16 — Sunday, October 11, 1992 - North Shore News igh fashion on a shoestring FASHION STATEMENTS FASHIONABLE SHOP- PERS have learned that ‘*discount’’ no longer means lesser quality, and that ‘‘second-hand’’ doesn’t mean old or worn out. The thread that links all second-hand, consignment, clearance and discount boutiques is that the clothing is always marked on sale. They operate by the rule that high quality at a low price can be found at high-fashion outlets with a low profile. If you are unsure of the loca- tions of these stores and what type of merchandise they carry, you are not alone. Here, a few readers share their questions and get some answers. What happens to clothes that stores never sell? After mark- downs amd sales racks fill the store, it seems the remaining items simply . disappear. Is there a special discount store where they . will appear again for us bargain- * hunters? . Aiso, I am definitely a petite size, but it is so difficult to find reasonabiy priced clothes that fit a size 2. The task of finding conser- vative-styled clothing in a petite size is proving near impossible. Any suggestions? Mrs. J.D. Hicks, North Vancouver Answer 1: After sales, stores do one of two things with the mer- chandise that is unsold. They ei- ther send it back to the firm’s head warehouse, often outside of the city, or the clothing is shipped directly to the company’s clear- ance centre. Clearance centres are discount stores with a chaotic assortment of merchandise from past and present seasons and of different qualities. If you like to dig for treasures, here are some of the Lower Mainiand’s department store clearance centres. ® The Bay Fashion Clesrance Centre, 14815 - 108th Ave., Sur- rey. As soon as the stock reaches this clearance centre, it is reduced to 50% off, and then it’s pro- gressively marked down. After four weeks, The Bay’s clearance store lowers prices again, to 50% of the store’s tick- eted price. After five weeks, it is lowered an additional 25%, and after the stock has been displayed for eight weeks it is marked down again. This means that if a dress was $100 at The Bay department store, it would sell for $50 when it ar- A) ‘ag Ny OUTFIT YOURSELF for fail at second-hand and discount designer stores. rives at The Bay Fashion Clear- ance Centre, and after eight weeks it would be ticketed at $12.50. The selection is very limited at this time, however. . > Eaton's Vancouver Warehouse Store, 2555 Nootka, sells dis- counted clothing and other household items which have been shipped from Eaton’s department stores, and also specially dis- counted merchandise from manu- facturers which may not be in other Eaion’s outlets. It often puts its discounted clothing, lingerie and accessories at specially marked sale prices through the clearance centre. ®> Eaton’s Bargain Annex, Eaton’s Pacific Centre, 7th Floor, carries men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, hcesiery and accessories, which were originally carried at Eaton’s stores, and also features manufacturers’ clearance sections, organized by each fabel, which is not necessarily stock that was sold in Eaton’s. AH merchandise has been marked down initially, and is also discounted further depending upon the time it has been in stock on this floor. > Sears Clearance Centre, 4750 Kingsway, Burnaby, is located in the lower floor of Sears Canada Inc. in Metrotown Centre. This bargain basement sells men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and other household items which were originally stocked at Sears department stores. All merchandise is priced at substantial discounts. The Sears Canada Inc. locations in Maple Ridge and Delta also have clear- ance centres within the department store. » Woodward’s Clearance Centre, Downtown Store, 101 West Hastings St., is located on several floors of this department store in specially designated sections. A good variety of women’s clothing, a small selection of men’s clothing, sporting goods, skiwear and accessories such as luggage are available at great dis- counts. Some of the merchandise is originally from Woodward’s department stores but most has been specially purchased at dis- counted prices from manufactur- ers, designers and wholesalers only for the clearance centre. Answer 2: If you are a petite size, you are among well over half of all Canadian women. A petite size is simply defined as anyone who is under 5'3’°. Arm and leg proportions are shortened in sizes marked ‘‘petite’’; however, bust, waist and hip measurements are sized similarly to other misses clothing. Here are a couple of ways to find good-quality, classically styl- ed petite-sized clothing at good prices. Shop discount stores such as Mr. Jax Fashions Inc. Clothing and Fabrics, 316 West Cordova St., Vancouver; 7771 Alderbridge. Way, Richmond; 104 - Lougheed Hwy., Port Coquitlam. The store carries Mr. Jax’s petite line as well as the misses line. Also, look for sampies in the following stores: » Neto Leather Markdown Basement, 147 Water St., Gastown, Vancouver. 2748: % Dots Discount Ladies Wear,: 505 - 5355 No. 3 Rd. in Rich- mond; 525 West Broadway, Van- couver; 7273 - 120th St. in. Delta; 4501 North Rd. in Burnaby. » Plum Ciothing Co., 3651 West 4th Ave., Vancouver; 2845 Gran- ville St., Vancouver; 128 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver; 1082 Robson St., Vancouver; and Peninsula Village Shopping Centre in South Survey. . &» The Sample Room, 1000 Mainland St., Vancouver. © Designer Cellections on Con- signment (also second-hand), 3574 West 4th Ave., Vancouver. > Clothestime,. 3035 West Broadway, Vancouver. : ® Laxury Kags (also second- hand), 1016 °.West Queens Rd., North Vancouver. Wait for sales at stores such as Braemar Petites, which carries quality, Canadian-made, classic suiting and separates at com- petitive prices. While visiting Vancouver, I read a Rewspaper coluzin concerning s ist of either plus-size outlets in the greatzr Vancouver area or dis- count designer outlets in the ares. | Could I get 2 copy of that list, as “ T accidently destroyed it? Penny Ridge, Winnipeg, Manitoba Answer: Though several dis-. count designer stores carry plus. sizes, them: 14 Plas Consigament, 4235 Dunbar St., Vancouver, . 222-1895; and Det n- Dash Con- signment, 2953 West 4th Ave., Vancouver, (604) 734-3689. : Shop other stores such @_ Suzanne Beil’s Fashions, ‘‘In large and super sizes,”’ 5794 Victoria Dr., Vancouver, (604) 324-7394; Above Average Lingerie, Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, (604) 988-0445; Simply Grand Clothing, 4695 Central Boulevard, Burnaby, (604) 439-1313, as well as plus-sized clothing chains such as Antel’s. . Here is a list of some of the discount stores in the Lower Mainiand area selling good-quali- ty merchandise. Also, check the Stores listed in the previous an- swer. & Maui Fashions, 2029 West 4th Ave., Vancouver. & Mere Downs Clothing, also called Nicole Adrienne, 2228 West 4th Ave.; 3064 West Broadway; 2075 Granville St.; and 1148 Rob- son St. in Vancouver; 1451 Lons- dale Ave. in North Vancouver, and in Victoria. © Armadilio Bontique, 3385 Cambie St., Vancouver. ® L’Apparelle, 804 West Broad- way, Vancouver. » Scrupulous, 3526 West Ave., Vancouver. » Bloomingdales, 4219 Main St., Vancouver. > Starboard Pant Factery, 222 East Georgia St.; 106-10252 135th 4ist See Save page $7 fj two stores specialize in - (604) | 121.