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Last year, Kathy Patterson was obsessed with buying a red purse.
Then, she attended the Accessories Boutique, the Sun City Oro Valley Charity Works’ annual event. There, she scored a real find.
“I paid $14 for it, and it was a red leather, beautiful Coach purse,” she said.
This year’s iteration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Sun City Activity Center. Raising money for Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, the Accessories Boutique features purses, blouses, tops, jackets, jewelry, scarves, hats, and, of course, shoes.
Many items still have store tags on them. Others are what club members call “gently loved,” though every bit of what they sell has been cleaned by members.
“The girls who collect the stuff, the purses, she has to clean out the purses,” club president Cathy Winje said.
“You’d be surprised what people (put in them).”
Men’s items, dresses, trousers or skirts are not available at the boutique, as there’s nowhere to try them on, Winje said.
Sizes run from small to extra large, and prices start at $2, for example, for a ring. A lightweight designer jacket is $15. All designer items are listed on the price tag, so shoppers do not have to hunt for the label.
This year, the list of merch is extensive: more than 600 tops, which includes tunics and blouses; 190-plus jackets; over 200 purses; about 90 sweaters; and 200 pairs of shoes.
“You name it, we have it,” past president Linda Wilkes said.
“We are not necessarily a department store, although this year I think we’re going to look like one,” said Patterson, also a past president.
Wilkes agreed.
“I can’t have guests stay in my guest room until November, because everything’s in my guest room,” Wilkes added.
The generosity of the Sun City community makes this sale possible. The organization collects most of its pieces in April, when the winter visitors clean out closets before returning home.
Frequently, however, Wilkes’ doorbell rings, and she has more goodies.
“The doorbell rings, the phone rings, and I bring more purses,” Wilkes said.
There’s also jewelry.
“Tables, literally tables filled with beautiful jewelry,” Wilkes said.
There’s the olio table, too. “It’s a mishmash of very, very different items,” Wilkes said.
“Things that don’t fall into a category,” Winje added.
For example, a suitcase or a new, in-the-box foot bath. One year, they had a puppet on the olio table.
“We thought, ‘Who’s going to buy the puppet?’ ” Wilkes asked. “Lo and behold, someone bought it.”
To make shoppers more pliable, lunch, snacks and mimosas will be available to purchase. All the food and beverages have been donated.
“It’s just a fun day for people to come out and shop,” Winje said.
Last year, the club raised more than $7,000.
“Everything, every penny that we raise, goes to Emerge,” Patterson said.
Accessories Boutique
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
WHERE: Sun City Activity Center,
1495 E. Rancho Vistoso Boulevard, Oro Valley
COST: Free admission
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