Shopping, swapping are a breeze at Spinderella's Steals Resale Boutique

Thrift stores may have great prices, but who wants to weed through all that junk to get to the good stuff? Spinderella's Steals Resale Boutique makes it easy to find the used clothing you want. The store is at 6393 Ninth St. N in St. Petersburg.

The 500-square-foot boutique is easy to navigate and stocked only with things you'd actually consider wearing. No "filler" here. The goods include jeans, blouses, dresses, blazers, evening gowns, purses, winter jackets, shoes and more, with clothing sizes ranging from 00 to 28.

Prices vary, but the piece de resistance is the $5 rack. Here's owner Jennifer Steele next to the rack, a gloriously well organized array of clothing, shoes and purses:

When I stopped by last week, I spotted the following brands for the price of a Lincoln: Banana Republic, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Limited, Ann Taylor, New York & Co. and Old Navy. The store also carries a small selection of jeans hand-painted by Steele, soaps, body oils and jewelry.

Can't find what you're looking for? Drop a note in the wish book on the counter or on the store's Facebook page. Specify the item, desired size and your phone number, and if the item comes in, Steele will hold it for you. Also check out the Facebook page for photos of the latest merchandise.

Open since October 2007, Spinderella's Steals is a resale shop, not a consignment store. That means you get store credit, not cash, for the items you bring in. Steele will give you store credit worth half of what she plans to sell them for. So if you bring in a dress and Steele plans to sell it for $20, you'll get a $10 store credit.

That's enough to buy two things off the $5 rack.

Deal Diva Dalia

(Photo by Dalia Colon)

Jefferson High School students to hold retro fashion show Thursday in Tampa

Reason No. 473 to brown bag your lunch: A fashion show in the middle of the work day!

Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., the juniors and seniors of Jefferson High School's Fashion and Retail Marketing Academy will host their annual runway show to raise money for the program. Due to the recession, this year's theme is '70s and '80s. The students will strut their stuff in thrift store duds, garage sale finds and clothes donated by school faculty and the community. Love it! The press release promises a "groovy show" with "far out hairstyles and makeup." Maybe we'll get some Halloween costume ideas.

Jefferson High School International Studies Magnet Program is at 4401 W Cypress St. in Tampa. Admission is $3 at the door.

Deal Diva Dalia

(Photo by Photos.com)

Got $20? Get a whole outfit for your kids.

When I was growing up, my family didn't have cash to throw around. My clothes were cute and functional, not branded with flashy names. And in sixth grade, the holy grail was out of my reach - a sweatshirt from Limited Too.

Yeah, yeah. I knew that confidence should come from within, that going Limited-less would build character or whatever parents say. But geez, I really wanted that sweatshirt. One day, my mom bought me a sweater monstrosity on deep clearance. It was the color and shape of a French's mustard bottle, but it said what mattered across the chest - LIMITED. I wore it constantly, feeling on par with my peers.

A little coolness goes a long way toward the mental health of your youngster. And while thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army can offer great finds, you can broaden your shopping scope a bit, even if you have only a few dollars to spare. We assembled these nonhumiliating looks at popular stores, spending no more than $8 per item.

Girl's outfit

 

• The pink Cherokee cardigan came from Target, $3.24. The T-shirt is a genuine Abercrombie & Fitch, $6. It's from Plato's Closet, a store that sells used name-brand clothes. It's in good shape because Plato's Closet is extremely picky.

• The Levi's jeans are from Marshalls, $7, regularly $35.

• Accessories are one of the cheapest ways to make a girl feel trendy. This chunky necklace was $1.50 at Plato's Closet. And the cute tote bag was in the $1 bin at Target. It says "Young, fabulous, and broke." Might as well embrace it.

Boy's outfit

 

• Boys T-shirts are as utilitarian as it gets. There's none of the darting and structural complexity of girl patterns, so finding a good deal isn't hard. This shirt was $1.98 at Target. Stock up. If you find something basic, buy it in a bigger size for next year.

• The jeans were $6.99 at Old Navy. They're a modern cut with an adjustable waistband, so if Junior puts away too many Pop Tarts, they'll still expand and last through the year.

Shop strategically

• Put blinders on and go straight to the clearance racks in the back of stores. They are gold mines. Retailers need to clear out old stock to make room, so they want you to buy this stuff.

• If you're looking toward the holidays with dread, buy one piece a week and stash it away. The beautiful thing about living in Florida is that we can wear deep discount summer styles all year.

Involve the kids

• There's nothing worse than Mom or Dad thrusting something tragic upon an unsuspecting child. Bring the kids on shopping trips, but help them avoid devolving into cries of greed by making it a game. Example: Susie and Johnny each get $15. Whoever finds the most for their money gets to ride in the front seat, eat an entire carton of Edy's, shave the dog, whatever. Coupons and sales are fair game. Encourage them to prepare an arsenal of clippings before the big day.

• Discount shopping is also a great chance for kids to learn math. Start by teaching the basics - half off and 10 percent off. I barely passed geometry, but I can calculate a discount in my sleep.

Deal Diva Stephanie

Photos: Lara Cerri, Times Staff

Trade your old costume for a new one at Buffalo Gal Vintage

Today we've been brainstorming Halloween costumes. If DIY isn't your thing and you're too broke to shell out money for a new disguise, then consider this offer from Buffalo Gal Vintage in St. Petersburg:

Bring a men's or women's costume in good condition and exchange it for a traditional or vintage-style costume that's new to you. Women can choose from Buffalo Gal's selection of pinup, rockabilly, vampire and punk gothic getups. For guys, there are zoot suits, Elvis outfits and more.

If you don't find a costume, you'll get store credit to use on Buffalo Gal's vintage and new-reproduction garb from labels like Bettie Page, Pinup Girl and Stop Staring. And the new second-floor men's department is stocked with retro suits, leather jackets, hats and more.

Buffalo Gal Vintage is at 1219 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. N, St. Petersburg. Call (727) 290-8468.

Deal Diva Dalia

(Photo: This sexy sailor girl costume by Pin Up Girl Clothing sells for $62 at PinUpGirlClothing.com. Trade in your old costume for one that's equally va-va-voom at Buffalo Gal Vintage.)

Oct. 7 in St. Pete: Find your vintage style

Do you have a closet full of clothes but still feel like you can't dress yourself? S&D Vintage and Spinderella's Steals want to help. The St. Petersburg resale boutiques have teamed up to present You Are What You Wear, an evening of style tips, advice on how to shop consignment and -- now we're talkin' -- wine and cheese.

The Oct. 7 event will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at S&D Vintage, 1100 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. RSVP by Oct. 4. Spinderella's owner Jennifer Steele and S&D co-owner Shannon West will be your fashion gurus.

"We are teaching people to find their own authentic style," Steele said. "They're displaying their personality through being able to shop vintage, thrift and resale and still be stylish and trendy and not look everybody else."

Admission is $15 and two toiletry items to benefit Operation H.U.G.S., a homeless advocacy group. Guests are also encouraged to bring an item from your wardrobe that you love but can't figure out how to wear. (Sarongs, anyone?) Each participant will leave with a $10 gift certificate good for future use at either store. The event is limited to 20 people.

To RSVP, you can pay in person at either shop or give Steele your credit card info over the phone at (727) 522-3325.

Deal Diva Dalia

I bought this entire outfit at a thrift store... and wore it to work!

Some fashionistas are notoriously opposed to previously owned items. I understand those who have mixed feelings toward thrift stores, and I have seen the best and worst of thrift stores across the Tampa Bay area and around the country.

But times are tough. Money is tight. And I still want to look good.

In July I was hired as an editorial assistant for the St. Petersburg Times, which is a professional business setting. Being that four of our Deal Divas are situated in my office, I needed to step my threads up a notch. I also needed to do so with the budget of a 20-year-old college student with a part-time job.

I have been an established thrift junkie for years. Funky vintage T-shirts and cheap studio apartment decor had already been conquered. But now I had a new challenge: business casual.

Salvation Army thrift stores hold true to their name on a regular basis because they have been my salvation for a closet that was previously barren of business casual wear. They have a half-price clothing sale every Wednesday and are open until 7 p.m. at most locations. Their stores are located all over the Tampa Bay area. I picked up entire outfit you see above for under $20 on a fashionably fruitful Wednesday. No joke.

For brand names at consignment prices, stroll through Julie's Walk-In Closet in Brandon

Westfield Brandon rocks my socks, but last week I learned it's not the only place in Eastern Hillsborough County to score brands like Coach, Dolce & Gabbana and Ann Taylor. The new consignment shop Julie's Walk-In Closet at 759 W Brandon Blvd. lives up to its slogan of "consignment shopping with a boutique feeling."

Owner Julie Pomeroy (that's her on your right) worked for 25 years at a veterinary hospital before opening the women's clothing shop on June 18. "We're searching for a shopper who is discriminating, used to quality and not willing to pay full price for those high-end brands," she said when I stopped in last week. Is she speaking our language or what?

On my visit, I found brand names, most at about 70 percent off the retail price, for jeans, tops, dresses, suits, shoes, accessories, maternity wear and more, all organized by size. Love that!

If you're looking to clean out your closet, bring in your like-new clothing and accessories for consignment. Pomeroy is currently accepting light fall items, short-sleeve shirts, shorts, shoes and handbags. You'll get 50 percent of the proceeds. If an item doesn't sell after 90 days, you can pick it up or Pomeroy will donate them to charity.

Keep reading to check out some deals I scoped there last week.

Dress like Katie Couric with TVNewsCloset.com

Do you dream of dressing like Katie Couric? Or is local TV anchor Heather Van Nest more your style? How 'bout a little Gayle Sierens and Kathy Fountain thrown into the mix?

Okay, maybe not, but a new Web site that consigns TV broadcasters' cast-off duds has caught my fancy for a few reasons. 1) It's a cool idea. A Dallas-based former news anchor created the site to help those still in the industry, giving them a place to sell clothes that have worn out their welcome on air or to pick up new things on a budget. 2) This stuff is affordable. As in, 60 percent off the original retail price. 3) I know we have some loyal readers who work in TV land, and I want to help my fellow news sisters and brothers out!

TvNewsCloset.com is still in its infancy, so the stock isn't huge yet. (The site needs some dresses.) But ladies can pick up this pair of Banana Republic pants for $18, or this Ann Taylor skirt suit for $40. There are also Bill Blass, Burberry, and Jones New York suits for men.

The site is geared toward TV folks but anyone can participate. So if you are looking to shed some suits or add some to your wardrobe, you might want to check this out.

~ Deal Diva Colleen

(Photo: AP. Work it like Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon on SNL's Weekend Update.)

This diva scored big at her fave thift store -- and you can, too

We love it when our scouts in the field give us a heads up about the great deals they find. Here's one from fellow Times fashionista Kim Wilmath, who grabbed all sorts of deals at her favorite thift store this week:

Oh, Divas. Have I got a deal for you.

Wednesday, I went thrift store shopping, which is of course always a bargain. But WHOA. It was deal overload.

I went to Life Treasures on Dale Mabry -- my fave because it's not too big or overwhelming and because the staff are all volunteers and so sweet AND because they donate the proceeds to LifePath Hospice.

Anyway, they're having a huge sale on jewelry and watches (50 percent off), mugs and glasswares (50 percent off) and a big $1 deal on a ton of clothes (anything with a pink or blue tag! Had me hunting!)

I got a silver retro digital watch for $4, a cheesy mug that says "May your day be filled with love" for 30 cents, two leather purses for $20 and a silk blouse for $1. The sale is going on through the weekend, according to the store's marquee.

Bargains on top of bargains? We like it.

~ Deal Diva Colleen

Ripped boyfriend jeans are just like they sound

Great news! You can backhoe your garden, pick aluminum cans out of municipal trash bins and go to a night club in the same outfit! Ripped denim is trendy again!

These jeans, the Current Elliott Boyfriend Jean have made the celeb rounds from Reese Witherspoon to Rachel Bilson to Sarah Jessica Parker. They're $229. I think certain people can pull them off with the right accompanying pieces. The key lies in making the rest of your outfit light and feminine so you don't look like a MAN.

I can see why folks might buy ripped jeans instead of just waiting for old ones to wear out. Mine never rip in the desired places. Cute knee holes? No. A sexy thigh peek? No. I always get, like, a huge tear right down the ass-inine.

But with some artful planning, it would be easy to recreate this look with a pair of your ACTUAL BOYFRIEND'S jeans. Just go in his closet, grab the smallest pair and take your scissors to the suckers. Use a PedEgg or something to create thin spots. Walk on them in stilettos. Let your nephew use them as a Superman cape. Wash and dry them once to fray the holes. Voila!

If your boyfriend keeps a nanny cam in his closet to catch little jeans elves in the night, try a local thrift store for options. Or check out these more affordable versions from American Eagle, Charlotte Russe, and Old Navy.

~ Deal Diva Stephanie

Photo: shopdetour.com