happy and confident in your clothes.”
—Jennifer Mayrath
What’s Hot This Summer
The shop aims for a wide variety of consignment items — “We try to have something for everyone,” Mayrath said. One big item this summer is the floral dress.
“The louder the print, the better,” Mayrath said, “and that’s across all price points and all sizes.”
Also hot right now: designer jewelry from such brands as David Yurman and John Hardy. “It’s not a joke when I tell you: It hits the floor, and it is sold,” Mayrath said. “It’s what people are looking for.”
Designer bags are also hot sellers. One consigner in the Northeast, for instance, sent the shop three boxes full of bags from such designers as Chanel and Christian Dior.
“We had sold almost all of them within 48 hours, and they were like $4,000 Chanel bags and $4,000 Dior bags,” Mayrath said.
“Our customer is smart. They know they can shop local — and online.”
— Jennifer Mayrath
Online convenience, in-person perks
The business of selling pre-owned clothing has evolved since Kennedy and Ungerman started that neighborhood swap back in 1974. And Clotheshorse Anonymous has stayed competitive with those online names that have entered the market.
It has its own online shop, for starters. Consigners can access their balances and shop with them online. They can also get payouts via check or direct deposit, and they even have the option to donate their consignment earnings.
The shop closely watches the market to ensure its prices are right, Mayrath said. “We keep up with how they price items, because our customer is smart, and they know they can shop at all of the local places, as well as the online consignment stores,” she said.
Tips for shoppers and consigners
Saturday is the busiest day of the week at Clotheshorse Anonymous, but shoppers can score some choice pieces almost any time of the week, as new inventory is rolled out from Monday through Friday.
The new inventory is brisk as well, with many consigners downsizing their closets or unloading items that no longer fit.
“We’ve got a lot of people that come in and they make a day of it, and they have fun, and they come with a friend, and they try on in the dressing room,” Mayrath said. “And the people working our dressing room are always happy to zip [up] and give opinions.”
Would-be consigners are advised to check the shop’s website before bringing in something. They can find a list of best-selling brands on the site, as well as commission payouts. The shop takes consignments by season. For example, it’s all about summer at the shop.
So if you’re new to the world of “pre-loved” clothing — or even if you’re more comfortable pointing and clicking — rest assured, you’re in good hands at Clotheshorse Anonymous.
“Your clothing says so much about your personality,” Mayrath said, “and you should be comfortable, happy, and confident in your clothes.”
Clotheshorse Anonymous is located at 11661 Preston Road in Dallas. For more information about this unique shop, please visit their website.
