Rae the Cheapster clues you in on the best thrift stores in town for your holiday shopping needs.
By Rae Contreras
You have scarcely two weeks before Christmas, and you still don’t know what to buy your fashion-plate sister or emo brother. In a more forgiving economy, you would go to Urban Outfitters—the hipster’s one-stop shop for stylish—if mass-produced—clothes and gifts. But that faux vintage dress you fell in love with would further limit your budget to 99-cent store levels. You want to keep things affordable but cool—so this holiday season, let Cheapsters help you find authentic and economical vintage dresses and offbeat gifts, all while avoiding the crowds at the mall!
Vintage and thrift shopping can be daunting. Where do I go and how much stuff will I have to rummage through to find that gem? After checking out spots on the Westside, Valley, and Eastside, we have compiled a list of our favorites. We hope you save some time and money by checking out these well-stocked addresses:
Buffalo Exchange: This place truly has something for everyone. I found plenty of everyday staples, including possibly the best collection of T-shirts ever (a roaring bear donning heart-shaped sunglasses? Awesome!) But the store also carries some funky labels, like Harajuku Lovers and Lacoste, and lots of chic shoes. Rummaging is kept to a minimum because the store, while large, is very well organized. If you can’t make it to Mid-Wilshire, they have other locations in Westwood and Sherman Oaks. As an added the bonus, their Westwood store is offering a $5 off coupon to anyone who donates three canned goods. And of course Buffalo Exchange has the added benefit of giving you the chance to make some money if you have clothes to trade in–and you’ll need it because you can easily walk out of here with a whole new wardrobe.
Buffalo Exchange
131 N La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 938-8604
Out of the Closet has locations all over town, but I found several great gems in the Echo Park location. Of note is the great furniture selection. Some thrift stores I visited had large furniture areas, but nothing worth buying. However, Out of the Closet had a small furniture section with several very buyable pieces. I discovered a rustic dresser, a good-as-new comfy couch, and a modernist dining room table/chair set. They also had a good shoe selection and the kid in your life can rock out in the Tegan and Sara tee and argyle sweater found in the kids’ section.
Out of the Closet – Echo Park
1724 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
( 213) 484-3913
Thank You Mart: In short, this place is really awesome. It’s $3.99 each if you buy at least three pieces, and $5.99 if you buy less. My favorite part of the store was their collection of faux fur vests and coats. But if you are not a fan of the fur look, other winter gear included plenty of leather jackets and sweatshirts. The rest of the clothing section is the exact kind of vintage stuff you would hope to find and in good supply. What I also liked about Thank You Mart was their random yet fun collection of gifts, like their duck neck rest pillows, felt purses, wigs, jewelry and fruit-shaped clocks.
Thank You Mart
1138 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-8963
Pop Killer: Whenever I find myself in Little Tokyo, I always make sure to stop at Pop Killer, so I was really excited when they opened a Los Feliz location. While their clothes are not as cheap as the other stores listed, if you want to find vintage designer clothes, Pop Killer is your place. Their prices are better than comparable Melrose designer vintage stores and you can count on finding rock-‘n’-roll and one-of-a-kind pieces. And like Thank You Mart, Pop Killer has a really cute, inexpensive array of gifts. You’ll find stuff like zany hats, lion masks, stash cans, and a box of gnarly noses. This place is not for the serious or faint of heart.
Pop Killer Dept.
1856 N. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 522-6254
