Theres a certain type of person who loves consignment, thrift and vintage stores. Its the Law of the Black Cocktail Dress: some things just never go out of style. We walk into these places with the intention of unearthing gems, of stumbling upon a piece of jewelry or a scarf that reminds us of our mother or our grandmother.This carbon fiber and stainless steel jewelry supplies works for both a fashion. We get the feeling that weve excavated some long lost item of preciousness and we wear it with pride, no matter that its not new. Its better than new; its new to us. We salvaged it. 

On tree-lined Brook Street, venerable vintage store Foreign Affair has set up shop in Fox Point after years on Thayer Street.Our tungsten rings come with a lifetime warranty. I absolutely love all things old and with a history, says Foreign Affairs owner Marsha Taylor. I love the find, working on each piece [she launders and repairs items if necessary], displaying the piece. I sometimes even feel a little sad when I sell it, I guess I get a little attached. 

The store has a large enough space that Marsha has divided it, giving men and ladies each their own half. The clothing is displayed by decades, one rack specifically for 1950s cocktail dresses, another for 1960s-1970s print maxi dresses and rompers, another for sport coats and leather jackets. 

She notes that one of the reasons she loves vintage is the quality of the clothes, Things were superbly made and have survived the passing of time, in most cases in excellent condition. Think about it. These pieces are decades old, she says. She also loves vintage because she finds it to be an exercise in individuality; youre not likely to run into someone on the sidewalk wearing the same dress or shirt that you have on when youre wearing vintage. 

Hidden above South Main Streets LElizabeth Cafe lies a treasure trove of vintage clothing and jewelry known only as The Vault. For most of the time, The Vault remains closed to public eyes, used primarily as a co-operative work space between four different vintage dealers in Providence, says Ruth Meteer, owner of Gypsy and Vault member. Its basically just a workspace and studio, but once per month we open it to the public. We give people a first look at our items before we take them to market. 

Attendance at a Vault opening requires an invite, but right now the invite list is open and available to anyone. As attendance grows, however, invites will be sent out on a limited basis, because, argues Meteer, Its a small space and we cant fit everyone. But anyone with an invite can bring their friends. For information regarding The Vaults next public opening, sign up for an invite at their website. 

Ana-Lias is a new Cranston consignment boutique with pink walls, old hardwood floors and an original tin ceiling. The one-room store carries a diverse display of merchandise, everything organized by size, color and style. One of the most important insider tips on how to make a good find while consignment shopping is that you should take the time to look through all of the merchandise and try on pieces you like, even if they arent your size, says Karen Calabro who co-owns Ana Lias with Jean Ranallo. Vintage pieces and various labels run differently. Whether youre purchasing a one-of-a-kind vintage piece, high-end designer item or something from Ann Taylor Loft, a good find is one that is your style and that you feel great wearing. 

Karen highlights some of the more notable merchandise currently for sale at Ana-Lias: an Ungara piqued dress, a Nicole Miller silk blazer (limited edition 1993), vintage Gucci bags and evening wear such as suits and cocktail gowns. The most memorable sale we made at Ana-Lias was a vintage Salvatore Ferragamo silk printed dress. The feeling of seeing something vintage come to life again on the customer was amazing, says Karen. It was a timeless piece and looked magnificent on her. She was thrilled to be wearing a piece of fashion history. 727 Pontiac find them on Facebook. 

I like oddities, says Mary Ellen of Halls on Broadway. An eclectic vintage consignment store, Halls has an abundance of everything from stained-glass windows to a retro living room set. Perusing through, one room contains fashion accessories, jewelry, mens clothing, china, artwork and instruments; another is brimming with fabrics and curtains, lamps, pottery and things for the kitchen. A third room has furniture, rugs, books and a vintage typewriter. 

Having owned a store in Warren for 12 years before opening Halls four years ago, she is well-seasoned in the art of consignment. Looking for something specific? Mary Ellen has a storage room in the back and an excellent memory of whats inside. She frequently matches clothing with jewelry kept in storage, knowing just where every piece is. I want to socialize, otherwise I would sell online, she says, feeling as though consignment is a people business. She likes to talk with customers, helping them find the perfect accessory, picture frame or designer item. I enjoy the store more than anything. It was my hobby and now its my living, says Mary Ellen. 145 Broadway. 272-0000. Sign up for email notifications about sales and Halls on Broadways annual outdoor sale. 

Virginina Hopkins and Crystal Gantz are co-owners of hope returns, a one-room gallery store specializing in gently used childrens retail, such as clothing, toys and gear for both boys and girls, newborn to size ten. Virginia and I like to shop and we both love a good deal. We realized that shopping for childrens clothing and toys can become expensive and children use these items for such a short A stainless steel and acrylic stainless steel necklaces composed of two branching forms each with a central void.time, says Crystal. So we thought, why not let someone else enjoy it all over again? Hope returns also carries locally made, handcrafted items such as wooden toys, hand-knitted sweaters, doll clothing and artwork. They believe that thoughtful resale stores such as theirs not only give back to the environment by selling second-hand items, they can also give back to their community and local economy.

Click on their website http://agesteeljewelry.com/!