Baltimore is home to a plethora of top-notch thrift and consignment stores, as any bargain hunting fashion plate can attest. Whether you’re looking to declutter your closets or score something new-to-you to rock, we’ve got you covered for the best spots around town to both drop off and pick up.

Goodwill Fells Point
Out of several locations in the area, the Goodwill location on Broadway offers the best selection for contemporary brands like Anthropologie and Stuart Weitzman. Although the store size is smaller than others, they make up for it by carrying a diverse range of sizes. If you love the Goodwill hunt and are willing to pay a couple dollars more for quality designers and materials, then this location is worth a visit. 715 S Broadway, 410-327-2211

Value Village Thrift Store
Larger than your average thrift store, Value Village boasts two levels of organized men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. Looking through their inventory is like taking a trip through the decades, with a selection including modern designer labels as well as vintage finds. In the heart of Highlandtown, this store is known for its tidiness and consistency. Reasonable prices mean most customers never leave empty handed. 3424 Eastern Ave., 410-327-5300

Uptown Cheapskate Timonium
For those who like to get an idea of what’s in store before stopping by, Uptown Cheapskate keeps its customers in the loop by regularly posting new finds on their Facebook and Instagram pages. The store maintains a rotating stock of designer brands like Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade, with a variety of new and vintage pieces. This is the spot for young adults looking for a large selection of secondhand designer apparel and accessories. 2143A York Rd., 410-560-5890

Redeux Consignment
Redeux Consignment is a mecca for those looking to buy quality or designer merchandise for a fraction of the retail cost. Everything you’ll find in this Roland Park consignment store is a top-tier brand and in suitable condition for resale. For up-to-date fashion, browse their large selection of sizes in products ranging from women’s clothing and shoes to bags and accessories. 5002 Lawndale Ave., 410-323-2140

The Wise Penny
Run by the Junior League of Baltimore, The Wise Penny on York Road is a thrift store with a mission. Proceeds from sales of the shop’s new and gently used merchandise go towards funding the Junior League’s charitable projects in the community. But that’s not the only thing to love about The Wise Penny—its already deeply discounted designer and household items go on even further sale multiple times throughout the year. 5902 York Rd., 410-435-3244

A Day N June
What began as a pop-up vintage shop is now a full-time thrift store on Pulaski Street. A Day N June has used and vintage clothing sourced from trade shows in L.A., New York, and other thrift stores across the country—all handpicked by owner Lindsey Brown. Brown’s favorite vintage clothes and accessories are far from ordinary, incorporating street style elements and vibrant colors. 208 S Pulaski St., 443-314-8995

Second Chance
If you find yourself mid-home décor project and looking for something unique to bring your space to life, Second Chance should be your go-to. Established as a nonprofit to preserve the Baltimore region’s architectural heritage, Second Chance focuses its efforts towards reclaiming materials for public use. In the massive warehouse near M&T Bank Stadium, you will find antiques, lighting fixtures, building supplies, indoor and outdoor furniture and more, as far as the eye can see. 1700 Ridgely St., 410-385-1700

Tried But True
Mothers and moms-to-be looking to avoid spending a fortune on maternity wear swear by the children’s and maternity selection at Tried But True in Cockeysville. In the business for more than 30 years, the resale boutique has a wide range of kid-focused wares including strollers, baby furniture, toys, and infant- to toddler-size clothing. Everything is in good condition and available for a reasonable price and can be consigned when kids inevitably outgrow their pieces. 10914 York Rd., 410-666-9265

Vogue Revisited
Vogue Revisited in Roland Park boasts an array of quality name-brand inventory for all sizes, with new apparel arriving daily. Their curated selection is super-organized, making it easy to find everything from high-end designer boots to top-of-the-line bags, all resold at a below-retail price. They also accept new or gently worn items like clothing, jewelry, or shoes that are on-trend and in good condition for consignment. 4002 Roland Ave., 410-235-4140

 

“The ‘water year’ begins October 1. That’s when water use drops after the periods of higher use from late spring through summer, meaning precipitation can go toward replenishing the water supply,” explains Jay Apperson, the deputy director of communications for MDE. “Snow that gradually melts into the ground is particularly good for recharging groundwater.” The Baltimore region has recorded 5.79 inches of precipitation thus far in 2017, 2.07 inches fewer than average. The drought warning triggers more frequent testing and evaluation by the MDE, and Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles says, “Water conservation and efficiency are always smart—especially during extended periods of reduced rainfall.”

On Model: Ladakh Lexie Duffle Coat in camel ($148) at South Moon Under. Do everything in Love gloves in ivory ($21) at South Moon Under. Dolce Vita Joust shoe in black suede ($99.95) at South Moon Under. Rich Fern Scarf ($28) at Sassanova. 

MODEL: JAMIE EDELEN.

9th Life
833 W. 36th St., 410-534-9999.
Great for: Funky finds for you or a friend.
Details: This row-house boutique on The Avenue has a mix of vintage, new apparel, and reworked vintage with pieces by local artists. The curated racks of affordable vintage goods for girls and guys are hip and funky, yet totally wearable. Unique accessories and home décor make this a good spot for gifts, too.
Editor’s Pick: A floral print ’70s pleated dress, $23.

B’more Betty
1316 Light St., 443-869-6379.
Great for: Saving on designer pieces.
Details: When you walk into this classy Federal Hill boutique with its upscale vibe, it simply doesn’t feel like you’re in a resale shop. Here you’ll find Louboutins, Gucci bags, and a wall of designer jeans. Every item is handpicked by the store’s owner and looks brand new.
Editor’s Pick: Like-new Tory Burch Bryce clogs with a wooden sole and burnt-orange leather upper, $75.

Debois Textiles, Inc.
1835 Washington Blvd., 410-837-8081.
Great for: Vintage finds and super-cheap bargains.
Details: Just south of Pigtown, this textile warehouse isn’t where you’d expect to find a vintage treasure trove. Debois’s Boulevard Boutique is a hidden gem with quality finds from the ’60s to the ’80s for men and women of all sizes. And thrifty shoppers can score pieces for well under $10 by digging through boxes in the warehouse.
Editor’s Pick: A green and white Lilly Pulitzer sundress, circa 1960, $50.

Fashion Attic
1926 Fleet St., 410-276-0817.
Great for: Stocking up on basics.
Details: This small store is packed with racks of women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry. With labels ranging from Forever XXI to Marc Jacobs, you’ll find something special if you enjoy the hunt.
Editor’s Pick: Black and brown woven-leather Cole Haan loafers, $38.

Hunting Ground
3649 Falls Road, 410-243-0789.
Great for: Scoring wearable vintage finds.
Details: In an old church just off The Avenue, this spacious boutique is one of the few offering vintage and small-label styles for men and women. You’ll find graphic tees, button-downs, and flannel for him and chunky sweaters, airy ’90s dresses, and well-styled jeans for her. Accessories, jewelry, and local art round out the mix.
Editor’s Pick: A pair of vintage cognac leather Sebago Campsides, $15.

Killer Trash
602 S. Broadway, 410-675-2449.
Great for: Adding whimsy to your wardrobe.
Details: Across from the Broadway Market, this long, narrow shop is stuffed to the brim with vintage and costume clothing. Gatsby-esque flapper dresses hang from the walls, racks of large-collar polyester button-downs look dance-floor ready, and sequined dresses sparkle on the racks. Amid the costume wear, you’ll also find quality vintage pieces.
Editor’s Pick: A Mad Men-style metallic brocade shift dress with beaded collar, $40.

La Chic Boutique
5614 Newbury St., 443-869-2247.
Great for: A timeless mink fur coat, either vintage or a newer coat made with female pelts for a lighter, slimmer silhouette.
Details: The Mt. Washington staple carries the fashions of Tory Burch, Roberto Cavalli, and high-end Parisian boutiques, all barely worn or with tags still intact. Clients can create a “wish list” and be notified when a certain designer or style hits the racks. Additionally, owner Mary Anne Barker redesigns furniture and creates custom wreaths and ornaments for clients.
Editor’s Pick: Travel in style with a vintage Louis Vuitton suitcase, $3,000.

Little Lamb Consignments
5002 Lawndale Ave., 410-433-9086.
Great for: Gently used baby and children’s clothing from designers such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Lilly Pulitzer.
Details: This one-stop shop will equip a mother with everything she needs to clothe her child, from everyday wear to special-occasion outfits to school uniforms and Halloween costumes. While browsing the racks, you can also find consigned books, strollers, changing tables, and more.
Editor’s Pick: A cozy green Mini Boden coat with toggle clasps and a hood, $75.

Posh Retro
poshretro.com.
Great for: Modern-style vintage finds for work or going out.
Details: Based in Federal Hill, this vintage boutique sells online at poshretro.com. From a silk ’90s LBD for date night to skirts and blouses for the office, these brand-name items won’t break the bank.
Editor’s Pick: Mode Specialé brand brown-leather, blazer-style jacket, $35.

Re Deux
5002 Lawndale Ave., 410-323-2140.
Great for: Preppy, tailored apparel and accessories that would earn a front-row seat at Fashion Week.
Details: The Roland Park store gives runway styles a second life with designers such as Prada, Fendi, and Christian Louboutin. Merchandise is carefully selected to provide a more comfortable shopping experience, rather than searching through an enormous quantity of clothing.
Editor’s Pick: Hermès Grand Apparat scarf, $200.

Ruth’s Closet
9131 Reisterstown Rd., Owings Mills, 410-581-9780.
Great for: Top-tier designer fashions that will make you feel good about your shopaholic tendencies.
Details: Staffed mainly by volunteers, Ruth’s Closet donates all proceeds to House of Ruth Maryland, which aids victims of intimate-partner violence. Pay it forward by purchasing high-end items, including Stuart Weitzman, Escada, and Jimmy Choo, at a bargain price.
Editor’s Pick: A true classic——a vintage black quilted-leather Chanel handbag——will never go out of style, $495.

Ten Car Pile Up
511 York Rd., Towson, 410-832-5246.
Great for: Vintage pieces deconstructed and redesigned for the creatively stylish.
Details: Founder Shane Gullivan accepts consigned vintage pieces and gives them a facelift with the help of his sewing machine, resulting in one-of-a-kind, handcrafted clothing.
Editor’s Pick: A Gatsby-themed ensemble with a white tuxedo jacket and vintage boater hat (prices vary).

Uptown Cheapskate
Several locations, including 1830 York Rd., Timonium, 410-560-5890.
Great for: Any variety of denim, with a huge selection including American Eagle, Gap, and premium labels like Seven for Mankind and Citizens of Humanity.
Details: Emily Schramm and Nancy Kline, the mother-daughter team behind the Timonium, Rockville, and Salisbury Uptown Cheapskate locations, carry everything from
J. Crew to H&M. Although it caters largely to teens and young women, the store also boasts an impressive men’s collection.
Editor’s Pick: A Michael Kors hobo bag in gunmetal with silver chain details, $99.

Wear It’s At
49 Main St., Reisterstown, 410-526-2003.
Great for: Boutique-worthy fashion at a bargain price, as well as personal styling assistance from owner Stephanie Torrible and her knowledgeable staff.
Details: The consignment store in historic Reisterstown carries high-end brands ranging from AllSaints to Tory Burch to Christian Dior and Givenchy, providing a budget-friendly selection of on-trend designer apparel, shoes, and accessories. Items that don’t make the racks are donated to Suited to Succeed and Cinderella’s Closet.
Editor’s Pick: The Christian Dior asymmetrical cheetah print dress, $475.

Vogue Revisited
4002 Roland Ave., 410-235-4140.
Great for: Classing up your work wardrobe.
Details: The first room of designer goods——think Chanel bags, J Brand jeans, Calvin Klein suits——leads to three more meticulously organized rooms with casual and formal clothes, accessories, and shoes. Don’t forget to check the dates on the tags——prices go down the longer an item’s around and new stock arrives daily.
Editor’s Pick: A 3.1 Phillip Lim khaki trench with yellow-trim buttons.

The Zone
813 N. Charles St., 410-539-2817.
Great for: Costume and quirky thrift shopping.
Details: Just north of the Washington Monument, above a barbershop, this store is packed floor-to-ceiling with men’s and women’s fashions. While you won’t find designer brands here, you will find plenty of funky pieces——we’re talking sequined fanny packs, ’80s prom dresses, and neon wigs.
Editor’s Pick: A perfectly worn-in, black-leather biker jacket, $60.

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What I Will Buy

Mary Anne Barker, owner of La Chic Boutique in Mt. Washington, gives her tips for consignors.

Be Seasonable.
Seasonableness is generally my rule of thumb for buying. However, I always take [a few select] items that are “all season,” as people who vacation [in the winter] to the Islands cannot find summer items in high-end department stores.

Stay On-Trend.
Stick with either today’s fashions (within the last year) or truly vintage (before the 1970s).

Tags Equal Value.
I tell every consignor to bring in their items with the original tags——people like to purchase an item with the original tag on it. As a shop owner, it also saves us time researching the original price of the item in order to put a “good selling” price on it.

Prep Your Clothes.
Remember these rules to maximize your chance of success:
• Always clean • Always on hangers
• Barely worn • Preferably with original tags • No tears
• No missing buttons • No damages

Think Consignment.
If you were bored with your items, you could sell it at a consignment shop instead of dumping it somewhere else. The idea of “a person’s junk is another person’s gift” is very true.

Sure, the slick furniture and appointments in the glossy magazine spreads are just fab, but who can afford a whole house full of that stuff? If “not me” is the answer, fear not. Now, you can look like you had a trust fund all along by tapping into the area’s top consignment shops.

We’re not talking the junk shops in the iffy neighborhoods here (although these, too, can yield some treasures to the adventurous): From lamps and living room rugs to antique reproductions and Art Deco, the best of these shops serve up gently used furniture and accessories at deep discounts.

Where do you find these places? We did the work for you. Read on.

Belle Cose

Belle cose means “beautiful things” in Italian, which is what you’ll find at this store in the heart of what could be dubbed Timonium’s consignment row. Distinguished by its friendly and helpful service, Belle Cose features upscale resale items by name-brand furniture makers such as Domain and Ethan Allen. They also carry a nice inventory of outdoor furnishings. If you need a special accessory, Belle Cose does carry some new items like guest towels, jewelry, and purses. They also provide monogramming services to put some personal panache in your abode.

1933 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, 410-308-4885, www.bellecosellc.com

Home Again

Home Again has a little bit of everything, which makes it a great one-stop destination. The front of the shop has new gift items like soaps, candles, and journals, and a wide selection of new children’s games and books, as well as jewelry. You can buy silverplate for a steal and china tchotkes, too. But the bulk of the store is full of large furnishings. There’s plenty of tradition to choose from: Imagine dining room chairs with needlepoint seats and a Statton highboy. But what really sets apart Home Again is its eye for high-quality mid-century modern finds like a leather Wassily chair and a green lacquered credenza from the 1960s.

6719 York Road, Towson, 410-377-3067, www.thehomeagainstore.com

Clearing House Ltd.

If traditional is your thing, Clearing House Ltd. should be on your list. Sisters Lisa Hudson and Cara Derr are the second generation to run this 30-year-old business, which also does brisk sales in vintage and estate jewelry (including Miriam Haskell designs coveted by collectors), silver flatware, accessories, and china. Shoppers line up hours early on the first Wednesday after Labor Day for Clearing House’s annual tented sidewalk sale when old inventory is sold at yard-sale prices to benefit The House of Ruth.

200 W. Padonia Road, Timonium, 410-561-4546, www.clearinghouseltd.com

Consign By Design/Curiozity Shoppe

These two businesses joined forces and relocated in Timonium (but don’t be deceived by the street address—the entrance is off Greenspring Drive). This really is a place of curiosities. Where else can you buy a retro, black-and-white upholstered bar and matching swivel stools; a solid oak, Arts-and-Crafts mantelpiece; or an Empire-style sideboard? There are plenty of overstuffed sofas and a few fine solid wood pieces, but be prepared to squeeze into cramped corners to seek out the best finds. For a small fee, the owners will have pieces custom-painted or finished. And if you ask nicely, you might even be able to haggle over the already low prices.

75 W. Timonium Road, Timonium, 410-828-1870

Cornerstone

If you’ve drooled over the rich patina of a Potthast sideboard but couldn’t quite stomach the price tag, try Cornerstone. Specializing in high-end brands in traditional styles, this is the spot for name-dropping—think Henkel Harris, Biggs, and Stickley. These folks know what they’re getting when they take consignments, too. There’s an antiques expert on staff to separate the real deal from the reproduction and an on-site workshop to maintain and polish all pieces. Cornerstone does carry some new upholstered furniture (mostly discontinued items or manufacturer overruns), which are sold just over cost. Cornerstone’s website is constantly updated to show current inventory so shoppers can e-snoop before they shop.

2175 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, 410-561-3767, www.onlycornerstone.com

The Elephant’s Trunk

Stylish living isn’t just for grownups: The Elephant’s Trunk has a hefty stock of pre-owned children’s clothing, and interspersed among the OshKosh B’Gosh is a nice inventory of affordable furnishings and supplies to meet the needs of little ones. The shop carries a veritable pantheon of swings, bouncy seats, crib sets, car seats, and strollers, as well as a smattering of highchairs, baths, and cute accessories like mobiles and picture frames. Almost an entire room is dedicated to toys and play tables, and all items are routinely checked against recall lists to make sure merchandise is safe for resale. Similarly, car seats must be less than four years old to be consigned and cannot have visible signs of strain. The store puts photos of new merchandise on its Facebook page as well as notices of special sales.

317 Main Street, Reisterstown, 410-517-1200, www.facebook.com/pages/The-Elephants-Trunk

Great Finds AND Design

Great Finds and Design has a stunning array of styles sprawling over its 15,000 square feet of space. A staff of about 20 ensures very good customer service and arranges the store’s wares into appealing vignettes. The philosophy at Great Finds is that furniture should be able to go from the showroom floor to your living room floor with minimal delay, so only the most current fabrics and well-maintained pieces are chosen for consignment, though the staff keeps a list of professional resources should customers want recommendations on upholsterers or finishers. The “boutique” section does a brisk business in china, crystal, and jewelry. Great Finds and Design has its act together online, too. Its web-based galleries offer a tempting glimpse into what’s new and available.

1924-B Greenspring Drive, Timonium, 410-561-9413, www.greatfindsanddesign.com

Objects Found

Objects Found owner Reggie Sajauskas takes items on consignment but will also take the entire contents of homes back to her Catonsville location for those who are downsizing or selling up. One can find just about anything to outfit a home, from Pyrex to patio furniture. Merchandise is organized into 11 themed rooms over 3,000 square feet. Shoppers can browse through the model train room, as well as sections for books, Asia-themed items, dining needs, mid-century modern furniture, and music. Prices are set at a liquidation level, which also keeps the inventory turned over so there’s always something new on the floor.

818 Frederick Road, Catonsville, 410-744-9000, www.objectsfound.com

The Shabby Button

Twin sisters Lisa Mangione and Melissa Garcia preside over this shabby-chic shop that prides itself on its selection of country cottage furnishings (though the shop carries clothing, too). The sisters scout regionally for vintage finds and personally refurbish, repaint, and recushion pieces into cottage-quaint creations. They also carry benches, tables, and birdhouses made from reclaimed wood. Furnishings are often seasonally available—wrought-iron patio sets in summer; dark, painted furniture in the autumn—and are merchandised by décor so shoppers can imagine how things will look in a home setting.

11860 Belair Road, Kingsville, 410-592-7770