The 'little black dress' will always be the classic go-to outfit. However, Detroiters' tastes are becoming more and more eclectic when it comes to style and fashion trends and now there is a wonderful variety of local stores selling, re-selling and buying vintage pieces to satisfy Detroit's ever so chic trend-setters!

Royal Oak and Ferndale have been two active participants in this up-and-coming vintage era. Here are a few spots to check out for their one-of-a-kind fashions.

Lost & Found Vintage is conveniently located at 510 S. Washington in Royal Oak. Lost & Found is Michigan's premier vintage clothing store. Whether you are preparing for a big night or trying to make room for more clothes items, Lost & Found Vintage is your vintage hotspot! Sort through the 3-floor 3,500-square-foot storefront and warehouse for some of the best men's and women's vintage clothing around. Lost & Found has it all, from the early 1900s through the 1980s. Fun fact: Since 2003 the store has consistently won the "Best Vintage Clothing Store" award and owner Tommy Dorr and his knowledgeable staff  have traveled the country, bringing the best vintage to metro Detroit. Being located in the downtown Royal Oak area, Lost & Found is the go-to vintage spot for traveling celebrities, bands, and film crews -- and of course up and coming fashion designers seeking inspiration. Word on the street is that Lost & Found is famous from New York to Japan for its exceptional dress, T-shirt and boot collections, choice couture, and collectible record section. Check them out at www.lostandfoundvintage.com.

Royal Oak's Paris Antiques, located at 112 Fourth Street, is an antique store featuring fine vintage clothing and European antiques. The shop now has a large collection of new and antique jewelry, furniture/home decor and fashions. Paris is constantly searching for distinctive and unique objects that are exclusive to the store. "Just like a Paris Flea Market, you never know what you are going to find." Paris has also won numerous awards over the years including being a 4-time winner of Hour Magazine's "BEST OF DETROIT" award for best vintage clothing and best resale shop. The store was also featured in Northwest Airline World Traveler Magazine! More info at www.parisofroyaloak.com.

Hybrid Moments, located at 22730 Woodward in Ferndale, is a shop specializing in records, tapes, CDs, books, magazines and unique clothing as well as independent designers, so pretty much everything! Hybrid is a quirky upbeat spot to find more one-of-a-kind items to add to your vintage collection. Check out Hybrid Moments at hybridmomentsmi.blogspot.com.

That Girl, located at 738 S. Washington in Royal Oak, has a mission and it is to "satisfy every women's craving for fun guilt-free shopping, create value and make a difference everywhere we engage." That Girl is a women's resale clothing store specializing in new, gently used, trendy and name brand clothing for all shapes and sizes. What makes That Girl unique is that it presents itself as anything but a 'thrift' store. That Girl is a great shopping experience which includes an organized, airy and uncluttered shop with a trendy boutique feel and excellent customer service. That Girl fits the growing style, brand, and value consciousness of area women who love shopping and fashion and adore 70-80% savings. Check them out at www.thatgirlresale.com.

Mother Fletchers, owned by Eric Fletcher, is a hip vintage store that offers a variety of vintage apparel and items. It is located at 234 W 9 Mile Rd in Ferndale. Mother Fletchers has racks of vintage dresses, skirts, sweaters, shirts and other accessories conveniently organized with labeled sections. The vintage store is fun and eccentric, making it well worth the visit for shoppers. Mother Fletchers is jam-packed with vintage goods, and has some unique pieces that any individual could customize to their own fashion style.

Gizmo is a new retail shop located at 319 S. Washington in Royal Oak. Gizmo sells vintage and/or recycled t-shirts, as well as retro vinyl and CDs. Styles include Detroit-centric and pop art design t-shirts. The vinyl and CDs are hand-selected by Peter Woll and Alan Kovan whom together have well over 50 years of music style and retail experience. For more information visit www.gizmo-royaloak.com.

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That Girl Clothing Resale

The Royal Oak boutique carries name brands, cute items at an affordable price

By Andrea King

Special to Metromix
June 3, 2010

In these tough financial times, there is no time like the present to save big on fashion, and you can do it without begging, borrowing or stealing (okay, it's almost like stealing because of the super deals) at That Girl Clothing Resale in Royal Oak. All you have to do is hawk some items so you can buy some fabulous new ones.

“I think people were so excited to have a resale store out here and they got hooked,” says owner Michele Beck of Royal Oak who brings her entrepreneurial mind and fashionable soul to the boutique that opened in March. “People can’t see going to the mall and spending more money; they liked the store right off the bat.”

You are not lying Michele. We were, and still are, excited…

Not that we aren’t grateful or anything, but how did you get into this and why?
I got bored as a financial advisor (which is another trait of mine) so I started an entertainment company, but then that wasn’t making enough so I started selling clothes on eBay. First my own clothes, but then I started buying stuff to sell so the next step was the store. I wanted to sell cheap (resale) clothes, but hated that other stores like that had no service or smelt bad so here you get a great experience with clothes people want to wear that are affordable.

And the talking mannequins alone are enough to draw those people in….
Yes, the mannequins in the windows really did. At first we had them naked with them saying how humiliating it was so please bring your clothes in so they had something to wear. Each week we give them something different to say.

How will That Girl add to Royal Oak fashion?
Honestly, there’s no place else I wanted to go; it was a natural place. We have name brands, cute items and you can get a great wardrobe for a very low price.

And the offerings and prices are?
There are shirts, shoes, dresses, jeans, purses, accessories, graphic tees, capris, pants, bathing suits, lingerie and athletic wear; we have it all. Everything in here comes from the people who sell it. The selling hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-6 p.m. and you get either $25 in cash of what it sells for or 45 percent in merchandise credit. We look for something that is really cute, a name brand or both--which is even better--and it definitely needs to be in good condition. Prices start at $1 and the average cost of an item is $6.75. We try not to keep an item on the floor more than a month, and then it gets sold on EBay or donated if not sold.

Okay so if I wanted to create a look head to toe, what would that cost me?
A good example is the mannequins who have on headbands, several accessories, clothing and shoes, which costs $32 for the whole outfit.

What are some of the big style trends for the summer then?
Pretty summer dresses, gladiator sandals, large bags and accessories are always huge. You can personalize your look with unique, individual items.

Why should we come here?
It’s a no brainer; you can get a great deal on great clothes to create your own look.

Anything coming up we should know about?
We’ll have loyalty cards and reusable bags for our regulars. Also, the last Saturday of every month is donation day so whatever you spend goes to your choice of four charities: St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Haven, the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Gilda’s Club.

That Girl Clothing Resale is located at 738 South Washington, Royal Oak, 48067. Hours are Mon.-Fri. 10-7 p.m.; Sat. 10-6 p.m. and closed on Sunday. The number is 248-556-5710. For more information visit www.thatgirlresale.com or email thatgirl@thatgirlresale.com.

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Monday, March 28, 2011