( CNN ) -- After Denise Honeycutt sashayed down the catwalk modeling a sleek sleeveless black dress with a blue lace jacket , she felt so good she bought the outfit . A model walks the runway at the Arlington United Methodist Church fashion show in an outfit from Goodwill . `` I got those two pieces and a skirt for $ 20 , '' she said . `` How 's that for a deal ? '' Such bargains may not be haute couture , but during a recession they are a thrifty shopper 's dream . As budgets tighten during the economic crunch , buying used clothing is no longer just for fans of vintage wear . Many are discovering the hidden treasures in consignment shops , as well as thrift stores and other places once thought to be only for the destitute . That 's a message that Brendan Hurley , senior vice president of Marketing and Communications for Goodwill of Greater Washington , has been working hard to get out . Goodwill of Greater Washington provided the fashions Honeycutt modeled for the show at the Arlington United Methodist Church in Arlington , Virginia , and has been actively campaigning to spread the word that Goodwill fashion is contemporary and hot . `` Most people have a misunderstanding of Goodwill 's mission and they believe that our mission is to sell inexpensive merchandise to the poor , '' Hurley said . `` In fact , Goodwill 's mission is to provide job training and employment services to people with disadvantages and disabilities . We just happen to fund that mission through the resale of donated items at our retail stores . '' To change the negative perception , Hurley said that four years ago they started a campaign to make the stores more appealing as a source of inexpensive fashions by holding virtual and live fashion shows . See one of Goodwill 's fashion shows » . Hurley said things really took off after they launched a viral marketing campaign and the very successful DCGoodWillFashions blog . Em Hall is the retail marketing manager who blogs as the DC Goodwill Fashionista in a gig that has become so high-profile that she was invited to blog this year from Fashion Week in New York . About once a month on average , Hall and her team put together `` travel and trunk shows '' where they pull merchandise from their nine stores , put them on rolling racks and take them to events for attendees to shop . People respond to the great prices and selection as well as the opportunity to recycle by buying someone 's gently used clothing , Hall said . iReport.com : Tell us about your thrift fashions . `` The response has been tremendous , '' Hall said . `` We know that finding that treasure at Goodwill , finding that vintage piece , really resonates with people . '' Across the country , Goodwill stores have launched several creative ideas to attract divas ( or divos ) who may have more style than funds . Goodwill Industries of Michiana Inc. of South Bend , Indiana , has `` Boutique Days , '' where they work with local fashion reporter and consultant Kathy Friend to raise awareness that Goodwill can be an excellent resource for brand name and designer clothing . Those who donate at least 20 clothing items receive an opportunity for a private consultation with Friend at a reduced rate . `` On a trip to Goodwill I 've found Chanel handbags still in the tissue paper and in Saks Fifth Avenue bags , '' said Friend , who as part of her consultation teaches clients everything from how to spot signs of wear to how they can get pieces altered . `` I was like , are you kidding me ? '' See examples of fashionable outfits from Goodwill » . The Goodwill/Easter Seals program in Minnesota held a `` Second Runway '' fashion show in February where 30 volunteer fashion designers took existing clothes from surrounding Goodwill stores and turned them into hip new outfits . The event attracted more than 500 attendees . `` We were given $ 50 and we could create up to three looks out of things we found at the Goodwill , '' said designer Kristina Bell , who whipped up a cute little dress out of recycled T-shirts . `` I 've always been a thrifter , but now it 's a really good way to save money . '' Someone else 's hard times can be a fashionista 's gain . Denise McShane owns McShane 's Exchange , whose two locations in the Chicago , Illinois , neighborhood of Lincoln Park have seen an uptick in those unloading their Prada and St. John . `` Business has really boomed , '' McShane said . `` The bad news is that we are in a recession , but I absolutely have had a surge in consigners . '' McShane said she offers those who still have a cash stash a bit of retail therapy during hard times . They can get great buys at a reduced rate . Such shops , known in the industry as resale stores , have long attracted quality merchandise , said Barbara Nell , owner of The Daisy Shop on Oak in Chicago . Nell said women are bringing in only the best for resale . `` Women seem to be cleaning their closets of their most luxurious items , '' said Nell . `` It 's not just the bread and butter or staples of their wardrobe anymore . '' iReporter Elizabeth McElherne scored a $ 25 mink coat in August at a shop in Fredericksburg , Virginia . Check out Elizabeth 's iReport on her find . `` If you ca n't buy something new , you might as well recycle and buy someone else 's stuff , '' McElherne said . `` I saw that coat and I said 'If it 's less than $ 100 I have to get it . ' `` Nicole Mladic is the `` babe '' behind the `` Budgeting Babe '' blog for `` young , working women who want to spend like Carrie in a Jimmy Choo store but have a budget closer to Roseanne . '' Mladic said she encourages her readers to not only shop thrift , but also to be generous in their giving . `` I make sure to thin out my wardrobe every so often , '' she said . `` Any pieces that I am not wearing , I donate . '' That type of generosity is much appreciated , especially in the current economy . Melissa Temme , a national spokeswoman for the Salvation Army , said that while the need for low-cost clothing is increasing , donations for such clothing have remained consistent and that could spell trouble . `` It means that down the road we may not be able to stock our shelves , '' Temme said . `` In the long term , that 's a concern . '' Katherine Ransom , communications manager for Goodwill of Orange County , California , said that as more people turn to thrift fashions to help stretch their dollars , they are discovering the clothing is a lot more current than they might have imagined . Ransom said even Hollywood types are getting in on the act , as wardrobe consultants for television shows and movies are also perusing the racks for good buys . A recently launched coupon campaign is bringing in even more shoppers , she said . `` People are saying ' I 've never done this before , but now is a good time to start , ' `` said Ransom , whose organization launched shopgoodwill.com 10 years ago . It now includes merchandise from 77 Goodwill organizations around the country . `` They are taking advantage of the quality merchandise with really deep discounts . ''
Buying used clothing gains popularity during a recession . Comment: Goodwill and Salvation Army increasing visibility as fashion hot spots . Shop owner : `` Women cleaning their closets of their most luxurious items ''