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Shoppers get excited about finding consignment store bargains.

Shopping in consignment and resale stores is all about labels like Armani, Versace, Escada, and Chanel. These stores grow in popularity because of impact of the label on North Texas consumers.

“Women in Dallas just love to shop," said Adelaide Elliott of Clothes Circuit. "They like to go to social events. There are a lot of parties. There's a lot of restaurants.”

This is not your church or charity thrift store. Clothes accepted for sale are gently worn, but not worn out.

When consumers get past any doubt on quality, they find deals.

At Clothes Circuit, items are priced 40 percent or more below retail. Stacie Dearing found a pair of David Yurman earrings that retail at $400 for about $200. She started shopping consignment when she became a mother.

“With pregnancy, you're up and down in weight, and trying to lose weight you don't want to spend a lot of money on what you think is going to be temporary clothing," she said. "So you come and you buy clothes, and you get hooked.”

The store and the item owner split the sales price 50/50.

Consignment has gone mainstream, too. Young women and teens craving those designer jeans that sell for $200 and up can find them for $60.

Dallas model and personal trainer Laurie Seale likes the Speedo swimsuit she found with the original store tags attached. “I like that everything is current, and it's all one of a kind,” Seale said.

Consignment and resale aren't just for grownups, either. Stores selling children’s clothes are wearing well, too.

Stores like Once Upon a Child and Plato's Closet buy children’s used clothes and resell them. Because kids grow so fast, the market for parents to sell the stuff (and to buy more) is a natural.

And clothes aren't the only attraction. Ashley Riley wants toys for baby Avery, but doesn't want to pay Target or Wal-Mart prices. "You can get the same thing here for half the price, or even less than half the price," she said. "So it just doesn't make sense to me to go to stores like that.”

As with adult clothes, labels and value sell children's clothes. Christine Roberts of Once Upon a Child showed us a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt with an original retail price of $35. "Our price is $8.50,” she said.

But consignment and resale shoppers need to be educated.

• Know retail prices so you'll get the deal you expect.

• Shop often, since new items arrrive daily.

• Wait for price reductions, but remember: If the item sells, it may be the only one.

• Don't be afraid to bargain.

• To search means to save.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com