I was not in love with my purchase and even less satisfied with my experience at the secondhand shop. ![]() In my waffle-induced stupor, I had effectively ruined the top half of my dress, but I couldn’t have cared less about my sticky situation considering how little I spent on the fancy piece. ![]() The cashier rang my total up to $14.25, a fair price for an elegant ensemble, one that I certainly did not feel bad about spilling maple syrup on at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles the following evening. I finally found two pieces that I could rationalize buying – an airy black dress and a gray tube skirt to tuck it into. If I wanted to sort through racks of the same colors, I would have gone to a department store. The orderly tidiness of the store was a double-edged sword, and I had been slain. The search was entirely emotionless – tedious almost. I was missing the “love at first sight” or “You complete me” moment that usually strikes me when thrifting for clothes. Scouring through literally every piece of clothing in the back end of the store and sifting through a remarkable number of ill-fitting blazers, it took me nearly half an hour to find anything that piqued my interest. After I was informed that the back half of the store carried half-price items, I was off to the races. I’m a complete sucker for a good deal, and sales associates always seem to prey on my weakness – my frugal Achilles heel. Considering the items were of retail quality – devoid of loose threads or concerning stains – the price was more than justified. The shop carried midrange clothing brands such as Zara and Topshop for around $10 to $20, less than a third of retail value. After rifling through one too many slogan tees bearing phrases such as “Célfie” and “Lay-Z,” I was too disheartened to continue.Ĭrossroads’ only redeeming points were its price points and quality. Perhaps I set my expectations too high for this particular shop.Įven the T-shirt section, a go-to stop for casually offbeat designs, was ultimately fruitless. I was looking to be delighted by eye-catching prints or eccentric silhouettes, something to flesh out my tiny dorm closet. I hoped to broaden my stylistic range, distancing myself from the familiar comfort I find in a pair of casual jeans and a men’s button-down shirt. Thrifting was woven into the culture of the Pacific Northwest long before the Macklemore era, inspiring my desire to experiment with different trends. Growing up in Seattle, I had an early introduction to secondhand shopping. Hangers displayed shirts covered in stripes or outdated patterns. Forgotten relics from the early 2000s, such as shrunken jean jackets and flowery chiffon blouses, mired the store in dated trends that haven’t made a comeback. The racks were filled with basic options that seemed untouched from previous decades. The sterile atmosphere was augmented by the scant number of customers and employees, missing the quintessential clutter and coziness of the thrifting experience. However, the hospital-white walls and lack of any decoration made the space feel cold and featureless. However, the generic selection left much to be desired.Įach section of the shop is sorted with Dewey Decimal-like accuracy – first by size, then by a crisp gradient of color. I wanted to leave with something unexpected, a rare piece I normally wouldn’t gravitate toward. For customers who go in knowing exactly what they want, the search is short and sweet for those who like to be surprised, it can be uninspiring. ![]() Unlike other thrift stores, Crossroads is immaculately organized. Growing weary from the noise pollution and tourist traps on 3rd Street, I turned the corner on Broadway avenue and found myself bathed in the glowing light of the storefront. Tucked away from the bustle of upscale clothing chains lining the Third Street Promenade lies Crossroads Trading Co., a shopping destination easily missed if not for a deep Google Maps search. ![]() Each week, columnist Linda Xu explores different secondhand shops in Los Angeles and discusses her thrifty outfits. However, high price tags can limit shopping options for money-conscious students on a college budget. Wedged in between Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, UCLA students have no shortage of places to shop for clothes.
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