Bridal boutique demonstrates ‘fashionability with a conscience’

by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief

An extraordinary shopping experience waits for you in North OKC on Western just south of Britton Road. This amazing place is the consignment store “Nearly New.” In addition to their amazing general shopping, they have a large variety of wedding dresses and tuxedos. In fact, they have more brands of wedding dresses than if you went to any particular specialty bridal store. They have them from all over the country.

“We have the only consignment bridal boutique in the state of Oklahoma,” said John Santore, Nearly New’s owner. “We also have a lot of never-used wedding dresses. Some are from boutiques that have gone out of business; not just ladies who have worn the dress for a couple of hours. These are brand new, never-before worn dresses. And, here they are at percentage of the original cost, and why not?”

However, buying a recycled dress is considered very trendy thing to do. As more sophisticated consumers seek to reconcile their material appetite with their growing social responsibility to “renew, reuse and recycle,” consignment shopping quickly emerges as a desirable means to either end.

“Consignment is ‘fashionability with a conscience,’” Santore observes. “It’s one of the most important hallmarks of a movement in our social consciousness and we’ve added that to our wedding department.

“What we’re talking about is a movement. It’s much bigger than this store, or a group of stores; it’s social, it’s environmental and it’s a unique experience every time.”

Nearly New sells tuxedos of all sizes and brands as well.

“Why go rent a tuxedo? If you go to events more than once a year, you can own a nice tux. One made from 100 percent wool rather than polyester,” said the consignment specialist. “And you won’t have to look like the accordion player from Lawrence Welk,” he chuckles.

“This is about getting nicer things for yourself at a price you can afford.”

Here, Santore points out an important distinction: consignment isn’t the same as thrift, nor is it the same as vintage. Santore’s longstanding “passion for fashion” was established years before he bought Nearly New in 2004. He received a degree in marketing and communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology in his native New York.

Discussing fashion, clothing trends and style, the fashion advisor pauses here to stress the difference between fashion and style. “Fashion is perishable. Style says, ‘get what looks good on you,’ and do us all a favor,” he banters. The enduring nature of good style, Santore believes, is what allows the consignment shopper to find such value in both the item and in the lasting way that item makes them look and feel good.

Santore is as selective as he is knowledgeable, which certainly contributes to the store’s unrivaled, 17-year run as The Oklahoman’s Readers’ Choice winner for Best Consignment Shop.

“The plus-sized bridal customer represents a dynamic market niche that traditional retailers often overlook,” Santore says. “Offering several plus-sized options for brides-to-be and other key wedding attendants is an important component to the success of Nearly New’s bridal section.” Nearly New also has an in-house seamstress.

Customers wanting to sell their dress through Nearly New may do so by setting an appointment with Santore. An appointment is not required when looking for a dress. “But leave yourself enough time when you come in,” adds Santore. “We want to make sure you get the perfect one.”

Nearly New is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm at 9218 N. Western Avenue in Oklahoma City (just south of Britton Road). To schedule a consignment consultation, call (405) 848-4141.

August 11, 2013