AN OBSERVATION FOR THE Fashion CULTURE
For many of us, it’s only been a month since we went back to school and already it feels like our back-to-school fits feel… worn out. Our Pinterest boards continue to fill with new aesthetics and fresh ideas, influenced daily by our classmates and the TikTok influencers, for what’s hot and what’s not and what to spend our money on. But let’s be real, on a college student’s budget, where are we supposed to find new clothes?
If you live in the Washington, D.C. area, I have a simple answer: second-hand fashion.
If I’m being honest, I’m tired of seeing the same Shein shirts. Instead of buying new and contributing to the unsustainable, tiring trend cycle, why not look at the tons of thrift stores in Washington, D.C.? Whenever I mention the second-hand fashion scene here, I always get one scathing word: mid. So, I took it upon myself to search the D.C. thrift scene so you don’t have to.
Along the way, I set out on a journey to see these thrift shops for myself, browse, and also set up an exclusive interview with a new market that is willing to challenge the “mid” status, making second-hand shopping a safe, affordable, and enjoyable experience for all.
ROSARIO’S THRIFT STORE
3616 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
From Howard University Bookstore: 🚘: 8 min , 🚊: 22 min , 🚶🏻♀️37 min
The first victim of my pilgrimage across the city was Rosario’s Thrift Store, a Latino-owned and run shop. It is a quaint and cute spot in the Columbia Heights area, but don’t let its size fool you, it has a variety of selections to go through. When I visited, they had a variety of deals and sales, as it seemed they were getting ready for the fall and winter season, but they also had plenty of seasonal and nonseasonal items.
My friend and I browsed for around 30 minutes, and we hit a couple of jackpots. She found the cutest pair of capris for under $5 and knew she had to cop, while I found 2000s-style capris with the cutest embroidery for $7 tucked in the back of the aisle( which I sadly left).
After we grabbed those finds, it felt like the racks were full of little surprises. The store had a setup where every rack felt like it was hiding a gem, you just had to be patient enough to find it.
Like many thrift stores, you have to have clear intentions and look at everything thoroughly. If I had gone in with the intention of finding a specific item, I’m sure I would have found it.
The music was fun, playing everything from Selena to Katy Perry, which added to the very homey atmosphere. As many thrift enjoyers can attest, music is an important aspect of finding the right item. And if you’re in need of clothes for your internship, trust that they’ve got you covered with plenty of blouses and dress pants for the most studious of people. However, if you’re looking for truly niche and more outlandish pieces, this probably isn’t the store for you.
Between the deals, the comforting atmosphere and the variety, Rosario’s proved itself a solid stop for anyone trying to get in the D.C. thrift scene. Here’s how it scored.
DENVER’S RATING:
AFFORDABILITY: 7.5/10
VARIETY: 5/10
QUANTITY: 6/10
QUALITY: 9/10
FIAS FABULOUS FINDS
843 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011
From Howard University Bookstore: 🚘:7 min , 🚊: 14 min , 🚶🏻♀️: 38 mins
Fia’s, just down the street from Rosario’s, was a joy to browse, with a variety of patterns, sizes, and styles. If you want a more unique take on thrifting in terms of what items you can pick from, I would highly recommend it. The shop was on the larger side but not too overwhelming, and if you find yourself lost, you can always ask a staffer — they are more than willing to help.
I found the cutest pair of jorts with red embroidery for only $10, which I did, in fact, buy. And as someone who is a little on the larger side in terms of the hips, it was refreshing to see so many sizes represented in the store.
The vibe was definitely on the colorful side — eccentric styles, very Miss Frizzle-coded. If you’re more into darker, minimalist looks, you might not find what you’re hunting for here. But if you’ve ever dreamed of being the cool art teacher everyone loves, this is your store.
Fia’s is a Black-owned business ( whoop whoop! ) run by Safisha “Fia” Thomas, who has owned and operated the boutique with her husband for 12 years. She deals with both designer and regular items; whatever your fancy, you will find it in one of her three rooms.
Inclusive sizing, a wide range of clothes and accessories, and a personal touch that can only come from a black owned family business, Fia really stood out to me as a truly unique shop here in D.C. that I would highly recommend with a score of such:
DENVER’S RATING
AFFORDABILITY:6/10
VARIETY: 8.5/10 (sorry to my goth/dark alt baddies, you might not find what you want :( )
QUANTITY: 9/10
QUALITY: 10/10
Link to their website: https://www.fiasfabulousfinds.com/
PRIME THRIFT @ GEORGIA AVENUE
6101 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011
From Howard University Bookstore: 🚘: 13 min , 🚊: 25 min , 🚶🏻♀️: 1h 12min
A staple in the thrift scene since 1971, when it first opened one of its stores here, PRIME Thrift isn’t new to this, but true to this. With an extensive collection of clothes and various items, it’s no wonder the brand has lasted 50 years.
The store is considerably larger than Rosario’s, well-organized, but not as overwhelming as most stores tend to feel. The staff members were very friendly, and the community surrounding the store seemed well-maintained, as they greeted regulars in the same way many would greet family.
This welcoming atmosphere made it easy to settle in and browse without feeling rushed. The layout encouraged wandering from rack to rack, giving shoppers the space to explore what the store had to offer at their own pace.
In terms of fashion, the selection was incredibly diverse, a lot of 2000s-esque clothes and fun pieces in general. From funky sweaters to kitten heels to Juicy Couture jackets, there is something for everyone, regardless of aesthetic. Although some aspects were a bit dated in terms of quality, they still looked good overall.
And if you aren’t looking for fashion, they also offer a variety of other items, including furniture, movies, CDs and electronics, all reasonably priced. Prime proudly supports and raises donations for our veterans, as the reason it started in San Antonio was to support American veterans. And unlike many thrift stores, Prime is willing to accept returns. Provided everything is still attached, you can return, exchange, or receive in-store credit within 14 days.
At Prime, you can also be a part of their rewards program. For every dollar you spend, you can rack up some points!
- $1 = 1 point
- 20 points = $2 off
- 50 points = $5 off
- 100 points = $10 off
- 200 points = $20 off
- 500 points = $60 off
Having a wide selection and a strong community, along with the inclusion of things typically not seen in other thrifts, like reward programs, is what earns Prime this rating:
DENVER’S RATING:
AFFORDABILITY:9/10
VARIETY: 10/10
QUANTITY: 9/10
QUALITY: 6/10
Link to their website: https://primethrift.com/pages/washington-dc
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Delorean 88 Vintage , Secondi Inc. , Current Boutique
Though I won’t go into detail about these stores, they still offered pretty good deals. While some were on the pricier side, considering these were consignment shops, the prices made sense; All I know is it’s still a lot better than buying a vintage item on Depop or Etsy for $75 and after shipping and taxes, paying more than $100.
Out of all these, I would say Delorean was the least expensive — though it had its moments — and had pretty good prices for their vintage selection, with a focus on streetwear fashion.
Meanwhile, other stores like Secondi and Current Boutique mainly focused on current mainline consignment from brands like Alexander McQueen and Gucci, making them good places to stop by if you’re looking for a more formal and “grown-up” style.
So what did my little pilgrimage across D.C. teach me? That the secondhand scene here is far from mid. It’s full of character, community, and gems just waiting to be explored — from Rosario’s neighborhood charm, Fia’s shining personality, and Prime’s community feel, to the refined racks of Secondi and Current Boutique.