Alice Johnson has driven by Labels on 6th Avenue for ages, thinking it was a business that printed labels on t-shirts. Others have mistaken it for a place that sells office supplies.
So last week, when the Vero Beach woman with a keen interest in fashion walked into the boutique at Treasure Coast Plaza, she was thrilled to discover the name of the shop refers to the tags that go onto high-end designer clothing, accessories and shoes, befitting for a consignment shop that sells exquisite pieces by Hermes, Valentino, Ferragamo and Oscar de la Renta.
“I had no idea there were all of these European designers inside this shop, and the prices are fantastic!” she said.
For example, the Ferragamo creme-colored linen pantsuit with double-breasted jacket, originally $2,000 now priced at $178; Valentino black lace overlay dress with empire waist retail value $3,000, reduced to $498; Hermes ivory linen shift dress once $3,500, now $258; and Burberry buffalo skin woven tote bag originally $3,300, never used and now priced at $1,200.
The list of top designers and discounted prices goes on: A Chanel beige silk pleated skirt for $298; Bill Blass black velvet and silk evening gown for $348; Oscar de la Renta black velvet jacket with satin lapels for $98; Pucci mock turtleneck for $68; Bessi polo knit dress for $68; and Louis Vuitton monogram briefcase priced at $458.
There’s also designer costume jewelry and some high-end designer pieces such as jewelry by David Yurman.
Jordan Wakeland, Labels’ savvy owner, says the consignment shop business model is a win-win for everyone.
“They don’t walk out of here feeling guilty,” she said. “They feel good. They got a consignment check or else walked out with something to wear.”
“It’s so positive,” she adds. “You feel better about buying a $300 dress for $88.”
That markdown is key for some shoppers like Johnson, a mediator with the Florida courts who hones-in on sharp-looking suits.
“Some consignment shops are expensive,” she said. “I’m not going to buy something used for 20 percent off. If it’s used, it should be at least 50 percent off – otherwise, I can go to the department store and buy something new that’s on sale for a good price.”
At Labels, Wakeland and her friendly, fashionable and helpful staff are discerning about which items to accept from consignees. Here, you won’t find any Gap, Talbots, Tommy Hilfiger, Chicos or Old Navy items. The inventory is exclusively high-quality designer pieces. To be considered for consignment, items must be in excellent condition and on hangers, cleaned and pressed.
Many pieces still have the original price tag on them. If consignees choose not to pick up the unsold items after 30 days, the clothes, shoes and accessories are donated to local non-profits such as Tambourine and Hibiscus Children’s Center. The fact that there is a 30-day policy also enables the inventory to change constantly.
The items at Labels are marked down 60 to 75 percent off retail price. The shop and the consignee split the earnings 50-50.
“They think it’s a boutique because everything is so fresh, and nothing is dated here,” said Reetu Haave, the shop’s manager. The decor is refined with chandeliers, built-in shelving, a seating area with upholstered chairs, mirrors and black and white vertical striped curtains in the fitting rooms. A French-made essential oil candle casts a beautiful scent. A mannequin is dressed in a different outfit and put outside of the door every day and the shop window is exquisitely decorated and lit day and night.
Customers range from snowbirds with fabulous social lives to teenagers looking for a homecoming or prom dress and professionals on the hunt for a smart-looking suit.
Wakeland has years of experience helping women look stylish with consignment clothing, shoes and accessories starting with her first Labels store in Newport Beach, California which she opened in 1993, and later in Dallas where she opened a 6,000-square-foot consignment shop. Eventually, she sold both shops and opened the Vero store in 2010, after several years of observing the local market to see if a high-end consignment shop would be a good fit in this town.
Wakeland’s passion for fashion took root and grew during her time in Los Angeles studying to become a chiropractor, living in the affluent Brentwood area. She was discerning and strategic when it came to shopping for designer labels, scouting out pieces in consignment shops.
“I’d go to great parties and people would ask, ‘How are you doing that on a student budget?'” she recalled of people admiring her outfits. “I was hooked.”
“In my twenties, I was rolling racks of clothes down the street from my garage and collecting clothes.” She also contacted saleswomen who worked in the couture and designer sections of department stores at the malls – many of them had high-end designer clothes they wanted to sell.
Wakeland said she called her mom after completing her studies and said, “‘I know I’ve been in school for 8 years, but my passion is opening a consignment shop.’ My mom said, ‘How much do you need and what do you need to get started?'”
Today, she has about 3,000 clients who consign with Labels. “These are women who go all over the world and buy things and these items land in Labels,” she said. “It’s not like department stores who just have a handful of buyers – we have thousands.”
Those consignees have brought in some gorgeous pieces such as a studded Hermes belt, retail value $4,000, now $1,800 at Labels. And although they do not specialize in vintage, they do carry some unique items from the past such as a Pamela Dennis plum-colored silk top with pants and matching sparkly scarf priced at $198. A vintage Christian Lacroix patchwork pattern jacket with big buttons for $198 is also a special find for that person who revels in vintage clothing.
Abby Wright, one of the friendly saleswomen at Labels, has observed up close the boost women get from wearing the clothes they get at Labels.
“When you dress well and look good, you radiate a self-confidence,” she said. “It comes from the outside in, at that point. You are dressed with the finest brands and designs, and there is a reason why these are high-end designers….women just feel better in that.”
