Thrifting: Different city, different bargain

I’d like to think I’m pretty fashionable. I did, after all, get the superlative “Best Dressed” as voted on by my peers. That counts right?

But the best part of winning “Best Dressed” was that I didn’t spend half as much money on my clothes as the other girls in my grade. This feeling is comparable to buying a pair of Cole Haan Chelsea T-Strap Sandals with a T.J. Maxx tag reading “Original Price: $378, Your Price: $150” with an accompanying purple sticker indicating your actual price is $75. This, my friends, is what bargain shopping is all about. These moments are what winning a gold medal at the Olympics is to athletes; what winning the Academy Award for Best Actor is to the thespians; what the Noble Peace Prize is to all of the chemists, physics, doctors and writers out there. You get the picture…it’s a good feeling.

Most of all, I love finding unique pieces at antique shops because you know you’re going to stick out from the crowd. So I decided to reach out to my trendiest and thriftiest friends from across the country and compile a list of their favorite spots for scoring deals and uncovering unique pieces.

 

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta has a lot of great thrift and vintage shopping. Little 5 Points is full of interesting and unique finds. Head to Junkman’s Daughter (463 Moreland Ave) for unique and unusual gifts. The Clothing Warehouse (420 Moreland Ave) right up the road has been an Atlanta staple for over 20 years. The owner, Jim Buckley, is a trendsetter in the vintage world. He’s been so successful with the store here in Atlanta that the company now has 5 franchise stores from Jacksonville, Florida to New York. Buffalo Exchange (1057 Ponce De Leon Ave NE) recently opened here. I sold a pair of my Frye clogs to them and did not at all feel ripped off like I have in the past when I’ve consigned. Check their website to find a store near you to consign and shop.

Kudzu (2928 East Ponce De Leon Ave) has been voted ‘Atlanta’s Best’ antique store since 1979, and for good reason. It’s 25,000 sq. ft. location boasts 100 of Atlanta’s best antique dealers. You can find affordable antiques, art, outdoor furniture and vintage clothing and jewelry. On the weekends I love checking out Estate Sales around the Buckhead/Sandy Springs area. Estate Sales are hands down the best place to find inexpensive furniture and clothing. It’s unbelievable some of the things I’ve found at Estate Sales. Some people are turned off by them believing that an estate sale means someone died or lost their house but that’s not always the case. In fact, the majority of the estate sales I’ve gone to have been for retirees ready to downsize, or young couples moving to a new city. My favorite estate sale company in Atlanta is actually owned by my very own brother. Clay started Certified Estate Sales in 2010 and has conducted estate sales every week throughout all of Atlanta. Visit www.estatesales.net  to find different estate sales around your city!

 

Austin, TX

Austin is one of the most unique cities in the U.S. and it’s no wonder there’s countless vintage, antique and thrift stores throughout the city. My friend Kelly moved to Austin after graduating from the University of Georgia to study social work at the University of Texas. After completing grad school she decided to stay in Austin. She absolutely loves the laid back lifestyle and how eclectic the people and shops are. Atown (5502 Burnet Road) is home to the work of over 100 local artists and designers and filled with apparel, unique gifts, beauty products, home décor and more. Strut is one of Kelly’s favorite clothing stores in Austin and it has multiple locations throughout the city including South Congress and South Lamar.

 

Dallas, TX

Meredith has lived in Dallas her whole life, except for the four years she attended Auburn. Meredith’s two Dallas picks are Dolly Python (1916 N Haskell Ave) and Curiosities Antiques (2025 Abrams Parkway). Dolly Python opened its doors in 2005 and has been giving Texan men and women exactly what they want in a vintage clothing store ever since. According to Meredith, Dolly Python has a great mix of finds. Humorous décor, vintage jewels and an extensive record collection sorted by genre makes for a no-fuss thrift-shopping experience. Curiosities is owned by Jason Cohen, founder of Forbidden Books and Video and Forbidden Gallery, along with his mother Terry Cohen. The Cohens have created the ultimate antique mall filled with folk art, photography, tasty goods and oddities.

 

New York City, NY

When Kate is looking for jewelry she heads to Catbird in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (219 Bedford Ave). Catbird has coined itself “the Brooklyn mecca for all things sparkly and exciting”. Not in Brooklyn? The store’s website is filled with great finds at reasonable prices. Also in Williamsburg is Kate’s second pick, Vice Versa (241 Bedford Ave), a vintage store with the lowest prices around. They sell everything from jean jackets, fur coats to crazy 70’s dresses. Kate checks out the Brooklyn and Chelsea Flea Markets for records, vintage clothing and different odds and ends. The flea markets are every weekend of the year and features hundreds of NYC’s top vendors of repurposed furniture, collectibles, antiques, vintage clothing, jewelry, art and more.

 

Boston, MA

My friend Chris has lived all over the place Atlanta, Boston, Burlington, Brooklyn, but Boston has always been her favorite spot to find unique items. The Garment District (200 Broadway) in Cambridge is Chris’s favorite spot for new and vintage clothes. The store’s largest department is contemporary clothing. It’s filled with gently used (or unworn with the original tags attached) clothing from the past three years. Pants, jeans and skirts start at $7, shirts and blouses range from $7-$14 and dresses start at $10. SoWa Vintage Market (460 C Harrison Ave.) is a marketplace with an entire collection of vendors who sell jewelry, furniture, art, lighting, clothing, décor and antiques. The marketplace Is only open on Sundays and the first Friday of each month. The inventory is kept fresh and exciting because vendors are required to rotate their stock each week.

 

Nashville, TN

My friend Clare has a not so secret shopping addiction and was generous enough to share with me her favorite thrift/vintage spots in Music City. Savant Vintage (2302 12^th Ave S) is the authority on vintage couture in Nashville. Savant is the place to find truly unique statement pieces. On a budget? Savant rents, too! The Hip Zipper (1008 Forrest Ave) is your one stop shop for vintage and consignment shopping in Nashville. They buy and sell an array of different vintage pieces for men and women. Katy K’s Ranch Dressings (2407 12^th Ave S) is a true Music City “must-do”. If rhinestones and western wear is what you’re craving, this is the place!

 

Los Angeles, CA

Mary Flynn is a childhood friend of mine who moved to Beverly Hills when we were younger. I’ll always remember shopping at the Classy Flea (1355 Roswell Rd #850) in Marietta, GA with her after school one day. She just had an eye for fabulous vintage items, even at the age of 13! Mary Flynn now attends FIDM in Los Angeles and is still as fabulous as ever. Mary Flynn loves shopping on Robertson at All Saints (100 N Robertson Blvd) because it is all rock and roll. Decades, Inc. (8214 Melrose Ave) is a consignment shop that really knows their stuff and offers their patrons a fair price for their items. Mary Flynn says she finds the best vintage gowns that she loves to wear around the Los Angeles/Beverly Hills area to red carpet events. American Rag Cie (150 S La Brea Ave) has been around since the early ‘80s and what started out as a small vintage clothing store in Los Angeles has now gone on to include its own label. Mary Flynn says American Rag Cie is an awesome spot for both new and vintage basics.

 

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