When I think do-gooder resale shops, I think of musty-smelling thrift stores filled mostly with slightly dingy items — with a few good finds sprinkled in that I’ll really need to invest a lot of time digging to find.

The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Santa Monica is not one of these.

This little shop on Wilshire isn’t exactly a high-end consignment shop, but still boasts gorgeous pre-loved designer finds in a pleasant, easy-to-browse atmosphere. If you wear size 9 shoes, the pair of Prada heels above can be yours for $35. Or for $65, you can snag a pair of gently worn size 36 Manolo heels with satin ankle ribbons!

The surprisingly fashionable shoe rack’s small, but rewarding — as is the rest of the store. Apparently, the American Cancer Society has a whole chain of stores across the nation (here are the California locations), run by do-gooder volunteers — mostly nice older women, if the volunteer force I saw at the Santa Monica store’s the norm. Proceeds from selling the donated goods go toward American Cancer Society’s work.

Of course, not all the clothes here are fashionable. In thrift store style, this ACS Discovery Shop has a $2 rack — full of clothes I didn’t want to be caught dead in — that one of the volunteers really tried to get me to shop from. “They may not fit you, but you might know someone they might fit!” was her best sales pitch after sizing me up — but you know how I like to preach sticking to buying only what you need –

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. 920 Wilshire Blvd. 310.458.4490.

Update, 1/30/10: Pre-loved fashion shopping in Santa Monica: A Walking guide — 7 stores, 2 miles!

2 Comments