Nov. 12--Frugal shoppers are trading malls for resale shops to find the latest fashion fads.

More consumers are turning to consignment shops, where they pay roughly one-third of department store prices.

A survey by the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops found that 66.2 percent of stores saw sales climb from January through August compared with the same period in 2007. Sales increased an average of 35 percent.

Local consignment store owners say they expect even busier times ahead as holiday shopping nears.

On a recent visit to Deja Vu Designer Consignment, first-time customers opened accounts and regulars browsed for purses, shirts, shoes and jeans.

Mary Bierach of Broken Arrow, shopping at the store for the first time, discovered prices were at least half of what she would pay at a department store.

"It's like treasure-hunting trying to find the best things," Bierach said. "I want to come back."

Deja Vu saw a 10 percent increase in October sales compared with the same month last year, owner Ronda Vuillemont-Smith said.

"Women are going to shop no matter what," she said. "We just have to be more creative in the way we shop now."

Deja Vu

caters to high-end fashion shoppers. A sweater by French designer Christian Lacroix, for example, retails for about $2,000 but will likely sell for roughly $225 on consignment, floor manager Beverly Henderson said.

Such deals are attracting new customers, Vuillemont-Smith said.

"We have prominent people -- in the government, ministry, television -- who shop in here," she said. "They know they can get quality stuff at good prices."

Consignment stores split profits with the original owner, who can take home extra cash. Most, however, use the payment as in-store credit, Vuillemont-Smith said.

"That's really guilt-free shopping," she said. "It doesn't cost you a thing."

Stores that cater to families are also seeing their sales surge.

Clothesline Clothing is opening roughly 20 accounts daily, compared to about three a year ago, owner Terri Turner said in a telephone interview.

"We've noticed a large amount of people who have never consigned clothes before," Turner said. "They realize this is a way to tighten the family budget."

Mothers are often seeking children's clothing, she said.

"Nine times out of 10, I can't even get a kid's coat out onto the floor before it sells," Turner said, adding that a new $50 children's coat typically costs $9 at her store.

More students and young couples are shopping by consignment, said Sandra Duck, owner of Second Chance Consignment in Sand Springs, in a telephone interview.