As good as new

It's a sign of the times. Vintage and second-hand shops are vamping up their looks and attracting a new breed of customer. Gone are the jumbled rails and stuffed baskets. As the cost of designer and boutique clothes tumble, there's a rising trend of nearly-new shops with stylish finds.

WHEN KAREN KAVANAGH and Tracy Briggs lost their jobs in a shop in Malahide after it changed hands, the friends decided to take the plunge and open their own. All About Eve, a second-hand clothes shop with a difference, opened in June on a shoestring budget of €2,000 – the pair’s last month’s pay – and has been an instant success. The shop offers nearly-new designer clothes at a fraction of their original price in a shopper-friendly environment with items colour coordinated and well presented. “Most of our customers are a result of word of mouth and many knew us from our old job,” says Tracy. “Many people come in here looking for the second-hand shop!”

On the day I visited star buys included a black Dior bag in mint condition for €600, a quarter of its original price; a Jen Kelly outfit bought for a wedding that cost €2,500, now €250, and a Hoss pleated organza dress with a gold sequin waistcoat down to €199 from €640. A delicate Valentino top was €99, originally €400. The place was packed with customers, one woman leaving with three dresses. With the exception of the bag, nothing is priced over €250.

“It’s all about merchandising,” says Karen. “We wanted something that didn’t look like a swap or second-hand shop and more like a boutique.” The pair, both mothers, renovated the shop space themselves from scratch, including creating wallpaper from black and white photographs of silver screen icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis, from whose classic movie All About Eve the shop took its name. A glass display stand used for shoes and jewellery was found in a Clerys skip, as were the window mannequins which they covered in the same wallpaper. “Everybody got involved, even our children,” they exclaim.

“Badgering” friends and family and leafleting the area provided the initial stock for the shop. One woman, because of fluctuating weight, gave 100 pieces in sizes, 10, 12 and 14, many bought on her Italian trips. A black quilted Chanel bag like new which was sold for €425 turned out to be a snip for one lucky customer since there’s a waiting list of a year-and-a-half for that style. “We have definitely noticed that women here have embraced the idea of bringing in clothes to sell – it’s all about value for money,” says Karen.

All About Eve has a strict policy for the clothes it accepts. The shop operates on a six-week 50/50 sale-or-return basis, and all items must be in perfect condition. “We guide on price,” says Karen, “but the customer has the final say.” The shop also offers an alteration service.

A new shop in Howth called The Secret Closet works on exactly the same principles, and offers an equally eclectic choice of designer clothes, bags, shoes and jewellery. They offer a bridal service, too (Abbey Street, Howth, 01-8325853).

Buoyed by the success of All About Eve, Kavanagh and Briggs are now planning a second branch and a men’s boutique. ” In the meantime, we can’t get enough jewellery, and handbags fly out the door.”

All About Eve, New Street Shopping Mall, Malahide, Co Dublin, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm,

Sun 2-6pm (01-8456571) www.allabouteve.ie