In fashion blogs and chatrooms throughout the land, they are still buzzing about Angela Jolie’s $26 dress.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19215552/. The mega star wore a crushed velvet dress from a vintage boutique in L.A. to the New York premiere of A Mighty Heart (www.amightyheartmovie.com).

Forget that she wore velvet in June. The simple act of picking shabby antique chic over any one of the world’s top designers gives vintage and recycled clothing a label all its own.

If Ms. Jolie had gone to New Leaf Consignment (www.newleafconsignment.com) in Madison, she might have paid a few dollars more but could have picked the newer flirty black Maria Bianca Nero (www.biancanero.com) selling for $150. The original $300 price tag was still in place. There are also a fair number of summer sun dresses (Betsey Johnson, Ann Taylor) for less than $50.

She’d be singing a different tune at Duet (www.dueteveryday.com) in Livingston. Truly the Cadillac of couture consignment where a few hundred bucks gets you a thousand dollars worth of dress. Not to mention the like new Hermes Birkin Bag (www.createursdeluxe.com) for a bargain $9000.

If she had opted to shop online, we suggest Ms. Jolie browse our favorite vintage website, www.dandelionvintage.com, run by Carol of Ocean View. Carol has been buying and hoarding vintage clothing for twenty years. We’ve noticed her black dresses with any kind of velvet are selling out fast!

Thanks to Ms. Jolie for making it fashionable to recycle. Whether new or vintage, Cadillac or Ford, sometimes second hand, is not second best.