Nowadays, cheap chic's not so shabby

To prove this point, the Globe went on a shopping spree at the local Goodwill Outlet Store. We snagged three pairs of pants, four shirts, a blazer, a cardigan, three handbags, two pair of shoes, a belt, a pie safe, a set of six serving bowls, a tea cup and saucer, a wine glass, a small plate, a wooden bowl, and a vintage book from the late 1800s. The grand total? $28.45, with tax included.

Who says you have to break the bank to get stylish clothes, shoes, and housewares? There's an art to spotting designer deals, though, so here are a few of our secrets:

Know your venue: The Goodwill Outlet Store is tucked into a corner of a warehouse at the Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries complex in Roxbury. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., it's the place where all the items for sale in the eight area Goodwill Stores get sent, if, after four weeks, they're still on the shelf. Adult clothes go for $1.50 a piece, children's for $1. Handbags are also $1, and shoes go for $2 a pair.

Store manager Wayne Viens says Mondays are generally the best day to hit the store for clothing. And the earlier shoppers stand the best chance of snapping up deals, which appear randomly throughout the week.

Be patient: We spent two hours digging through lots of bins loaded with clothes and shoes. We went through three bins before spotting a pair of ostrich skin Franco Sarto high heels. Those shoes typically retail for close to $90. It took a bit longer to match up a pair of chocolate brown, high-heeled Bandolino boots, which had been thrown into separate bins.

Overlook small imperfections: Though a lot of the items are in decent condition, occasionally a deal needs some work. The Bandolino boots, for instance, are a little worn in the heel. It's nothing a cobbler can't fix, and the repair still won't cost as much as the shoes would if we'd bought them brand new. And then there's the wood and mesh pie safe with three shelves that we snagged for $3. We think it could make a funky curio cabinet once we take a screwdriver to its shaky knobs.

Know what you like and shop often: Knowing which brands fit the best can often save a shopper from making poor purchases (the Goodwill outlet doesn't have dressing rooms). But keep in mind that you won't find a deal every time. That's why you have to act quickly if you do: We weren't necessarily in the market for a cocktail dress, but when we spotted the Isaac Mizrahi dress for $1.50, we grabbed it.

Budget: It's easy to get carried away when things are so inexpensive. We set the limit at $30. To help with the final bill, we discarded several finds before we reached the cash register. We left behind a hooded orange sweater by New York & Co., an Arden B. top, and several dinner plates.

Erin Ailworth can be reached at ealworth@globe.com.