Washington, Jan 9 (ANI): After tucking the highly coveted inaugural ball tickets in their purses, finalising a hot date and a place to stay afterwards, women are now thronging local thrift-shops looking for hand-me-down dresses and accessories to complete their looks for the day.

Thrift-shop merchants are saying that this winter, shopping-savvy and cash-deprived are flocking to discount and consignment stores to get the best buy for dressing up at President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony.

Goodwill stores "are a great place to find very inexpensive yet beautiful vintage and contemporary high-end fashions for the inaugural festivities," The Washington Times quoted Brendan Hurley, vice president of marketing for the popular thrift-store chain, as saying in an e-mail.

He said that the Goodwill in Gaithersburg has reported "far more customers looking for formal wear this early in the season than usual."

Hurley also said that customers were least bothered with wearing other people's clothes.

This is because "many of the formal gowns that are donated to Goodwill have only been worn once, while some have never been worn at all," he said.

Em Hall, Goodwill's fashion blogger has found inaugural gowns from the 1960s designed and donned by Jane Quisenberry Wirtz, who was the wife of Willard Wirtz, 95, secretary of labor under President Kennedy.

And as far as men are concerned, Hall has suggested great deal of selections of tuxedos, suits and shirts."The classic black tux is a must-have. Satin lapel, side-seam satin stripe - this is most certainly the time to go all out,' she said.

Michelle Sterling, founder of the Global Image Group, a style consulting firm said that shopping for inaugural gowns and tuxedos at nontraditional places is a sign of the times.

"With the down economy, many people are cleaning out their closets and selling their old clothes. You never know if you'll find vintage Chanel, Dior or Gucci in a consignment store," she said. (ANI)