It may start with the premise that vintage clothes are just fun.
Maybe it’s the idea of taking away sticker shock on designer and fashionable items.
Either way, if you chase fashionable labels on you dresses, jeans, shoes and handbags, but hate the high price tags, Rachel’s Quality Consignment could be the place for you.
For 25 years, Rachel Bernhardt has owned and operated her consignment store in Litchfield, in a spacious retail space on Route 202. In that time, she has learned about styles, seasons, pricing, and styles customers love.
She started out as a salesperson at the store, then known as Quality Consignment, in a previous location, and purchased the business in 2001. She moved the store to its present space in 2018 at 465 Bantam Road.
For 25 years, Rachel Bernhardt has owned and operated her consignment store in Litchfield, in a spacious retail space on Route 202. (Emily M. Olson)
“I was in high school when I started working here,” said Bernhardt, who is now the mother of grown children, two daughters and a son, as well as number of cats.
One of Bernhardt’s pets, Uriah, is the shop cat, and spends her days greeting and playing with customers and basking in the sunshine in her kitty hammock, which overlooks the parking lot from a plate glass window.
“She’s very friendly, and most people love the idea of a cat in the store,” Barnhardt said, stroking the cat affectionately. “She’s a real love.”
Her experience as a retail consignment maven has grown over the years, she said. She keeps a close eye on retail prices, and judges the quality of the purse, shoes or clothing and prices them accordingly, with the idea of beating the retail price every time.
Rachel’s Quality Consignment’s rules are simple, she said. Bernhardt will sell used designer clothing and other items that are clean, have a name brand, and are seasonal. It’s February, and the store is packed with winter clothing and accessories.
Some of the designers include Louis Vuitton and Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Lily Pulitzer and Ugg to Carhart, Anthropologie, Lulu Lemon, Pac Sun, Garage and Free People. Rachel’s has inventory for men, women and children.
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There are attractive dresses for parties or work, skirts, formal gowns, with and without beads, and shoes and boots of every size and description. There are suits, suit jackets, coats and scarves; dress pants and jeans, shirts, blouses and athletic wear.
Some coats and boots were discounted from the original Rachel’s price, meaning a jacket priced at $60 could go for $20 or less.
A pair of leather Frye boots, originally priced at $115, was a bargain at under $70. Children’s winter wear, from sweaters, hoodies, jeans and dresses, are also marked to sell.
The store also offers jewelry: earrings, rings, beaded necklaces, silver pendants and bracelets, which fill a glass-topped display case and small tables and cabinets near the checkout counter. Prices start at $5; there are plenty of bargains for any taste.
On a recent Friday, Bernhardt dressed up, with a cashmere sweater, a pair of baggy, Free People pants, and a pair of Ugg boots.
“They’re men’s but they fit, so I don’t care,” she said.
She topped her outfit with a vintage burgundy high school letter sweater.
“I love this thing,” she said. “I didn’t have one in high school, but I do now. I love vintage clothes. They’re so fun.”
For 25 years, Rachel Bernhardt has owned and operated her consignment store in Litchfield, in a spacious retail space on Route 202. (Emily M. Olson)
After making an appointment, a customer brings their items to consign; Bernhardt checks each piece to be sure it’s up to her standards. Customers bring their unused clothes and shoes to sell for different reasons. Mostly, it’s because they have too much.
After 60 days, the items are discounted; after that, customers can take them back or leave them at Rachel’s, where they would be donated when the season begins to wind down.
“I bag things up and give them to families for free,” Bernhardt said. “There’s plenty of chances to help people out that way.”
She finds working with her customers and running the store a pleasure, even after 25 years.
“I enjoy the interaction with people,” she said. “I don’t do online sales – I want that face-to-face connection with customers. This store is a treasure hunt. People find their labels and they save so much money. It’s a win-win.”
For 25 years, Rachel Bernhardt has owned and operated her consignment store in Litchfield, in a spacious retail space on Route 202. (Emily M. Olson)
Rose, a consigner with the store since last fall, said she needed to downsize her collections.
“I’ve purchased lots of pieces over the years … when I retired, I gave a lot of it away, but what’s left now, I’m selling,” she said. “I’m crazy for (Coach) purses and I still collect them, but I have a lot, so Rachel is helping me sell them.
“I love the store,” she said. “Rachel is very good at keeping it organized. It’s always clean and neat. I tried a few other places, but this store works for me.”
To reach Rachel’s Quality Consignment, visit www.rachelsconsignment.com/, call 860-567-5656 or email rachelsconsignment@gmail.com. The store is located at 465 Bantam Road/Route 202 in Litchfield.
