4 But as recycling became fashionable during the 1980s,individuals opened secondhand shops geared to the middle and even upper classes of society.Shops like "Michael's"in downtown San Diego,Auntie Helen's in New York,and Brother Bennie's in Los Angeles specialize in vintage clothing and accessories for both men and women.They claim to stock secondhand goods of the "finest quality"at low prices."Choosing an evening gown at Michael's is almost like shopping at Harrods in London or Barney's in New York,except it's a lot more exciting,"says Gennie,a fashion model based in San Diego."You can choose from clothes that lots of famous people owned,and there's a seamstress right there to make adjustments.You even get the option of a full refund up to 1-1/2 hours after a purchase if you get it home and decide it's really not for you,"she explains. 5 The recycle craze is not just all happening in the United States,it seems to have taken much of the whole world by storm.Some people in Tokyo,Japan make their living by what they call "thrifting":Designers hire them to shop for treasures,which then form the basis of their next fashion collection.James Ashton says he's become a professional scout. "I go to clubs to see what the kids are wearing,then hunt down old fabric,a belt buckle or a cool sweater pattern at a flea market,"he explains.The designer then invents a new look using the goods the scout has gathered."Some are fashion wizards,others become famous just by copying thrift items,"says Ashton. 6 In London,England,hunting for vintage clothing and jewelry has become the in thing to do.Helen,of Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing,has a huge collection of garments from 1850 through the 1970s,some of which are for sale,others she rents out for use in feature films."A number of the costumes for Out of Africa,which set off a Safari fad,came from my collection,"she exclaims.As your eye passes over the goods in her shop you can guess that a vintage shoe collector would be delighted to see her shoe collection.On the rack are a pair of 1970s Charles Jourdan platform shoes with carved wooden chunky heels and braided,yellow patent leather straps.That same chunky look was revived in 1997,a hot item in fashion circles then.Now she says,"This pair is just waiting for the right foot. 7 The idea is to take fragments of the past to create an image for yourself.The look may or may not be selling in the designer boutique down the street,but you can still be satisfied knowing you've done your personal look by yourself-and on the cheap to boot. 5124 But as recycling became fashionab1e during the 1980s, individua1s opened secondhand shops geared to the midd1e and even upper classes of society. Shops like "Michae1' s" in downtown San Diego , Auntie He1en' s in New York , and Brother Bennie' s in Los Ange1es specialize in vintage clothing and accessories for both men and women. They claim to stock secondhand goods of the "finest quality" at 10w prices. "Choosing an evening gown at Michae1's is a1most like shopping at Harrods in London or Barney's in New York , except it's a 10t more exciting , " says Gennie , a fashion mode1 based in San Diego. "You can choose from clothes that 10ts of famous peop1e owned , and there' s a seamstress right there to make adjustments. You even get the option of a full refund up to 1-1/2 hours after a purchase if you get it home and decide it' s really not for you ," she exp1ains. 5 The recycle craze is not just all happening in the United States, it seems to have taken much of the who1e wor1d by storm. Some peop1e in Tokyo , Japan make their living by what they call "thrifting": Designers hire them to shop for treasures, which then form the basis of their next fashion collection. J ames Ashton says he' s become a professiona1 scout. "1 go to clubs to see what the kids are wearing , then hunt down old fabric , a be1t buck1e or a coo1 sweater pattern at a flea market ," he exp1ains. The designer then invents a new 100k using the goods the scout has gathered. "Some are fashion wizards, others become famous j ust by copying thrift items," says Ashton. 6 In London , Eng1and , hunting for vintage clothing and jewe1ry has become the in thing to do. Helen , of He1en Uffner Vintage Clothing , has a huge collection of garments from 1850 through the 1970s, some of which are for sa1e , others she nmts out for use in feature films. "A number of the costumes for Out of Africa , which set off a Safari fad , came from my collection ," she exclaims. As your eye passes over the goods in her shop you can guess that a vintage shoe collector wou1d be delighted to see her shoe collection. On the rack are a pair of 1970s Char1es Jourdan platform shoes with carved wooden. chunky hee1s and braided , yellow patent leather straps. That same chunky 100k was revived in 1997 , a hot item in fashion circles then. Now she says, "This pair is just waiting for the right foot. " 7 The idea is to take fragments of the past to create an image for yourself. The 100k may or may not be selling in the designer boutique down the street , but you can still be satisfied knowing you' ve done your persona1 100k by yourself-and on the cheap to boot. 512