I heard a story on NPR a while back about the Goodwill folks who have sharp eyes for vintage and high-end clothes that are donated. Here is a story from a Minnesota CBS affiliate:

Goodwill Sells Second-Hand, High-End Clothes
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (WCCO) ¯ For most of us, the worse the economy gets the less shopping we do. But there's a store in St. Louis Park that's counting on people to buy designer clothes and handbags at some unexpected prices.

Janet Arnold said she was tired of everything being more expensive. So she's looking for a deal anywhere she can get it.

"I didn't know it existed. I knew there was the Goodwill in Hopkins," Arnold said.

Then she found out about a different type of Goodwill store.

When you walk inside you'll see chandeliers, designer clothes and name brand purses. There's certainly nothing to suggest this boutique is a non-profit.

It's a Goodwill concept store. High-end artwork, designer men's and women's clothing and even like-new wedding dresses are collected from a few local Goodwill stores and brought to Second Debut.

Kathy Cahlander, the manager of Second Debut, said people come here to find the right clothes for special occasions or job interviews. And the prices range from $20 up into the hundreds.

Cahlander pointed at a suit that retails between $2500 to $3000 and at Second Debut it's prices is $238.

"It isn't a consignment, it's a good cause store. It goes for good things," an employee tells a shopper.

So if you buy new clothes, say for a job interview, you're funding Goodwill and Easter Seals as they help people with disabilities and other barriers to get jobs as well.

And it's why shoppers like Arnold, even with the tough economy, are saying "I kind of felt bad that they didn't charge me more."

If you want to get your hands on some second-hand designer digs you can also shop Goodwill online by clicking here.

www.shopgoodwill.com

SRS