Welcome to the Best of New Orleans! Shoptalk 02 15 05

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SHOPTALK By Kandace Power Graves

02 15 05

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Multiple strands of jasper are accented with a large tigereye set in brass in a center-clasp necklace with matching earrings, all handmade and signed by designer Celia Sebiri, available at New To You Designer Consignment.

It's always a treat to find a store where you can buy a designer outfit and still have enough money left to purchase accessories to go with it. New to You Designer Consignment (2311 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 838-0029) makes this possible by offering a choice of new but reasonably priced merchandise, closeout items from boutiques and almost-new designer clothing, jewelry, handbags and more from consignors as far away as Florida.

"I carry designer labels at good prices," says owner Ann Marie Foret, who opened New To You almost six years ago as a straight consignment store. Over the years, she began buying new things at market, picking up other new items from boutiques and assembling a larger selection of shoes and other accessories.

The merchandise Foret offers stays current with the season, she says, and every three months or so she donates to charity the items that haven't sold. Consignors work under a three-month agreement after which time they can pick up anything that hasn't sold or allow New To You to donate it.

Foret says she always keeps in stock a good selection of jeans, casual wear, dresses for all occasions, business attire, handbags, hats, vintage and new jewelry, belts, scarves and other accessories. She also tries to vary styles to accommodate young customers as well as their grandmothers.

"I have such a broad customer base," she says. "I have customers in here that are in their mid-20s and their 60s.

"I edit every season so the merchandise is constantly changing. I have over 1,300 consignors. I'm more particular now about what I take than ever before. That's good for the customer."

Rest Easy Readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines last month selected Windsor Court Hotel (300 Gravier St., 523-6000) as one of the best places to stay in North America. Windsor Court has been featured in Conde Nast Reader's Choice Awards since 1988, and in 1998 was selected as the No. 1 hotel in the world. Readers of Travel + Leisure voted Windsor Court among the 500 highest-rated hotels in the world in the magazine's World's Best Awards Survey.