On the Other Hand

Time for an update and I’m bumping them up a star.
The place is still packed, but it’s not OVERLY packed as I remember. Everything is neatly organized and I loved the extensive selection of vintage hats in the back. The staff is super friendly and nice and very welcoming. Here you will find dresses and clothes from every era– 40’s and 50’s to 90’s. You are sure to find something that will suit you here.
Be sure to check in the back for wedding and prom dresses.

Super cute shop. I always get good deals here. The owner is classy and friendly. I always enjoy talking to her when I visit.

I like this store, but I get a headache between the crammed space and smell (old perfume/​musk/​cigarettes). I also feel a tad claustrophobic when I shop here, but Kay (I think that is her name), knows what she is doing. She is so unique, sweet and is willing to bargain. Check your clothing items; I purchased a leather vest to rig for my little sister’s Renaissance costume and the zipper was broken. Had I spotted it, Kay would have allowed a much lower price. She also genuinely cares about her customers — it is so sweet.
In the front room is cocktail wear and bridal. The back is everyday clothing and fur. Their fur choices are exquisite. Their gown selection is ok. Fun costumes for Mardi Gras! Stop hitting the pricey, cheaply-​made Halloween «costume» stores — go to On the Other Hand. This is a gem. Oak Street is the less busy and touristy Magazine Street and is continuously growing.
Prices very but they are constantly having 75−90% sales. Just ask.

When I first walked in, I immediately wanted to walk back out. But I’m glad I stayed.
It’s overwhelming at first; it’s wall to wall and ceiling to floor merchandise. But upon digging, I did find a couple of interesting items. And great prices: half the store was 75% off, the other half 90% off. No, that’s not a typo.
One of the women working guessed my size and pointed me in the direction of some things she thought I’d like, and I appreciated her help. I didn’t end up getting anything, but I’d like to go back and investigate further.
I might have given it five stars if it didn’t reek of smoke… someone clearly smokes in there regularly, and the smell is really intense, and kind of offputting.

On the Other Hand was such a pleasant surprise! My boyfriend and I stumbled in and almost quickly left but the sweetest lady, the owner Kay, mentioned there was plenty more in the back and all at 90% off. We were still a bit hesitant but after browsing we came across some really great finds! And you can’t beat 90% off. She surely wasn’t lying about «more in the back» though, the place is FULL of stuff. We will definitely have to go back just to put a dent in our search. Worth your time and if nothing else, appreciate the lovely owner. She’s a doll!

No visit to New Orleans is complete without a stop at On the Other Hand, if only to banter with the intelligent, witty, and always fabulous Ms. Kay Danae (sp?)
This shop is like no other I have ever been in… a purgatory for stylish antique clothes before angels take them into the streets of New Orleans. For ladies, an incredible array. For a man like me, Kay always has something unique and classic.
Get lost in here, transported to visions of moonlight and magnolias, costumes and revelry,

This shop is filled with all of the quirky charm you expect of a New Orleans consignment shop. The owner is quirky, beautiful, charming, sweet, and helpful. The store is absolutely crammed with every style of clothing and accessories. The walls are decorated with some amazing Mardi Gras Indian regalia. The prices are extremely reasonable. There isn’t a huge selection for men or children, but my husband was able to find some killer deals. I can see this easily becoming one of my favorite stops. It’s one of Oak Streets many amazing shops.

A fashionista friend who is traveling the country (and shopping @ consignments stores in every city she visits) came to town and we spent a wonderful day shopping in the great shops of NOLA. However, @ this store, an over-​powering smell of cigarette smoke greeted us @ the door — disgusting!- so we did not go in. I imagine that every item in there reeks of smoke. Is smoking indoors in a public space even legal?

Great shop!
I i got a cute skirt for $ 2. That’s a win in my book!

One of my favorite places to treasure hunt in the city. I love the «Secret Garden» or the back room. You can find some really great deals in here, it is usually always 75% off. I love to shop here for pieces to make costumes. Sometimes they are slightly damaged but you have to look for the potential in each item.
I love Mrs. K, she is truly the last of the mohicans. A real live character, doing her thing, she is great!

Was sent down there on reccomendation by a friend– looking for an 80’s prom dress for the 610 Stompers ball…
Wow.
I didn’t find the poofy-​neon-​chiffon-​toule dress of my dreams, but I did buy two others which went to good use on some friends, and the pricing was amazing! I guess I hit an anniversary? Regardless, my dresses were $ 9.
Their stock is rediculous! Packed chock-​full of lace and beads-​awesome vintage purses and hats– and rediculous shoes.

Had a mini-​shopping-​palooza today and hit a few of the clothing consignment shops (Prima Donna, Swap, Encore, and On the Other Hand) uptown in search of a formal gown that would fit my short, curvy self.
On the Other Hand, located in the Carrolton Neighborhood, was the most overwhelming of the stores; it is CHOCK-​FULL of merchandise. The sales person who assisted me was very solicitous and helped me figure out the dressing room situation. Seriously the store is going to explode from stock. This store probably had the greatest number of formal gowns, but some of them seemed to date from 1984; so if I was drag queen, it would have been perfect. The prices were very reasonable but I think I was losing my urge to rummage. I also think they carry men’s clothes so that also makes them unique.

Big store with an even bigger selection. Everything is marked 50−75% off depending on which room you are in. The owner is a true New Orleans eccentric and fun to chat with. The only drawback is there is soooo much stuff crammed in that it is almost impossible to go through it all. There is stuff almost literally hanging from the ceilings!

I took a stroll down Oak Street this afternoon for a Sno Ball and some sun and happened into On the Other Hand. It’s this fantastic, cluttered space full of old movie posters and racks of second hand clothes that are so overflowing you can barely walk through. There are 2 main rooms — the front room and what the awesome (I’ll get to her shortly) woman (owner?) referred to as «the garden room.» Everything in the front room was 50% off and everything in the garden room was 75% off. They take all major cards — that’s something I ask when I walk into any store like this since I’m of the plastic generation. I agree with the first poster that places like this are always hit and miss. I found a black, short lacy dress that was 90% off and 3 pearl-​ish necklaces. My total was 15 dollars and I felt like I had found some good stuff that I could throw into my wardrobe and they will mix nicely.
The absolute best part of this store were the women who worked there. They were all in hats. The matriarch of the store was this fabulous woman who wore all red — including an obscene red hat with a 65 dollar price tag on it – and thick mascara and sat in the front chain smoking camels and reminding people that they were all «Christian folks here.» When I went into the garden room, another younger hat-​wearing woman offered me a glass of wine while I shopped. She came right out with a crisp glass of White-​Zin (seriously, I blast texted everyone I knew at that moment). When I went to the register, the older woman instructed the younger to go entertain the customers. Also, there was a nice older man playing Jazz standards on the piano and singing in the garden room. They were like the Sugarbaker’s, Beale’s and Steele Magnolias cast wrapped into one. I’ll definitely be back. I’m only giving 3 stars because I didn’t find a whole lot. Super cheap prices, though and incredible staff.

Fair prices, fair selection and super friendly service. The cashier was a nice fellow, who told us about their specials without being pushy.
I didn’t find much, but consignment shops are hit and miss like that. I’m sure if I’d gone the next week I could have found many items I wanted.
When I’m in the neighborhood again I’ll make a point to stop by.
And from what I remember, they are cash only.