You can find some of the best resale and vintage stores in town on
Milwaukee Avenue. The stretch of Milwaukee between Wolcott and Honore
in Wicker Park is an absolute mecca of boutiques specializing in new
and retro fashions at discount prices!
Una Mae's freak boutique is a funky, cool spot full character.
This hipster hub has been a Wicker Park mainstay since 1996 and
features affordable vintage classic cuts that outlast fads. And,
there's even an entire closet dedicated to purses.
"This store is a little more youthful. The prices are moderate.
I don't focus on couture, they're just funky fashions that I would
wear, that are pretty kooky that you wouldn't think that people
might look as costume, but I encourage people to go out and express
themselves," said Nancy Becker, Owner, Una Mae's Freak Boutique.
At the Brown Elephant you can shop for vintage and resale duds
and feel good about spending your money, cause all of the proceeds
benefit the Howard Brown Health Center, the Midwest's premier lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender health care organization.
Right up the street, Lenny and Me offers fashionable consignment
threads and tons of accessories, and if you're lucky you can even
find a few designer gems like Monolo Blahnik's for 94 bucks.
If you're looking for upscale vintage attire, then you have to
check out Store B!
"I collect specifically 40's, 50's and 60's, now we're doing a
little more 70's and 80's, but we're trying to remain true to our
focus of the earlier classics," said David Ginople/Owner, Store
B. "We have some small evening bags that range from 20 dollars to
300, more in the 60 dollar range, winter coat is in the high 90's
to 165, so very moderately priced."
For men's and women's fashion forward gear, make a stop at Recycle
It, a resale shop with a huge selection of current designer labels
at pretty decent prices.
U.S. #1 Vintage is chock full of vintage coats, mostly sherlings
and leathers from the 60's and 70's.
"If you buy the same kind of coat like this in the store you're
going to pay 3,000, but if you buy it here, you're going to pay
250 for it," said Angelo Avina, salesperson, U.S. #1 Vintage.
Our final stop is Crossroads Trading Company. This national chain
just opened their Wicker Park outpost in December. Here you can
find new, gently used fashions for less!
"We are an upscale resale clothing store and we are at the crossroads
of regular retail and traditional thrift, where we provide an environment
that is well merchandised, well stocked and has current merchandise,"
said Michelle Mottram, manager of Crossroads Trading Co.
And, if you're looking to unload any fairly new clothing sitting
in your closet and make some money, then crossroads is a must-visit!
"We look at the style if it's current, we look at the size, we
look at labels as well, more popular high end labels we pay a little
bit more, we look at condition and we look at what is selling in
our store at that time," said Michelle Mottram, manager of Crossroads
Trading Co.
One street and so many bargains, and so little time, though.
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