From Pucci to Prada, consignment goes couture

As value-conscious fashionistas continue to tighten their belts, they can still find their favorite designer labels, without breaking the bank, at a new luxury consignment shop at 97 Broad St. The borough’s downtown is now home to doubletake, a high-end consignment boutique featuring the top runway names in designer apparel, handbags, accessories and jewelry at a fraction of original retail prices. “It’s phenomenal,” said Marci Kessler, CEO of Doubletake Consignment Corp., which opened the doors to its Red Bank location this month. “First of all, people walk in and they say, ‘I cannot believe this is a consignment shop,’ because it doesn’t look like what people think of when it comes to a consignment shop. That’s what makes us unique.” From prêt-a-porter to couture merchandise, the consignment shop offers a boutique shopping experience that debuts items from 25 to 35 percent off retail prices and sales are split 50/50 with consignors, Kessler said. “If it’s something like a Chanel bag that’s current, or Louis Vuitton, we’ll price them up to 50 or 60 percent of retail,” she said. “We are looking for more current merchandise. We still pick some really interesting vintage handbags or jewelry, but we generally look for current merchandise that’s in perfect condition that’s already been dry cleaned and very wearable.” Before Kessler set up shop in Red Bank, the first doubletake location opened in May 1992 in Short Hills after she gained experience working as a buyer and a saleswoman for wholesale fashion companies. With the success of the Short Hills location, Kessler launched three new locations in Bergen and Monmouth counties, hoping to generate buzz in the neighborhoods as well as in surrounding communities like Rumson, Little Silver and Middletown. “We looked for demographics that are similar to Short Hills,” she said. “We are also in Englewood, Ridgewood, and we thought Red Bank was a great town. It fit in with the demographic of what we were looking for, and it’s a great town. We love the area and we thought it was a really perfect spot.” Due to the recession, highend consignment shops are becoming popular destinations for women looking to recycle their wardrobes, earn extra cash and save money on designer jeans, shoes and handbags, all while maintaining the quality and level of service a customer would experience in a luxury department store or a chic Manhattan boutique, Kessler explained.