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Shopping Green

There are so many ways to GO GREEN. You can recycle your plastics and papers, bring your own bags whenever you shop, refill water bottles. In truth, with a little imagination you can reduce, recycle and reuse almost anything. And, you can shop at resale and consignment stores (and I am not talking about Goodwill or The Salvation Army). The stores I have found have the best of the best to furnish your home and update your style.

Friday, November 21st

So now that you have spruced up your home and wardrobe and have cleared out the old and worn out, what do you do with it all? Some of it you may consign, some you may hand down to friends and family, but what about the rest? I give them to a very worthy facility – Norwalk Emergency Shelter. They are in need of everything and anything so load up the car, make one trip and feel good that you helped to clothe a family down on their luck. They will take the slightly stained kids’ clothing along with the toys your kids have gotten too old for, your antiquated VCR player and video tapes, your TV’s that have long been discarded for flat screens, small kitchen appliances (coffee makers, toaster ovens, microwaves) and they always seem short on men’s clothing.

4 Merritt Street
Norwalk
866-1057
norwalkemergencyshelter.org

One other facility that is so worthwhile is Dress for Success. This not-for-profit organization provides professional attire to disadvantaged women entering the workforce. If you have left corporate America and have a closet of suits, they will take them along with shoes, bags, jewelry, pantyhose, coats and more. Please check out their website for specifics regarding acceptable lines of clothing and drop off hours.

35 Brentwood Avenue
Fairfield
333-6505
Email:  midfairfieldcounty@dressforsuccess.org
dressforsuccess.org/midfairfieldcounty

Go ahead, be charitable. And for those of you who want a receipt for tax purposes, just ask.

Thursday, November 20th

I have a resale store that was too special not to feature on its own day. It is Mint, and as if the name does not say it all, the clothing is without question in mint condition. Owner Debbie Gabel and mother of girls knew first hand how much she spent of good clothing that was hardly worn. The question then always came up – what to do with it? The answer: open a store that caters to girls. Starting at 2T and going up to teenagers, Mint was born. One year later, this open and airy boutique, set up to look like a high-end Greenwich Avenue store, is stocked with many garments that have been worn once or not at all, first run closeouts and samples, jeans (tons of jeans from all the labels you love), party dresses galore and in more recent months, inventory for women. All merchandise is 50 – 75% off retail.

If you are interested in consigning, you will receive 40% of the sale price. Merchandise is accepted Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Special arrangements for other days can be made by calling ahead.

253 Mill Street
Byram
532-0200
mintvintage.biz

Wednesday, November 19th

So the great thing about living in Fairfield County is that when you decide to shop at consignment stores, you can walk away with designer labels at what we would consider a bargain. So what if it’s last year’s cashmere or cords. If you bought them last year, would you seriously not wear them this year? And at the stores I suggest you visit, you may likely bring home clothes with the tags still on them. Imagine buying an Armini dress and never wearing it. Lucky for us, there are women who do exactly that!

A few weeks back, I did a write up on my personal favorite resale boutique, Roundabout, and although I still will frequent the racks in Westport, Greenwich and Darien, there are a few others to choose from and they all focus on designer labels. They are:

Double Exposure
1090 Post Road
Darien
655-8799
doubleexposureboutique.com

Designer Label Consignments
1344 Post Rd E
Westport
255-9099‎

Consigned Couture
134 E Putnam Ave
Greenwich
869-7795‎

Tuesday, November 18th

Are you looking to update your kitchen or a bathroom, but think you can’t afford it? Think again while shopping at Green Demolitions. Green Demolitions relies on donations of kitchens and bathrooms from luxury homes. In other words, what is old and worn out to the “rich and famous” is usually just right for the average Joe. Seriously, they have kitchens and baths that have been professionally removed by their own licensed contractors from homes that may have been built just a few years ago, but the style simply does not suit the current owner. So you see, one’s trash really can be another’s treasure. If your needs are more simple, Green Demolitions still may be able to help with their inventory of ovens, refrigerators, cooktops, and a small selection of furniture (comes to them via estate sales and donations).

If you're looking to donate, think about the benefits. You will reduce labor and disposal costs, receive a tax benefit since a portion of all proceeds go to Green Demolitions charitable organization, and there is no pick-up charge.

There are Locations in PA and NY states as well if you don’t find exactly what you are looking for in Norwalk.

Green Demolitions
19 Willard Road
Norwalk
greendemolitions.com
354-7355
 

Monday, November 17th

Whether you are looking to update a room with an interesting art object, decorative mirror or rug or are in need of furnishings for an entire room, you must stop into Cachet Consignment in Fairfield. Cachet is filled with upscale home furnishings that are all chosen by owners Real and Sheila Roy. As a special treat, don’t miss their vintage jewelry collection. If you know a little something about decorating, you will appreciate these quality items. 

If you are looking to consign something of your own, the general agreement is 60% to the seller and 40% goes to Cachet. Pick up and delivery can be arranged.
   
1139 Post Road
Fairfield
cachetconsignment.com
259-4407

For more Green tips, check out The Green Scene.

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