Nov. 9, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Good bargain hunting used to mean cheap prices at yard sales on hand-me-down shoes and tennis rackets.

Now thrifty area shoppers can find jaw-dropping prices on wedding gowns, prom dresses and marble end tables with brand name tags still attached.

Just ask Alison Watson of Calvert City.

Watson outfitted herself, three bride's maids and a flower girl for her wedding last Valentine's Day for a grand total of $500.

That included the bouquet, veil and petticoat, all with David's Bridal tags hanging from them.

"Well, I knew my wedding was going to be paid for by me and my fiance," Watson said.

"I wanted to cut costs where I could and I knew nobody would know the difference."

Watson scouted her find at Trendy Repeats at 305 Jefferson. She said the consignment shop was a block from her job as an administrative assistant at US Bank in downtown Paducah and made for good bargain-hunting during lunch.

"They have name brand stuff but at half the price," Watson said.

Large consignment shops such as Trendy Repeats and Between Friends in Lone Oak are putting a new, high-end angle to area bargain shopping.

Flea markets, thrift stores, old-fashioned yard sales and Salvation Army stores abound and still attract their loyal shoppers.

But 6,000 square-foot consignment shops organized like retail stores are a step in a more upper crust direction.

Trendy Repeats, owned by Lisa and Bill Dunn, is seven years old and has moved to three locations, each time for more space.

"We try to display things like a traditional retail store would," Lisa Dunn said. "It makes people feel more comfortable."

Beyond the comfort it's the goods that attract people. As she puts it, "We're a little more picky than thrift stores."

Most of Trendy Repeats inventory comes from name brand stores that wanted to get rid of excess product at the end of a business quarter. It's home decor items and jewelry are gently used.

"Not to put down thrift stores and donation stores at all," Dunn said. "We're just different that way."

Brenda Robison, owner of Between Friends at 2923 Lone Oak Road, echoed Dunn.

"We have a genuine suede jacket that retailed for $400," Robison said. "A woman wore it twice and couldn't take it back. We've got it now for $250."

Between Friends is another large retail-fashioned store with 4,800 square feet, hardwood floors and price tags on everything.

The stores fit in nicely with bargain hunters on weekends.

"From 1-4 p.m. every Saturday," Robison said. "That's the rush every Saturday. I guess they go to garage sales first and then come by us."

They attract the casual shoppers like Nancy Cotton and Morgan Garner of Princeton.

"We come here every Saturday," Cotton said while shopping at Trendy Repeats Thursday.

"When you have eight grandkids and they all want name brand things for school it helps. People can't tell where you got it anyway."

And the consignment shops are for the classic bargain hunters as well.

Pam Dodd of Paducah enjoys a cult status as an area thrift store shopping fanatic.

The grandmother works nights at USEC and uses her time off during the day to visit every second-hand facility she can at least twice a day.

"I know what times they put the new stuff out each day," Dodd said.

"Just today I've been shopping twice and bought some pictures they were bringing out. I got them as they were coming out in the buggy," she said.

For Dodd, and so many others, the bargain shopping is for sport.

"About 85 percent of my house is stuff bought at those stores. Good stuff like my marble end tables."

It's also for love and surviving a tough economy.

"My grandson Dayvon Robinson lives with us," she said.

"Every dollar I save is more to have for his (Dayvon's) college education. I take him with me (shopping), too, so he can get into it and learn to do it."

"I see all types in (the stores). Rich, poor. It helps everybody," she said.

Dodd and bargain hunters like her know every bit helps, and the higher quality items she can get the better.

And that's something they all know first-hand.

Adam Shull can be contacted at 575-8653.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0153-29383126