In these $$-starved times, consignment shops are one option for quality clothes at discounted prices. As I've traveled around the state, I've found the best resale boutiques in snowbird communities. Tops in my book are Palm Beach and Naples.
In Palm Beach, consignment shops are clustered along Sunset Avenue, Sunrise Avenue and North County Road (though there's at least one, Deja Vu, on Royal Poinciana Way), not far from the famed Breakers Hotel. The clothes here tend to be designer duds (think Chanel), which means they often aren't cheap. But they are a good value relatively speaking, and a friend recently landed a great-looking red skirt suitable for her executive job for $50.
For cheaper options, hit Palm Beach's charity resale shops, including Church Mouse (374 S County Rd.) and the Goodwill Industries shop (210 Sunset Ave.) Hospice also has several shops around the county, though none is in Palm Beach proper.
If you're thinking of staying overnight, note that lodging rates tend to be a bargain until mid-December, when they skyrocket. The county's visitor information website notes specials.
In Naples, the consignment shops stretch from downtown to Bonita Springs, and you'll need a day or more to check them out. Letting your fingers do the schlepping through the print version of the Yellow Pages is the quickest way to determine which shops might suit you best.
Unlike Palm Beach, where nearly all consignment boutiques feature still-pricey women's designer fashions, the Naples scene includes some shops featuring furniture and mid-priced labels. (Over the years, I've hit paydirt at many of them; the Michael Kors wool coat and matching skirt I'm wearing today cost me $100 a few years back.)
As in Palm Beach, you're most likely to find lodging deals before mid-December, when the snowbirds take cover from northern climes. In both towns, you'll want to call before you get in the car; the hours can vary and oddly, these places often close early on Saturdays.
One bonus to Naples is outlet shopping. Just east of town, near the Tamiami Trail, are Prime Outlets. If you're looking for women's clothing, the selection of shops is greater at the Miromar Outlets, located north of Naples about half-way to Fort Myers, just off I-95.
And don't forget the regular retail malls. This year, it seems, just about everything is on sale. A deal is a deal, wherever you find it.
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PHOTOS: The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, top, courtesy of the hotel. Miromar Outlets, above, by Jane Wooldridge / The Miami Herald.
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