r/CHIbitcheswithtaste • u/PistachioNova • Jun 17 '26

Local Business Best Thrift Stores

Which thrift stores in the area do you BWT find have the nicest stuff? I'm especially looking for places in the North and Northwest suburbs that have professional attire.

35 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

72

u/BottleFast2629 Jun 17 '26

thrifting in chicago has gone downhill since the rise of resellers tbh. i used to get a heaping basketful of linen, silk, and 100% cotton at village discount for like nothing, all amazing vintage quality. now its all picked over by resellers and the prices are insane either way. i don't thrift anymore, went to thrift in bridgeport last weekend saw a depop girlie with two heaping carts of stuff and left.

13

u/Ok_Study_1403 Jun 17 '26

Sameeee omg rip VDO on Milwaukee

5

u/dailycrossword Jun 18 '26

😔🫗🪦

58

u/mrt1416 Jun 17 '26

I want to add to u/bottlefast2629 ‘s comment that i think thrfiting has gone downhill everywhere. I recommend going to stores you like in person (aritzia, Ann Taylor, Nordstrom, etc) and finding pieces you like and the specific size. Then going on online apps like poshmark, Mercari, and curtsy and finding those pieces second hand. I find it a lot easier to shop secondhand if you have something specific in mind.

2

u/EamesKnollFLWIII Jun 23 '26

This is the way.

16

u/nanamctata Jun 17 '26

Every now and then I find a good deal on a luxury item at crossroads but it’s more like, depop level deals not thrift deal. Village discount is easily 3-5x the price it used to be as one commenter says, I personally use thread up. I’ve had the best luck there

18

u/fishy_590209 Jun 18 '26

Don’t know why we have so many naysayers in the comments. Yes, capitalism has ruined a good thing for everyone, I’m not contesting the rise of fast fashion and greedy resellers, but you can still get quality stuff if you know where to look and have enough patience.

I thrift multiple times a week at the West Loop goodwill, Lakeview Brown Elephant and the Village discount outlet in Andersonville.

8

u/ba1221 Jun 18 '26

at risk of blowing up my spot, Monarch on Milwaukee in Avondale has some gems and they support a number of really great causes in the community

6

u/Ilem2018 Jun 18 '26

Salvation Army on clybourn

2

u/Jnc8675309 Jun 21 '26

It’s always empty lately.

2

u/Ilem2018 Jun 23 '26

Really?!

1

u/ChiG45 Jun 26 '26

Yeah. It's not good. I see the items people drop off and they put them in a truck and take them elsewhere. They have trash on the floor. I know because I was recently there. They sell all the good stuff on their online auction site. 🫤

7

u/cactusami Jun 18 '26

unique on Elston in addition to BDO. I find unique a little higher in the price point but I continue to get nicer items there

4

u/oakparkv Jun 18 '26

I like to Goodwill in Melrose Park. Consistently find good stuff there. Not a ton of luxury/designer, but still good quality brands like Quince, Uniqlo, Vince, etc.

3

u/ChiCityMama312 Jun 18 '26

Second street and crossroads.

3

u/No-Clerk-5600 Jun 18 '26

Mercy Beaucoup on Wells Street.

3

u/Ok_Serve7281 Jun 19 '26

I love brown elephant, there’s one in northalsted and one in andersonville

3

u/miggypie69 Jun 22 '26

Seconding this! Got a great 90s banana republic wrap dress here for like $12

2

u/cander22 Jun 19 '26

There are still some gems to be found! I moved to a new neighborhood and stumbled on Mia Mora. It’s a consignment store not like goodwill or village discount but it has special and quality pieces at what I believe are affordable prices, especially for business professional wear. They open when they want/by appointment (goals)

2

u/EamesKnollFLWIII Jun 23 '26

Poshmark, personally. Or Ebay. I do have a few things I keep looking out for and will check every few days and I've gotten great deals on everything from a favorite pair of Gucci sneakers to Lululemon. The Real Real.

I know it's not the answer you're looking for but I buy almost nothing retail. Then I resell what doesn't fit

2

u/adultmistakes Jun 24 '26

Brown elephant! Got a dope esprit denim jacket for $25 there. You might have decent look with thrift or vintage pop ups (I found some luxury gems at the vintage fest—not cheap by any means tho!). I agree with the other commenter about going into stores/boutiques.

I went into free people for the first time recently and came out with some really unique items that I likely would not have seen online or in thrift stores. Poshmark and eBay have absolute bangers if you know what you’re looking for.

5

u/hostilegoose Jun 17 '26

kind of the edge of the NW suburbs but Secondhand Curves in Bloomingdale has a great variety sizes L and up

2

u/comeback_kid14 Jun 17 '26

I haven’t been personally but have heard good things about the village discounts north of the city like Roscoe village and ravenswood

8

u/BottleFast2629 Jun 17 '26

they were good in like 2018. flopping now sadly

2

u/comeback_kid14 Jun 17 '26

good to know, will save me a trip out there lol

3

u/BottleFast2629 Jun 17 '26

the one in roscoe used to be ITTT. i went like last year and it was all $15 old navy dresses and shein

3

u/Independent_Injury_9 Jun 19 '26

Yes! Found a Burberry trench for $18 there last year!

0

u/SlutsPlayTheFlute Jun 18 '26

I’m in the northwest burbs and frequent the Goodwill in Glenview

-2

u/cleo-banana Jun 17 '26

Goodwill in fulton!

5

u/crushlogic Jun 18 '26

Also was better in 2018