In the Biggest Little City of Reno, there are many gems in Midtown, such as thrift stores, which have evolved from being places for affordable clothing to becoming havens for discovering unique and vintage pieces, allowing people to curate their own personal styles. In a town full of broke college students, these secondhand shops are a go-to for looking good on a budget.
Bela Reyes and Audrey Alavi are two UNR journalism students. Bela likes dressing comfortably and chic on a daily basis. But she also has a trendy “cool girl” style. She loves gold hoop earrings and Nike Dunks. And Audrey prefers to have a sleek, trendy, approach to fashion. This means wearing workout sets or having an edgy look with cargo pants, tight long sleeves and slick hairstyles. For Our Town Reno, they compare two thrifting mainstays against shopping online.
FreeStyle Clothing Exchange, 780 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501
Audrey - Freestyle Clothing Exchange has to take the cake on trendy, affordable thrift items. Friends can get together and tap into their unique style here, with many options to choose from. The most amazing thing about this thrift store is it’s clean, organized, and edgy. The staff is very selective on items they take in, to get the best outcome for their customers. The variety of clothing is so wide it draws in many new customers daily, with items from jeans to blouses, corsets, slippers, and other footwear.
Bela - Freestyle Clothing Exchange is a Midtown classic. Not only can you buy clothes but you can sell your clothes too and receive 30% of their selling price. Freestyle definitely stays on top of trends, selling brands that are more popular in the current fashion market, such as Ragged Priest and Lululemon. But, they also have some cool vintage jackets and sports sweatshirts. They are more affordable and more popular among college students.
Bad Apple Vntg, 1001 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502
Audrey - This hidden gem always catches people off guard with how unique it is. These items are so original, and it’s a very small store. They have rugs, perfumes, candy, hats, shirts, jeans, bottoms, and even a Los Angeles Lakers letterman jacket. This store can be a tad more pricey because it’s so unique. They need the profit more because they aren’t a part of a chain and it’s all special new items and ideas for sale.
Bela - Bad Apple Vntg sits on the corner of the roundabout near Biggest Little Boba Shop. It was my first time in this funky little vintage shop, but they had some hidden gems. The store is not big, but it is filled to the brim with colorful accessories, vintage clothing, and random knick-knacks such as perfume, candles, and keychains. It is a more unconventional and fun thrift shop. They had the vintage Laker varsity jacket on sale for $152, which was very cool but a little out of my budget. While they are a bit more expensive, I would come back for some unique finds.
Whichever store you choose, thrift shopping is the smarter way to have your defined style, on a budget. These stores are essential to have in the heart of Midtown Reno, drawing in loyal customers as well as occasional shoppers and tourists.
Thrift shopping is better than online because you're able to look at the clothing items in real-time. When debating when to purchase something, it’s beneficial to experience the look, touch, appearance, and quality before adding an item to your wardrobe. Although online can be easier for those with tough schedules, or even just if people feel lazy, it's more worth it to shop in person, for many reasons including creating community connections. Thrifting is also the greenest way to get your clothes. It can take years for materials of fast fashion to break down in landfills, while your good finds here in Midtown, if you keep them in good condition, you can resell and keep that vintage look going for someone else on the fashion line down the road.