You hate everything in your closet, that duct tape won’t hold your favorite pair of pants together any longer or you need a new set of dishes. Whatever the reason, you need to shop. There is a healthy alternative to the extravagant prices and looming sales floor assistants behind those gleaming storefront windows on M street. If you are a fan of recycling and a good bargain, then “thrifting” may be your calling.
D.C.-area thrift and second-hand stores provide good deals and a reason to explore off campus. A few introductory pointers on the art of thrifting: 1) It can be time-consuming. Patience is a virtue 2) Most, but not all places take credit cards 3) Thrift, consignment, resale and vintage are interrelated but not all the same.
The resale scene offers a wider, more eclectic selection at better prices than retail stores, and is enticing for those who like to sport unique outfits. Getting to most of D.C.’s second-hand stores involves a metro ride and a bit of walking, but luckily the nearest store is located on M and 32nd. The well-organized Annie Cream Cheese sells vintage, new and used clothing and accessories for men and women, but chances are the prices will be higher than you expect. It’s got spunk, tacky jewelry, and an impressive collection of unique cowboys boots lining the upper wall, but is also littered with underwhelming contemporary merchandise. Another vintage specialty store in the area is Junction Vintage on U Street which sells quality vintage and designer alongside clothing handmade by local artists. The place has the classy, aesthetic charm of a well-decorated room, though the inventory is a bit too refined and leaves the selection rather meager.
One of the best vintage shops in D.C. is Meeps in Adams Morgan. Like Junction, it offers a solid vintage supply and features clothing by local artists. The store’s buyers know their stuff when it comes to vintage fashion. Also located in Adams Morgan, Smash! Records is part used clothing and part record store characterized by vintage flair with punk overtones. Prices rarely exceed $25 and they’re usually playing decent music, but they have a very small selection.
While these vintage shops are fun and easily accessible, the best-kept secrets are the genuine thrift stores which go beyond clothing, carrying everything from bicycles to wine glasses to clunky 1980s cell phones. Not far from the Georgia Avenue metro stop, nestled among liquor stores and diners with bulletproof glass, is L&N Thrift. Racks are poorly organized, the aisles won’t fit more than one person width-wise at a time and mounds of audiocassette and VHS tapes litter the floor. However, the prices simply cannot be beat. Most clothing won’t top a few bucks, if that. The selection at L&N consists mostly of leftovers from the 1990s, smattered with dust accumulated over the past decade. Further up the road is the Georgia Avenue Thrift Store. Expansive, dust-free and well-organized, the Georgia Avenue Thrift Store is the king in D.C. A slightly musty scent lingers in the air, but the racks are well-stocked and easy to browse. Their selection includes electronics, glassware, luggage, toys, shoes, fabric, jewelry and clothing for men, women and children all in good condition. Expect to tote a very full garbage bag of treasures home after visiting here.
Whether it’s a gag-gift, filler for your wardrobe, or a legitimate need for new appliances on a budget, thrifting is both a smart and enjoyable activity. Think about it: clothes won’t shrink after you buy them, shoes and jeans are already broken-in, and bleach kills everything that could ever be found on kitchenware. Get over the wearing-somebody-else’s-clothes bit and save a ton of money while evading the marketing ploys of M Street and supporting environmental sustainability. It can be a bit like searching for the Golden Ticket, but the exhaustion is all worth it when you’ve found that perfect sweater vest or record player for less than a sandwich at Wisey’s.
