Thrifting is more popular than ever before, with prospective shoppers flocking to secondhand stores in search of hidden treasures or the perfect piece to complete an outfit.
From handbags to furniture, there’s no limit to the kind of gently-used items you can find at consignment shops. Here are four locally-owned thrift shops in the Baltimore area to start off your search.
The Shabby Button
12101 Belair Road, Kingsville, MD 21087
Owners: Twin sisters Lisa Hovis and Melissa Garcia first opened The Shabby Button 18 years ago, based on their prior retail work experience and shared love of thrifting.
“We have both found enjoyment in curating displays and merchandising clothing, furniture and home decor,” Garcia says. “It’s also nice to know your customer. We always have in mind what special items they are looking for when coming into the shop.”
Vibe: Comfortable and casual clothing, primarily for women. They also sell indoor and outdoor furniture and housewares, which change depending on what’s in style at the time. The Shabby Button stocks both new and secondhand items.
On the Racks: The usual suspects at The Shabby Button include Lilly Pulitzer, Anthropologie, American Eagle, Ann Taylor and Chico, among other brands.
Typical Customer: Primarily women over 30, though they often get teenage girls shopping with their parents because the store stocks Simply Southern items.
Killer Find: Garcia recalls some of the more memorable items that The Shabby Button has sold, including Farm Rio dresses, Frye boots and a Serena & Lily table set. They also often have purses from designer brands like Coach and Kate Spade.
“So many things come in weekly,” she adds. “It’s the thrill of the hunt!”
www.theshabbybutton.com
Get Shredded Vintage
411 W 29th St., Baltimore, MD 21211
Owner: Sara Autrey, Get Shredded Vintage’s owner, used to tour in bands and work in food service. But when she made the decision to get sober at 27, she realized that food service wasn’t for her, and was unsure of what to do for her career. Everything changed when she walked past a “For Rent” sign in Charles Village advertising a basement property, which she applied for on a whim.
“Somehow, I got approved and voila—Get Shredded was born,” she says. “I started the business with nothing—no inventory, no knowledge of vintage, no connections. Really, it’s amazing what willpower and a pot of coffee can help you achieve!”
Vibe: Eclectic and quirky vintage clothing, usually from the ‘50s-’70s and in mid-century modern or vintage styles. Autrey describes the store’s style as “playful yet mature.”
On the Racks: Novelty tee-shirts, workwear and statement pieces, with clothes for both men and women. Common brands include Lacoste, Levi’s, London Fog and more, though Autrey sometimes finds clothing from designer brands. The store also sells housewares.
Typical Customer: Varies widely, though Autrey says that some of her customers have included touring musicians looking for stage outfits, elderly couples looking for costumes for a blast-from-the-past-themed party and Japanese tourists who traveled to the U.S. to source vintage clothing.
Killer Find: Autrey often performs house calls for people hoping to sell large collections, and items usually end up in the store or on its Etsy storefront. One of these was for someone whose family had owned a department store, and contained many clothes dating back to the 1940s.
“The stunners from this buy were three deadstock 1950s gabardine ricky jackets, which are very sought-after, and a deadstock velvet western bell-bottoms and jacket suit that has amazing chain-stitching all over it,” she recalls. “I feel like I peaked then, but I get awesome stuff in all the time.”
www.getshreddedvintage.com
The Wise Penny
5902 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212
Owner: The Wise Penny first opened its doors in 1970 as a fundraiser for the Junior League of Baltimore, and has gone on to be the Junior League chapter’s longest-running fundraiser. Its main goal has always been to provide affordable clothing to the community, as well as job training opportunities.
The store’s impact has extended outside of the Baltimore area as well, says The Wise Penny committee member Carol Goodman.
“The store has sent shipments of clothing and supplies to sister Junior Leagues to support their relief efforts after natural disasters, like earthquakes and hurricanes. And anything that cannot be used at the store is donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America,” Goodman explained. “Over the years, The Wise Penny has been more than just a store, hosting food drives, flu shot drives, eye screenings, cooking classes and children’s storytimes.”
Vibe: Casual wear, business-casual and professional looks and occasionally vintage clothing.
On the Racks: Women’s clothing, menswear and clothing for children can all be found at The Wise Penny. Brands can range from mall staples like H&M, J Crew and Gap to designers like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.
Typical Customer: Because of The Wise Penny’s status as a charitable institution and the breadth of different kinds of clothing it offers, its customers range from high schoolers to senior citizens. Veronica Clay, store manager of The Wise Penny, says that some customers are looking for more affordable clothing, while others enjoy hunting for rare vintage items.
Killer Find: “We recently received a vintage tuxedo that was dated 1918 in the pocket,” Clay recalls. “Other memorable donated items were a Louis Vuitton duffle bag and two Edgar Degas prints.”
www.jlbalt.org/community-impact/wise-penny/
Lisa’s Luxury Consignment Shop
1501 Sulgrave Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209
Owner: Lisa Shannon used to work at La Chic (which was featured in a similar “Baltimore Style” article in 2013), and inherited the business in 2020 from its former owner, Mary Anne Barker. She changed its name and managed to steer it through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shannon has a history of involvement in Baltimore’s fashion scene, having become a model at 18 and working in the fashion industry for over 35 years. She initially met Barker when she started coordinating her fashion shows for La Chic.
“I used to play in my dollhouse and draw dresses for my dolls when I was young,” Shannon says. “Now, I call my store ‘my dollhouse,’ so I guess that manifestation worked.”
Vibe: Lisa’s Luxury, as its name implies, focuses largely on dresses, evening wear and jewelry, as well as some less-common items like fur garments.
On the Racks: Many of the consignment items at Lisa’s Luxury originate from department stores, and designers like Jimmy Choo, Calvin Klein and Steve Madden. She also sells some of her own handmade pieces.
Typical Customer: Primarily people looking for outfits for special occasions, whether it’s high schoolers looking for a suit or dress for their senior prom, mature women who attend a lot of black tie affairs or men looking for presents for their spouses.
Killer Find: Shannon cites some of the vintage gowns she’s acquired as being especially exciting, but her most memorable finds have actually been the outfits she’s put together for certain private celebrities as a stylist.
instagram.com/lisasluxuryconsignmentshop/
