For serious thrift store junkies, there’s hardly a better place to live than Austin, Texas. Proudly identifying as the country’s capital of weird, Austin is exactly the type of place where you’d expect to find a thriving second-hand shopping industry. What drives this beloved hobby is very different from person to person. For some, it’s the thrill of the chase. They love the hunt involved in carefully combing through piles of random things looking for that unique, must-have treasure. For others, second-hand is the only way they can afford to dress in high-end designer fashions that are too expensive new. And others just love the way eclectic and vintage feels and looks, whether it’s worn on their body or adorning their apartment. No matter what the motivation, here are a couple of consignment shops to be moved to the top of your list.
Top Drawer Thrift Store
“Fun. Funky. Thrifty.” This is the motto Top Drawer lives by, and it’s fairly accurate. Depending on the quality of donations, the selection here can be hit or miss, but with the right timing you can find some good stuff cheap. You’ll also feel good about spending money here because all proceeds go to providing hospice care and housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. Top Drawer has clothes and accessories aplenty, but it’s also a good place to snag furniture, kitchen gear, and quirky works of art.
The Next-to-New
This non-profit consignment shop is run by St. David’s Episcopal Church and has fantastic clothing and furniture selections. Next-to-New is particularly renowned for having affordable antiques, and its staff has a reputation for being very helpful.
Second Time Around
Featuring barely used handbags, clothing and jewelry from only the highest end of designers (Gucci, Ferragamo, Furla), Second Time Around is hardly the place to go if you’re looking for Dollar Store prices. However, if a ,500 purse that retails for ,000 is your idea of a good deal, then you’ve just died and gone to consignment Heaven.
Buffalo Exchange
With more than 30 locations across the country, Buffalo Exchange is hardly a hidden gem. But this expansion hasn’t compromised quality in the least. Known for its impressive selection of lightly used, high quality apparel, Buffalo Exchange operates 100 percent on local consignment (making it a top choice if you have clothing to sell). While Vintage and western wear are available in spades, there’s a huge selection of everyday styles, so much so that some people claim to do their shoe and clothing shopping exclusively at Buffalo Exchange.
Moss Designer Consignment
A quick drive from the downtown Austin apartments at AMLI on 2ND is Moss Designer Consignment. It focuses on high-end designers and popular contemporary labels like Halston, Jimmy Choo, Rag & Bone, Tori Burch, and Vera Wang. What’s on display is seasonally oriented, making it an easy place to navigate when shopping specifically for spring, summer, fall or winter apparel. Although the constant flow of new items being consigned means the racks are ever changing here, you’re always going to find high quality clothes reflecting current trends.
Lovely Austin Boutique
Tucked away in a cute, historic house in Austin’s South 1st District, Lovely Austin is a magnet for like-new designer clothing and patrons who shop for it. From jeans to handbags to jewelry, Lovely Austin is a place where you can buy coordinated outfits appropriate for work, special celebrations, and nights out on the town.
The next time you’re in the market for new clothes or apartment furnishings, give Austin’s awesome consignment scene a try. You never know what kind of second-hand steal you could end up with – and who knows, you may never buy new again!
Are you familiar with Austin’s second-hand scene? Write about your favorite consignment shop in the comments!
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst