Even though the economy is supposed to be improving, here's one economic stat that says it isn't: High-end resale boutiques are popping up all over the place.

Here's how they work: People bring in their shoes, purses, and clothes and can either sell them outright to the store, or put them on consignment, where they get about 40 percent of the purchase price when their items sell.

Yes, that's right: rich people are selling their Versace and Jimmy Choos. And buying different ones ... used. Who would have thought? I mean, God forbid they stalk Target and H&M the day their designer collections come out like the rest of us, and yet, they still need to look fancy. Can you imagine the humiliation if someone showed up to, say, a Junior League gala in something another member had consigned the week before? Quelle horreur!

There's an upside to this for us mere mortals:

They are a great source of cheap, still-fashionable designer clothes for the rest of us. See, these stores are far above the usual resale shop: the clothes are current, in good repair, and lack that disgusting, musty smell that you get in, say, a Salvation Army store. Many are organized like cute boutiques instead of the crowded racks at thrift shops.

Of course, the real fashion snobs are still going to look down their noses at you if you shop at these places because the clothes are past-season, and there are no plus sizes carried to speak of. On the other hand, what a way to make the recession work for you: When the wealthy are (relatively) suffering, you can scam some of their best stuff without needing to have a rich friend who is your size. We're talking designer stuff for about half off the original price; some places are even cheaper than that.

Would you try an upscale resale store?

 

Image via therangonagin/Flickr