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Resale

It’s A Windy City, But The Resale Doesn’t Blow!

On 2/20/09 at 3:55 PM re: And She Thought She Didn’t Like Shopping, Rosie wrote:
Hello Miss Cheap Jap! I’ve been hooked on your blog ever since last fall. I come to your page for inspiration and for your witty sense of humor. I notice that you went to school in or near Chicago. Can you recommend any high end consignment shops in the city? I really wish we had a buffalo exchange :(

Hello Miss Rosie,
According to my Google search results, you have not one, but TWO Buffalo Exchanges in The Windy City – one at 2875 N. Broadway, (Lincoln Park) and one at 1478 N. Milwaukee Avenue (Wicker Park). You’re welcome.

That being said, Buffalo Exchange is kind of like a box of chocolates. Because the merch is entirely dependent on local castoffs, you never know what you’re gonna get. This is why selling your brandtastic NAYs to your closest Buff Ex is good shopping Karma; someone else is bound to see your trash as their treasure. On the off-chance that both Chi-town locations are seriously lacking, some other options of the buy/sell/trade ilk:

Disgraceland, 3338 N Clark St. Three floors of thriftastic-ness, three dressing rooms per floor, $15 jeans, $8 shirts, brands ranging from Banana Republic to Diesel and, oh, you can sell them your unwanted clothes for cash or store credit too. I’m already dying to go, and I’m currently kicking myself for being blind to the beauty of resale for the entirety of my college career.
Best Yelp Comment: “It’s a lot like getting sex out of a hot, bitchy girlfriend. You have a 50/50 shot at either satisfaction or a bloody lip.”

Knee Deep Vintage, 1425 W 18th St. The usual suspects (well-known brands on the cheap), plus legit vintage clothing at not-entirely-offensive prices; the store claims EVERYTHING ranges from $10 to $24, so that’s all kinds of awesome. Added bonus: Jewelry and other artsy-fartsy stuff from local artists. Also a BST (buy/sell/trade. Obvs).
Best Yelp Comment: “Hooray for this delicious gem of a store. I’ll be back in two weeks so long as my rent clears…”

As with Miss J and her future NYC excursion, I expect a full report on your Chi-town BST journey, complete with photo documentation. Consider it my finders fee. ;)

MWAH!
Cheap JAP

5 comments to It’s A Windy City, But The Resale Doesn’t Blow!

  • Laura

    I’m leaving for Chicago tomorrow and just sat down at my computer to look up good places to shop and decided to check my daily blogs first. Fate!!

  • thanks for posting this! i haven’t been to knee deep vintage, so i’ll have to check it out.

    word to the wise: the buffalo exchange on milwaukee is ho-hum. like all thrifting/consignment/vintage endeavors, your luck changes each time. i’ve noted, however, that this particular buffalo exchange has a lot of stuff from target and h&m…which makes it not such a great money deal (but great for reusing/reducing/recycling. huzzah!).

    right next door to that particular buff ex is a place called recycle- they’re a bit more expensive, but often have more fancy castoffs. across the street is another place…can’t remember the name. the whole neighborhood is good for shopping.

  • chi-town also has crossroads trading co, crossroadstrading.com. lincoln park, wicker park and evanston :)

    check out my article for sheckys.com, where i mention your blog: http://www.sheckys.com/fashion/articles/reuse_renew_how_to_shop_your_closet_6947.asp

  • Rosie

    You’re amazing, you know that right? Thanks a lot chicky dee please do look forward to a full report in the next coming weeks. You made a shitty week the best effing week now :)

  • I just tried to go to Disgracedland – guess what, it’s gone :(

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