In Jackson, women’s clothing is beautiful but pricey. I am not disparaging local boutiques, but simply swallowing the bitter pill that I am not in the financial position to shop at many local stores, especially in today’s economy.

Yet, like many females, I do have the desire to buy new clothing, whether it is needed or not. I longed for a local women’s clothing store where the prices were right. Enter “Queenie’s Closet,” a funky clothing consignment store with in the established boutique, Queenie & Co.

Queenie’s Closet was born when Queenie and Co. owner Sarah Read stumbled across an abundance of clothing while cleaning out her closet last fall. “Owning a clothing store you have the luxury of getting a lot of clothes; some items you wear only once or twice,” she stated.

She brought the clothes back into the store, marked them as consignment at a bargain price, and stood back as they flew off the racks. Read had tapped into the huge consumer market of consignment shoppers; a culture of hunters and gatherers scanning shelves for dollar deals.

Read and Cammie Kenne, her daughter, decided to expand the idea, pulling a basic clothing consignment contract offline that would allow them to share their success with their customers.

The process is simple- you bring in your clothes, Queenie takes what they believe will sell. You sign a contract, give your name and contact information. Each month, a reconciliation is done in which the consigner receives 40% of the sale if taking straight money, or 60% of the sale towards store credit.

I tested the system myself, donating clothes that had been sitting in my car for a few weeks. The process took only five minutes, and, in return, my dog found space in my car, my clothing was recycled, and some money may be salvaged.

If the clothes do not sell, the consigner has the option of taking their clothing back or leaving it with Queenie’s who will donate it to local non profit organizations. Read is hoping to give all clothes to a center benefiting mainly women.

Like Queenie’s interior design- a collection of antiques, Audrey Hepburn photos, and smiling mannequins- the clothing is chic and eclectic. After making my donation, I browsed the racks, bobbing my head to Bjork, and found hardly worn designer labels such as Nannette Lapore and Ella Moss available for the half the price, mixed with $6 buys from stores like Target and Forever 21.

If you are looking to freshen up your wardrobe with out breaking the bank, stop by Queenie’s Closet for some new - but gently used - treasures.

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