Laurie DeWitt/The Gazette Depression glass lines a window sill at Gallery St. Elmo in Bethesda.

When my editor suggested a story about consignment shopping, I wasn't thrilled. I could only imagine spending too many hours sifting through pilled polyester sweaters, Aunt Bea floral print dresses and smelly scuffed-up shoes piled high in some dusty corner. I was inwardly grousing even as I stepped into Chic to Chic, touted as an "upscale consignment shop," in Gaithersburg.

And then everything changed. My heart actually skipped a beat or two as I scanned rows of Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi, Burberry and Marc Jacobs handbags. Were these a mirage, or worse, those priced-to-sell fakes that seem to be overtaking every other vendor's kiosk?

Too embarrassed to ask, the answer soon became clear. This modest storefront, just a half a block from Shady Grove Road, was filled to its ceiling trim with dresses, suits, pants and tops with labels like Betsey Johnson, St. John, Moschino and Gucci. Even the jewelry was high-end ­ with a bunch of bracelets by Judith Ripka and one ladies Rolex to boot.

I have been a consignment furniture and doodad shopper for years ­ more about that later. As for used clothing, though, just the idea of wearing someone else's castoffs always grossed me out. So with the steady stream of customers drifting in and out, I figured they could help me learn the ins, outs and answers to shopping for clothes in a consignment store.

Laura Freitag seeks the unattainable.

"I don't want anything I could buy at Hecht's or Ann Taylor," she explains, as she quickly sizes up skirts. "I want designers like St. John or Calvin Klein."

Like many other patrons living out of the area, whenever she is in town she makes a beeline for the shop.

This serious search for high-end labels at low-end prices has made it possible for Chic to Chic owner Ellen Didion to produce a customer's wish-list binder, filled with very specific items. Some customers bring in a photo of a certain handbag or dress for Didion and her staff to keep an eye out for.

Exactly who is selling this high-end merchandise is top secret. Many of the clothing pieces are consigned because of weight gain or loss, Didion explains. She also receives clothing from overstocked boutiques. And then there are the really rich folks. They aren't about to bundle up their Linda Allard or Versace frocks into plastic bags to set curbside for Value Village. Instead, they send their housekeepers and personal shoppers here.

"We rarely see the seller," Didion notes.

But clothing consigners can't come in off the street any old time; an appointment must be made and the clothing "evaluated," insists store manager Bobbi Brennen. "Everything must be in good condition, dry cleaned and on a hanger. If it's over a year old, we usually aren't interested."

And the items better be nice, since "our consumers are label conscious," Brennen notes.

Sounding like CIA operative, Didion has a method for spreading the word to well-heeled consigners.

"We have plants in the high-end stores," she confides.

Seems when wealthy customers wonder out loud to sales associates what they should do with last month's Ellen Tracy or Dana Buchman, they are informed about the Gaithersburg consignment shop.

"It's a win-win situation for both retail establishments," Didion points out.

On this day, even a brutal summer storm can't stop a steady stream of visitors.

"Speed shoppers zoom, zoom, zoom through the store between noon and 2 p.m.," Didion says.

But others like Sue Adler of Gaithersburg take a more leisurely pace, examining a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals and a Nicole Miller dress. Modeling a faux snakeskin jacket, she laments that it doesn't fit. This is the downside of this sort of shopping -- unlike Nordstrom with its many sizes and colors. Successful consignment shopping requires patience and luck.

Adler believes it is worth the extra work because "you end up with something unique."

Undaunted by the jacket, this weekly shopper still walks out the door with a Michael Kors bag and puts a $64.95 Kate Spade straw bag on layaway.

Move over, Crate and Barrel

After spending a few days taking in clothing, I had to revisit my other vice: furniture and bric-a-brac consignment shopping. I'm an old hand at quickly searching for one-of-a-kind objects.

And I am not alone. Rudy Mattern is a man on some kind of mission as he scours Gallery St. Elmo in Bethesda. Amid the sounds of classical music, this tattooed Rockville resident may seem out of his element, but, in fact, a whole host of varied shoppers come through the front door.

Mattern isn't interested in a lovely Limoges statue or even the pine entertainment center from Bloomingdale's. Rather this serious French and Indian War reenactor is searching for "authentic" pewter cups and plates he can use on his weekend treks.

Art Cohen is equally as discerning as he eyes a painting, carefully taking it off the wall and examining both front and back. This Potomac art dealer's goal is to find paintings he can buy here and resell at a pretty profit. Picky and more importantly patient, Cohen is more than willing to wait it out until that perfect painting comes along.

While Cohen may not have hit pay dirt today, interior decorator Kelli Magnarelli of Kensington has found her own miniature mother lode. Upon stacking two small oils on the counter for purchase, she continues scanning the rooms for other collectibles while talking on her cell to a client about a "perfect mirror" she found. She gives her client directions to the store, then takes a moment to discuss her finds.

"I will be able to sell these easily," she says about the two oil paintings. "Because of their size, they go almost anywhere."

Over the years, this professional shopper has learned that "one-of-a-kinds" and "great values" are synonymous with consignment shopping. The best deals are china, silver and paintings, she says, but cautions when buying upholstered goods the cost of reupholstering should be considered before splurging on that so-called deal-of-the-century.

Of course, none of this horse-trading could be possible without loads of loot. So when an attractive middle-aged woman comes in with a canvas bag filled with some of her castoffs, Gallery St. Elmo's manager Bev Selwood steps into action.

Although "the seller sets the price," Selwood needs to make sure it is realistic. She discreetly asks what Mariella Lehfeldt paid for the antique blue and white plate/warmer.

"I bought it for $150 10 years ago," the Bethesda consigner recalls.

After a brief pause Selwood says, "I think we can do that."

Moving on to a large art deco mirror, Lehfeldt observes that "it looks like the one in the Jack Nicholson-Diane Keaton movie." With this information, everyone who acted if they weren't listening scurries over for a look.

Within minutes, a price is established, the paper work completed and the new merchandise is on the retail floor. As for Lehfeldt, she is on her way -- not out the door -- but off on her own consignment shopping spree.

For most consignment shop junkies, Didion points out, "It's a treasure hunt, waiting for you."

Chic to Chic is located at 15900 Luanne Drive, Gaithersburg. Call 301-926-7700. Gallery St. Elmo is located at 4938 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda. Call 301-654-0576.