With the recent downward plunge of the economy, only a few have the kind of cash to throw around on clothes. With spring right around the corner, many will be looking for an inexpensive way to add some new clothing pieces and accessories to their wardrobes.

Consignment shopping is a great option, and with two top-of-the-line second-hand retailers located in Ames, there are no excuses.

Consignment shopping possesses many advantages for its consumers. One obvious advantage is it less expensive than buying new clothing. Many times you can get higher quality brands for the same price, or for less than what you would pay for inexpensive brands.

Amy Abrams of The Loft, a consignment store located on Main Street above Duckworth Wearing, said another advantage of shopping at consignment retailers is the vast amount of selection you will find.

“You can find every brand under the sun in one store,” Abrams said. “Shopping here is like Christmas, you never know what you’re going to get.”

Katherine Kerns of Miss Meyer’s Consignment, located one block off Main Street on the corner of Fifth Street and Clark Street, said one great advantage of shopping second hand was the environmental benefits.

“Shopping at consignment stores is a great way to recycle resources,” Kerns said.

There are a few tips for shopping at consignment stores. First, make sure to try items on. Many articles of clothing will be preshrunk and may fit slightly differently than new clothing. The Loft and Miss Meyers both have a no-return policy, so it is important to make sure things fit before you purchase them.

Also be sure to carefully check the item over to make sure there are no missing buttons, stains or holes. Look at items inside and out, checking everything from linings to seams. Try to give the item a once-over near a window. Natural light could expose imperfections that muted light won’t.

“We do much of the legwork by making sure many of the obvious issues aren’t present in the clothing we accept, but we are human so it is important to double-check just to be sure,” Abrams said.

Consignment shops also have proven to be a source of income. Customers can bring in gently used clothing and get money back once the item sells.

The Loft gives customers 30 percent back on every piece sold for under $50 and 50 percent back for items that are sold for $50 and above. Miss Meyer’s offers customers a 40 percent return on all items once they are sold.

Keep in mind that these retailers will not take everything you bring in. Both vendors stressed the importance of only accepting clothing that is clean and gently used for the sake of the consumer.

Miss Meyer’s consignment guidelines say they accept “current, clean, and cute clothing,” and Kerns said they only accept items that are less than two years old to ensure only trendy clothing is coming into the store.

An appointment should be made at both locations prior to bringing items in.