Hey FashionXers,
Ella Hols here with my very first FashionX blog entry! So excited to create for you all.
Let’s talk thrifts in the Bay. My strong ethos on this topic is derived from 10 years of living in Palo Alto, hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars spent on the various thrift shops in the area, and obviously my fantastic thrift finds. I’ve split my top favorite thrifts into 3 categories: local Goodwills, consignment shops, and Haight-Ashbury thrifts. I saved my personal favorite for last to keep you all in suspense.
LOCAL GOODWILLS:
Goodwill of Silicon Valley (located in Cupertino)
Best. Goodwill. Hands down. This location is enormous with many aisles to peruse. I’ve found unique pieces at an amazing price point at this store, including a $4 sundress that is perfect for a beachy summer. I’ve also worn pieces I have found here to music festivals and concerts, and I didn’t have to spend more than an hour digging to find these items. 100% recommend trying this location out!
Goodwill in Sunnyvale
This location is far smaller than Goodwill of Silicon Valley, but I have still found great items here. In my opinion, the star feature of this store is the home decor section. I have found great mugs and different types of glassware at this location. Not my favorite, but worth checking out!
Goodwill in Menlo Park
This Goodwill is about the size of a boutique, which limits the options at hand. It also seems to cater to the fashions of middle-age women, so if that is your demographic and/or personal style, give this location a try!
Goodwill of Palo Alto
Don’t even bother. All you’ll find is a tech bro’s failed startup’s merch leftovers, and that’s me being generous.
CONSIGNMENT:
Fillmore and Fifth
This location, located very close to campus at Town and Country, has become an oasis for me after long days. Fillmore and Fifth is consignment-based, so they buy clothes from customers that they believe will sell, meaning that the store is extremely curated (I would know, they only took one of the eight items I tried to sell them). This store does cater to women’s clothing, so if that’s not your vibe, check out the other consignment stores listed below.
Crossroads Trading San Jose
This location was my favorite thrift for a long time. She’s reliable, comfortable, and interesting. Every time I go, I know I will find a winner. It is super large with lots of different types of sections. Just like Fillmore, it is curated well and only sells high-quality pieces. Definitely worth a visit.
Blue Bin Vintage
Blue Bin is a vintage shop with high-quality pieces and high price points. Not my personal favorite since I think I can find equally interesting pieces at a lower price point elsewhere. However, it’s close to campus and fun to browse, so take a look!
Crossroads Santa Cruz
If you ever find yourself in Santa Cruz, definitely stop here. This location of Crossroads is very reflective of its surrounding area, meaning it has eclectic pieces that express the beachy Santa Cruz vibe. If that’s your style, I would recommend trying this location out.
Crossroads Irving Street
Similar to Crossroads Santa Cruz, Crossroads Irving Street is influenced by the style of San Francisco in its curation. If you’re into a little grunge, take a look at this location!
HAIGHT-ASHBURY THRIFTS:
Wasteland
This warehouse-like store is somewhat overwhelming and intimidating, but my best advice is to put on your best RBF and strut in. There is a great shoe collection in the back and lots of pants to peruse. This is a higher price point, but it’s worth it in my book.
Goodwill Haight-Ashbury
A thrift enthusiast simply has to go here once in their life. I don’t have a great history with finds here, but feel free to throw your hat in the ring and try.
Indigo Vintage Cooperative
Similar to Blue Bin, this location has beautiful, trendy finds at a high price point. I like to think of it as a “last-ditch” effort if I haven’t found anything else in all of the Haight on a particular shopping day.
Buffalo exchange
Great finds here, if a little dirty. There’s also a good purse collection; I found a Marc Jacobs shoulder bag here that has become one of my staples. It’s a small store, so you only need to spend 15 minutes in here to see if they have anything worth buying.
Held Over
My best friend Mia, a true San Francisco native, asserts that Held Over is her favorite thrift in the city. This location is quite groovy with jean jackets, flannels, and used Birkenstocks galore. There is also a section organized by decade if anyone is in need of any period pieces. Definitely give this a try!
MY FAVORITE:
Drum roll please… Savers Redwood City.
While it may sound uninspiring, the amount of fantastic pieces I have found at this location is insane. Pointy ankle boots, beautiful sweaters, fleece jackets, and heeled sandals is just the beginning of what I’ve found here. With two floors, the square footage filled with opportunities is immense. They also have a fantastic home decor section upstairs. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Milagros, is also just down the street. Trust me, these two activities go beautifully together. 1000% recommend to everyone.
Happy thrifting,
Ella Hols