Bargains abound

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- On the sunny island of Palm Beach, black-tie galas are common, Sunday brunch is $100, and a beachside hotel room can cost more than $2,000 a night in high season.

But there are bargains to be found. The snowbird's paradise has a thriving high-end consignment market for designer and often barely worn castoffs.

The island's busy society calendar means twice-daily costume changes in a land of labels that include Chanel, Hermes, Valentino, Gucci and Prada.

Many of these garments and accessories make their way to a handful of exclusive consignment boutiques, and a few even trickle down to bargain thrift shops.

"They sometimes don't even wear it. They're shopping constantly. If it's last season, they can't wear it anymore. And they wear it all just once, including the shoes and the handbag," said Monique Javarone, owner of Fashionista Palm Beach, an upscale boutique that specializes in vintage.

In this Feb. 23 photo, an Armani dress with a black mink short coat is on display at the Fashionista consignment store in Palm Beach, Florida.Kelly Kennedy ~ Associated Press

Often, store owners go to multimillion-dollar estates and sort through racks of designer clothing for clients who don't want the stigma of being seen in a consignment store or who have too much to transport.

"It's wonderful here. You can look like a million for under a hundred," said Paulette Cooper Noble, author of "Bargain Shopping in Palm Beach and Broward Counties."

While the stores are full of colorful, lightweight Missoni, Pucci and even Lilly Pulitzer garments on the lower end, there's one label that reigns.

"The thing that everybody wants year after year is Chanel. It's still the No. 1 consignment handbag. Even the shoes are still No. 1. ... It's that very classic, never-go-out-of-style look," said Sean Connolly, owner of the Paradise Lost boutiques.

At Encore Plus Boutique in Boca Raton, Florida, Ayla Habibi said Chanel purses are her No. 1 seller and range from $800 to $4,700. Sold new, the purses can exceed $5,000.

This Feb. 25 photo shows a selection Chanel shoes at the Classic Collections consignment store in Palm Beach, Florida. The store has a wide variety of clothes, shoes, pursues, fine and costume jewelry. (AP Photo/Kelli Kennedy)

Handbags are the most popular items at most of the stores, where Hermes and Louis Vuitton are close seconds.

"The Chanel and Hermes fly out the door," said Lisa Stark, owner of Serendipity in Boca Raton, who also posts items on Instagram. "As soon as we post things, the phone starts ringing."

When she first started more than a decade ago, the in-demand items were ballgowns and St. John, a luxury knitwear brand, but now women dress more casually, she said.

The Palm Beach hand-me-downs are so good, fashionistas from all over the world vie for them online. A handful of the stores have started selling their items at upscale web retailers such as 1stdibs.

"Half of what we sell goes overseas," said Javarone, who said her online business has doubled in recent years.

In this Feb. 22 photo, a display of shoes, shirts and jackets are seen at the Encore Plus consignment store in Boca Raton, Florida. The store organizes its large selection of high-end designer clothing, including Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel and Dior by color. They also carry a selection of furs and vintage gowns. (AP Photo/Kelli Kennedy)

Many customers seek out the store after first seeing her items online.

If the upscale boutiques aren't interested, the clothes and accessories may make their way to some of the area's thrift shops.

The thrift stores are also a good spot for lower-end designers such as Tory Burch, Lilly Pulitzer and Milly.

"We do get Hermes from time to time, men's ties, scarves, pocket squares," said Goodwill Embassy Boutique assistance store manager Becky Shore.

The store recently had Christian Dior china and sold a slightly chipped Baccarat crystal horse for $199. She said it's not uncommon to get a collection of the same designer all at once from an estate, such as a collection of Judith Leiber bags.

In this Feb. 25 photo, a variety of Louis Vuitton bags are seen at the Paradise Lost consignment store in Palm Beach, Florida. The island's busy society calendar means twice-daily costume changes in a land of labels that include Chanel, Hermes, Valentino, Gucci and Prada. Many make their way to a handful of exclusive consignment boutiques and a few even trickle down to some bargain thrift shops. (AP Photo/Kelli Kennedy)

The deals are so good, even the rich aren't passing them up. Many of the socialites who come in to consign items often leave with a purchase.

"They buy the same things (they sell)," said Connolly. "They bring in Hermes scarves, they'll consign two or three at a time, and they'll walk out with one."