Step through the door at 67 Beechwood Avenue and Clothes Encounters of a Second Time greets shoppers with racks of designer labels that would cost far more new. This Ottawa boutique, tucked into the New Edinburgh and Vanier stretch of Beechwood with parking available behind the building, has built its business on a simple exchange: women bring in gently worn designer clothing that is less than two years old and in excellent condition, and the shop either buys it outright or accepts it on consignment, paying sellers forty percent of whatever price it ultimately fetches on the floor.
The result is a curated selection that skews toward higher-end labels rather than the mixed bag typical of a general thrift store, giving budget-conscious fashion lovers a way to wear well-made pieces without paying retail. Owner Monique Dugas has shaped the shop around a specific philosophy: that trying something unexpected should feel low-risk rather than intimidating, and that a good consignment shop should send people out the door feeling better than when they walked in. That attitude carries through in how the store operates day to day, welcoming browsers who just want to look as warmly as it welcomes serious sellers dropping off a bag of last season’s finds.
The shop keeps a defined weekly schedule, open Tuesday through Friday from one in the afternoon until six, Saturdays from eleven until six, and Sundays from noon until five, with the store closed Mondays to process incoming consignment items and restock the floor. For customers who prefer to shop or arrange a purchase without coming in person, the business accepts e-transfer and phone payments, a convenience that has become increasingly common among Ottawa’s independent consignment shops since the pandemic reshaped how people prefer to transact. Clothes Encounters also maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where it posts new arrivals and highlights standout pieces as they land on the racks, giving repeat customers a reason to check in between visits rather than relying purely on walk-in browsing.
What sets the shop apart within Ottawa’s resale scene is its explicit framing around sustainability paired with accessibility: rather than treating secondhand designer fashion as a niche luxury pursuit, the store positions affordable, sustainable dressing as something anyone can participate in, regardless of budget. That combination, quality designer inventory turned over quickly through a fair consignment split, a welcoming in-store culture built by its owner, and a genuine sustainability angle, has kept the Beechwood Avenue address a fixture for Ottawa shoppers looking to refresh a wardrobe without the environmental or financial cost of buying everything new. Clothes Encounters of a Second Time is Ottawa’s designer consignment boutique on Beechwood Avenue, where recently worn high-end fashion gets a second life at a fraction of its original price.
