It's said that clothes make the person. For Shirley MacLaine, clothes are much more. They are memories.

So when the actor decided to clean out her closet, she wondered how she could best share those memories and help those especially dear to her heart — homeless animals.

MacLaine and a couple of dedicated helpers hope they've hit upon the best idea: The Shirley MacLaine Clothing Sale to benefit the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society. The gala rummage sale is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Zoe & Guido's Pet Boutique, 1441-C Paseo de Peralta.

"If there's one thing I've learned about this recession, is that there's a lot of things I don't need," MacLaine said. "I've given a lot of things away, and I thought, why not (to) the local shelter? It really moves me."

The rummage sale will include coats, bags, jewelry and designer clothes that MacLaine has collected over the years. Everything in the sale are items she wore in a movie or on the set, or to special occasions. They all have a story, and that story is written down on each garment. The actor is also considering adding furniture and other surprise items to the sale.

Most of the garments are from the past 20 years, said AlixNovack, a shelter supporter and animal welfare advocate. Novack and Scott Stark of Queen's Ransom in the DeVargas Center helped MacLaine sort through and catalog more than four dozen items, in addition to suitcases full of sweaters and scarves.

"Shirley loves her things, so these things mean a lot to her," Novack said. "They all come with a history."

Several coats have sentimental value. MacLaine recalled one jacket she wore on the set of 1996's Evening Star with Jack Nicholson. Another jacket kept her warm while working with Nicolas Cage in 1994's Guarding Tess.

One cape in particular struck Novack, who became acquainted with MacLaine through her fashion consulting business. It's a black full-length coat that MacLaine wore to one of Elizabeth Taylor's fundraisers for the American Foundation of AIDS Research in the 1990s.

"It's spectacular," Novack said. "She had it specially designed for the event, so there's no label or anything."

There's also a cape from MacLaine's spiritual master, who doesn't want to be named. It's a plum-colored fleece coat with hood that can be used in many ways, MacLaine said, even as a snuggly blanket.

Almost all of the things for sale, which will be priced from $50 to $500, have been stored at MacLaine's Abiquiú ranch. The actor also maintains a home in the northeast side of Santa Fe. "There are things I don't need," she said. "So why not benefit the shelter? It's that simple."

The shelter, which has seen donations decrease in the past year and has had to trim staff, welcomes all fundraising efforts, said Mary Martin, its executive director. MacLaine's efforts are especially touching.

"I think it's lovely," Martin said. "She could have easily donated to any number of philanthropic endeavors, and she chose us."

Zoe & Guido's will treat the rummage sale as a "big party," said owner Pam Hagan. The store often hosts fundraisers for area animal shelters and rescue groups.

"We really want to show our gratitude for her donating all this," Hagan said. "Gratitude brings riches, and the shelter needs it."

MacLaine said she's unlikely to attend the rummage sale, so the focus will be more on helping the animals and not on her. A longtime animal-welfare advocate and writer best known for her New Age memoirs, MacLaine has also written about the relationship between humans and animals in the novel Out on a Leash — a book that views the world through the eyes and ears of Terry the rat terrier, an animal companion who is still with her.

MacLaine she has cared for animals ever since she was a child, and, "I just can't stand to see them abused, neglected or starved," she said.

"I've been out to the shelter and seen what they've done. They're very kind with the animals. Maybe I'd like to return as one of theirs."

Contact Ben Swan at 986-3051 or bswan@sfnewmexican.com.