The Best Places to Find Secondhand Clothing
Week 28
If you read my last post, the environmental impact of fast fashion, you may be wondering how to make your closet a little more sustainable. You can, of course, shop sustainable brands which offer quality clothes that use natural materials and are made to last. Or, even better, you can opt for secondhand finds.
Secondhand clothing may not offer the same range of sizes you would find in a department store, but there are some easy fixes to get your nearly-new garments fitting like a glove. Take a look at my next post for 5 easy alterations that you can do at home.
Thrift Stores
Goodwill
Goodwill is easily the most well-known thrift shop with over 2,800 stores in the US, Canada, and abroad. The quality of clothing varies from one location to another, but the prices can't be beat. My husband and I go into every Goodwill we drive by and often walk out with a handful of solid finds.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army is a volunteer run organization operating in over 100 countries and with 8,000 stores in the US. They usually have a range of clothing for all ages and offer the lowest price points.
Consignment and Vintage Shops
Consignment and vintage shops have a more curated collection of garments. They often offer better quality garments, but at a higher price point than thrift stores. An internet search should help you find a few local options, but there are a couple nationwide chains to keep an eye out for.
Buffalo Exchange
Buffalo Exchange is a popular consignment store chain with 50 locations speckled across the country. They offer clothes for men and women, and in my experience, they are pretty picky about the garments they accept. They are your best bet for some great vintage finds.
Clothes Mentor
Clothes Mentor has a few hundred locations across the US. While they only offer clothes for women, they tend to have a nice selection in a variety of styles.
Online
If local secondhand shops aren't giving you the closet you need or want, try a few of these online options.
thredUP
thredUP is an online thrift and consignment store that offers women's and children's clothing in a variety of styles, brands, and price points. Shipping is free once your cart surpasses $75 and unlike most other secondhand retailers, they do accept returns for a small fee. Make your shopping even more sustainable by opting to have all your purchases ship in one box at checkout.
Poshmark
Poshmark gives users the opportunity to buy and sell gently-used clothing, accessories, and home goods. You can find items for men, women, and children in a variety of brands, styles, and price points. Poshmark does not generally accept returns, but will consider it if the item received was not as described in the listing.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has changed the secondhand game by letting users list anything and everything to be sold or given away. This option is most sustainable when you pick up local finds and skip the shipping all together. I, personally, have collected an entire closet of pre-loved maternity wear for less than $100 by shopping Marketplace.
Patagonia Worn Wear
If you're looking for outdoor apparel check out Patagonia Worn Wear, which repairs and resells gently-used Patagonia garments at half of the original cost. You can also trade in your own Patagonia pieces for store credit.
Rental Programs
Forget buying clothes to keep up with the latest trends, now you can rent your favorite styles at a fraction of the cost. I have never actually used a clothing rental service, but I've witnessed friends sport a new closet every week thanks to these programs.
Rent the Runway
Rent the Runways lets shoppers rent gently-used designer clothers, or buy them at a fraction of the cost. Anyone can purchase garments, but the rental option is exclusively for members. Memberships start at $89 per month. Rent the Runway offers the widest variety of looks and gets bonus points for its green dry-cleaning service and recycled shipping materials.
Haverdash
Haverdash is best suited for tighter budgets, since it's $59 monthly fee allows members to rent an unlimited amount of clothing.
Gwynnie Bee
Gwynnie Bee offers the best range of sizes, from 0-32. Subscriptions start at $49 per month for one item at a time.
Clothing Swaps
Grab a few friends or family members and host a clothing swap. You'll get to unload a few pieces you're tired of, while picking up a couple things that are new to you. My sister and I trade pieces once or twice a year and it's like the benefits of going shopping, without having to spend any money.