Anna Dorsey | Staff Illustrator

Thrifting and vintage-shopping have taken the world by storm, and St. Louis is no exception — ranking among the top 25 cities for thrifting in the U.S. As anc avid secondhand shopper, I’ve spent my weekends searching for new pieces to add to my wardrobe, venturing as far away from campus as East St. Louis and as close as the Delmar Loop. While there are plenty of amazing spots across the city, this list is based only on places I’ve been to so far — either via public transit or by car. Whether you’re hunting for high-end vintage, quirky statement pieces, or a chaotic bin-digging experience, St. Louis has a little bit of something for everyone.

found. vintage

Found was the first vintage clothing shop I explored when I arrived at WashU, so it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Many of their pieces are much more curated than what you would find at your average Goodwill, and Found prides itself on being an “upscale, artfully curated boutique featuring a unique selection of trendy and timeless true vintage [and] modern retro,” so it definitely leans closer to vintage shopping over a traditional thrifting experience. 

Don’t let the shops’ potentially high prices deter you! I’ve picked up pieces of gold jewelry, a pair of high-quality jeans, and various tops, all for reasonable prices. (Here’s a tip: The nicer and friendlier you are to the employees, the more likely you can haggle your way into a steal.) My favorite part of Found is the repurposed station located in-store, where employees take old — often torn or damaged — clothing and repair them with funky patches, different fabrics, or other creative techniques.

Avalon Exchange

Avalon Exchange is similar to Found in that it leans more towards a vintage shopping experience. I would say that Avalon is a bit bigger than Found, providing more variety in the pieces. Avalon prides itself on buying clothing directly from the St. Louis community so that their pieces are often a “reflection of our local community.” 

I’ve gotten a range of pieces from here, but I’ve purchased mostly t-shirts and graphic tees. They have a solid range of jewelry, spanning from average gold and silver pieces, to more aggressively eccentric costume jewelry, which can be fun to peruse. A highlight of Avalon Exchange is their Dollar Sale: Twice a year, hundreds of their clothing items retail for a buck a piece. Talk about a steal!

Drop Soda Vintage Market

Since coming to St. Louis, my favorite thrifting and vintage-shopping experience has been at the Drop Soda Vintage Market. Drop Soda is a monthly pop-up market that happens at The Garage STL during the first weekend of each month. Hosting between 36 and 50 unique vendors every weekend, the market has clothes, shoes, and jewelry for all occasions — ranging from $2 t-shirts to over-the-top ballgowns. The Market is truly an experience, with food trucks and a full bar, music, and even an on-site seamstress to repair clothing.

Goodwill 

Tried and true, a local Goodwill will always find its way onto a thrifting list. Although there are five Goodwill locations throughout the greater St. Louis area, I have only ventured into the one off Olive, since it is the one most easily accessible by public transit. As anyone who has gone into a Goodwill will tell you, you won’t get anything out of it unless you put in a little bit of work. Sure, maybe you’ll find three different “bride-to-be” shirts, or 20 different youth soccer jerseys, but when you find that one pair of perfectly fitted vintage Levi’s, you’ll know that it was all worth it.

The Goodwill Outlets (the infamous Bins)

I know, I know. Technically, the Bins are one of five aforementioned Goodwill locations. But in my opinion, the Goodwill Bins deserve their own category in the world of thrifting. According to my good friend and fellow first-year Marshall Fisher, “The Bins are equal parts thrifting and people-watching. I’ve struck up conversations from drag queens to St. Louis locals complaining about how the price has gone from $1.80 to $2.20 per pound.” According to Fisher, the appeal of the Bins lies in both the price and the experience. 

Speaking as someone who has spent the better part of an entire day arms-deep in every kind of clothing imaginable, the Bins truly are for those who are willing to put a bit of work into their thrifting experience — iIt takes a lot of effort to find high-quality pieces at the Bins, as nothing is sorted, and it’s mostly one big free-for-all. However, Marshall says he recently scored in the homeware section, acquiring some unique glassware and fine china pieces.