You don’t have to be a specialist to stretch your clothing budget.

All it takes is being more creative and resourceful whether in shopping or recycling existing clothing items. Pinching pennies in the clothing department doesn’t have to be an excuse for not dressing well or appropriately.

Managers in every place from retail stores to thrift stores say a key in saving money on clothing expenditures lies in looking for ways not to pay full price for any item if you don’t have to.

“First and foremost, consumers are looking for a value. They want to find the best value for the price,” said Robert Rollings, manager at Goody’s in the North Road Plaza.

“More or less, we are seeing trends where consumers really are very cost-conscious. We have certain events where they can save additional off their purchases. They love that, so that’s one thing that we’re trying to go after. I can’t tell you exactly what they’re looking for, but they’re looking for that value,” Rollings said.

He said Goody’s location within a shopping center, where consumers can also purchase shoes and other clothing items, makes it easier for consumers to save on gas because they can shop for a variety of their clothing and accessory needs in a one-stop shop deal.

“They can get all they want right here. I’m thankful for that,” Rollings said.

Saving on clothes, gas James Tucker, manager at JCPenney in the Prince of Orange Mall, said consumers are indeed looking for sales on clothing as well as ways to save on their gas budget at the same time.

“They always look for deals, but a little bit more so right now. I think they’re consolidating their trips to the shopping centers a little bit, too,” Tucker said. “They’re not making as many trips with gas prices. When they do, they try to go to a place where they’ll get all their shopping done at one time.”

“I check for the sales. I try to wait until the sales come on,” said Woodford resident Ethel Clifton, who was scanning the aisles at Belk in the Prince of Orange Mall. “If you jump out there on something that first comes out, oh my God, that price is on up there.”

Tucker said JCPenney offers a special sale on clothing items nearly every weekend.

“I think that the weekend sales have been very good. I think the customers are looking for dollar-off coupons. They’re looking for anything that they can save a little bit extra right now,” he said.

Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of “Wardrobe Magic,” which shows readers how to transform their junky closets into workable, wearable wardrobes. Pemberton-Sikes said consumers can really make the most of sales if they have a wardrobe plan and know when their favorite store is likely to put merchandise on sale.

“You’re pinching pennies on everything really,” said Cordova resident Gertrude Thompson, who was shopping at Belk.

Thompson said she avoids the fashion crazes and only buys what she needs. “If I don’t wear it, I don’t need to buy it. You have to hold on to the penny now instead of the dollar,” she said.

Thrifts and consignment Thrift stores, such as the Salvation Army thrift store on Broughton Street, also offer a viable, low-cost option for consumers in search of quality clothing for children and adults.

“Here, our prices are not too high anyway, so it’s always a good deal. Most of our shoppers are looking for clothes,” said Pamela Hubbard, thrift store manager.

“Prices are cheaper than in a department store, and we have a variety, too. We have plus sizes, two-piece men’s suits ... . We have nice clothes that come in. We don’t put out clothes with holes, tears, rips or with the buttons popped off. We go through and look for spots and all that,” said Hubbard, dispelling the myth that thrift stores offer lower quality items than shopping venues.

Shopping consignment stores is yet another option for cost-conscious consumers in search of the best bargain for their clothing dollar.

“All consignment means is you can bring your clothes in, we’ll sell them for you and you make some money,” said Kim Brewington, owner of De’ Ja’ Vu, a ladies’ fine consignment and accessory store located in the Orangeburg Mall. The store also sells some men’s items.

“You can either trade out or get a check for your items. So, it’s actually helping people. Even if they don’t want to shop with me, they can still make a dollar or two by selling their clothes ... instead of donating them, throwing them in the trash or giving them to somebody. They can at least get something back to help with the bills and that kind of thing also,” Brewington said. “It’s made people want to clean out their closet and want to consign and know about how it works.”

She said her customers also are more cost-conscious, with business at her shop increasing within the past three months.

“I can see people are looking more for a deal -- to have nice work clothes, but still be able to stretch their dollar a little more. Instead of going to pay $80 for a suit, they can come here and pay $40 or $20. I thoroughly check through everything that comes in for holes, spots and that kind of thing, and I’m not going to price anything over what I would want to pay for it,” Brewington said.

“I’m have something for everybody from age 16 to 80. Around here, we don’t have Express, Ann Taylor, Talbot’s and your big names like that. We have Dooney & Burke and Coach. You can still have your designer brand for a cheaper price,” she said.

Sewing Consumers can also make their own clothes, but it will be at a cost, said Shannon Herndon, a 4-H County Extension Agent with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Program.

Herndon is also an instructor with a 4-H Sewing Camp held at the Learning Center on Clemson’s Edisto Research and Education Center campus near Blackville. She said sewing reaps more cost-efficient benefits when used to make alterations or in recycling existing clothing items such as an old pair of jeans that can no longer be patched.

“I don’t know many people that make their own clothes. Material and everything is so expensive. I think the seams aren’t sewn up very well sometimes with a lot of your less-expensive clothes. Sewing can be helpful in tightening up seams. On cheaper-made blouses, you can add a couple of buttons or snaps in between some of the buttons for more reinforcement with sewing,” said Herndon, noting that her sewing class students learned how to recycle old blue jeans this year.

“We cut them off and made pocketbooks. Part of that is recycling,” she said, giving consumers yet another helpful added benefit, “especially with kids’ clothes because they outgrow them so fast.”

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534.

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