Favorite Stores

Here are some of my all time favorite consignment, resale, thrift, and vintage stores I’ve been to across the US and the world. Many of them I have been to multiple times.

Also note that many of these places are nonprofits, and they are often part of larger groups that support community programs. For example, Catholic Charities supports many shops nationwide, and the National Council of Jewish Women has a number of shops too. It’s nice to support these groups!

I’ve detailed what each kind of place is below:

Consignment:

Consignment stores tend to have the nicest stuff – designers, brand names, good fabrics, fancy coats and dresses. Anyone can sell things at a consignment store, but the owners decide what they’ll actually take to sell on the floor. Seasons are important here too – they generally won’t take winter clothing in the spring, and vis versa.

They also take a cut, and that depends on the store.  The prices generally decrease over time depending on the date. Take a look at tags to see what I mean. I’ll post a picture of one soon.

*Note: Consignment stores are often less trendy. They have a lot more classic items and cater to ages 25 – up. They’re GREAT for finding classic pieces that won’t go out of style, but are much cheaper than full price at a department store.

Resale:

Resale shops are also curated. These take a cut as well, and sometimes the tags are date-conscious. But not always. They are not as high level as consignment shops.

*Note: The two Exchanges listed above have trendy clothing, suitable for ages 18 – 35 or so. They accept whatever is in fashion at the moment that they think they can sell. And the prices are not date based, usually. Be careful about spending too much at these places because it is so trendy.

Thrift Stores:

Anything goes! No, really. Anything.

It’s much harder to find quality finds at thrift stores. Anyone can donate anything. You just have to have an open mind. My tip is to look for colors that you like – avoid patterns. It’s much easier to wade through masses of clothing if you’re looking for beige, kelly green and cobalt (just some examples)!

I’m currently on the lookout for beige skirts – so I head right to the skirt section to look. Many times, thrift stores arrange by color. So why not use their amazing system? 🙂

Vintage:

I have a love/hate relationship with vintage stores. I love their stuff, but I am often the wrong size for the clothing – my shoulders are too wide, my arms too long, and my hips are too big. So I avoid the more form-fitting stuff.

However, they are GREAT for finding coats, neat purses, shoes and jewelry. Just really pay attention to quality. A lot of this stuff is old, and tends to have more wear and tear as well as stains. Make sure you go over every inch for spots, holes, etc.

*Note: Know your measurements! Many times vintage clothing is measured by hip, waist and bust widths. Makes it hard to try stuff on if you have no idea!

International:

If you’re ever aboard, watch for vintage/resale shops. You can often find amazing souvenirs that you’ll actually use/wear. I bought a great plaid jacket from the Harajuku Chicago Thrift store in Tokyo (you can see it on my Instagram page). Oxfam stores are just wonderful throughout the UK. I have lots of things from them.

Online Consignment:

I have only recently discovered the presence, and viability, of online consignment stores. They’re fun, but it’s always hard for me to ascertain the value of a used purse, etc, online. I’d rather have it in my hands to inspect. But since I can’t be everywhere, it’s a fun resource to have. Here are some favorites of mine:

I think my problem with the online consignment shops is that they’re like eBay – there is too much! I don’t know where to start! Hence my love of the small, local thrift shops. Plus, you are often supporting a charity or small business. That’s a win-win in my book!

Flea Markets/Yard Sales/Garage Sales/Estate Sales/Auctions:

Always fun, but you do have to plan for them. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, these are very temporary! I have a few places/ideas that I wanted to share. I’ll add more as I go to them. They tend to only be in the summer!

  • Beacon Flea Market, 6 Henry St, Beacon, NY 12508, Sundays, 8am – 3 pm (mostly house goods)
  • Harrisburg Flea Market, Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N 3rd St, Harrisburg PA, 17102, First Saturdays, 10 am – 4 pm (vintage, new, local artists, etc.!)
  • Highland Park Annual Yard Sale, Pittsburgh PA, generally in June. A yard sale of truly EPIC proportions. Make sure to wear comfy shoes, be willing to poke through stuff. And it’s huge, by the way. Parking is also hard.
  • Estate Sales, nationwide. Many estate sales are managed by specific businesses that work with funeral homes, real estate agents, etc, to buy up sometimes whole houses of things that they then sell. Often, estate sales are temporary set-ups, a few months or so, and they have multiple “houses” that they sell all put together.
    • If you think they’re a bit creepy – you’re not alone! I love them, but I figure, why not take a look – maybe you’ll find something neat that you can love since the previous owner isn’t around to love it anymore! Fortunately, there is a lot out there that are not estate sales. I find a lot of my estate sales on Craigslist.
  • Auctions: Not my thing. Perhaps one day! However, I love Storage Wars on A&E. You can watch them on Hulu. But real life auctions are too much pressure for me! If you do go to some, let me know how they go!
  • Alliance of Nonprofit Stores, Western PA. I just discovered this neat organization – check it out. I like the idea of unifying all of these resale shops to better the community.
  • Unclaimed Baggage, Scottsboro, AL. I went to this place once in undergrad – amazing! I still have my Nine West black coat and my black and white pashmina from there!

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