a thrift guide for usc students
By Kayla Hill
Thrifting has become tremendously popular in more recent years. As younger generations become socially conscious and aware of the impact of their shopping habits, the option of purchasing second hand items at a more affordable price has gained a lot of attention. While there is a lot of stigma surrounding thrifting and purchasing items that have been worn before, thrifting has become trendy and thus is on the path to being accepted as a main form of consumption in society. According to the GlobalData Market Sizing and Growth Estimates, the secondhand market is set to hit $64 billion by 2024. As a variety of online second hand networks such as Depop, Grailed and Poshmark have gained recent recognition and physical second hand stores are entering the mainstream space by becoming hot stops for our generation, thrifting is on the rise and will soon be seen as a reputable and central way of shopping without contributing to unethical practices.
Space City
Address: 339 ½ E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Rating: 9/10
Price: $$$
Space City is definitely one of the most fun and unique thrift stores in the neighborhood. If you’re looking to up your streetwear or for some new staple pieces, then Space City should be on your list. This shop is located in Little Tokyo, a 15 minute drive from campus and definitely worth the short trip. Space City also lets customers make online purchases to accommodate during these times. They have a lot of vintage clothes, leather shoes and even a large collection of vinyl records. The store is divided into 3 sections: vintage t shirts, colorful statement garments for women and men’s clothes. From Harley Davidson tees to Cowboy boots, they have all of the rare vintage pieces you could dream of.
Goodwill Bins Southern California Outlet Store
Address: 3150 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Rating: 8.5/10
Price: $
I’ve been to the Goodwill Bins more times than I count and have never left empty handed. The Goodwill Bins are by far one of the best spots to go to in the area, if you’re looking to find rare pieces for a very affordable price. One of the biggest downsides however is how time consuming shopping at the bins can be. While you are certainly likely to find rare pieces here, be ready to spend hours digging through piles of clothes to end up finding something amazing. Another con is the long wait to get inside of the store on weekends. I recommend coming on weekdays or early in the morning, as there are usually less people and you are less likely to have to wait in line. Some items that I’ve found at this location were vintage corset bustier tops, a Marc Jacobs jacket, silk dresses and vintage USC sweaters. Since this Goodwill is an outlet store, the price is dependent on the weight of your items, rather than pricing each individual item separately. The current rate is $2 per pound. This means that all items, regardless of what brand or condition, will be extremely affordable.
FIDM Scholarship Store
Address: 919 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $$/ $$$
The FIDM Scholarship Store is the perfect place to go to, if you need clothes for a special occasion, but don’t want to break the bank. This shop has a lot of clothes, some brand new and some used, but all greatly discounted. Most of their garments are donated from large fashion brands and designers and all of the proceeds go to fund scholarships for FIDM students. They have a great range of contemporary brands from Stussy, to Revolve and Elyse Walker, all of which are sold for a fraction of the retail price. The store also has a wide range of fabric for sale, if you’re looking to make your own garments. A few of their items for sale are samples or damaged donations, so I would recommend being weary that a piece might have a minor flaw, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of having to fix your new finds. If you’re looking for a bargain and want your money to go to a good cause, make sure to visit this store.
Goodwill Southern California Store
Address: 2823 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA
Rating: 7/10
Price: $$
The Goodwill on Figueroa Street is one of the thrift stores closest to the main USC campus. Although this location is relatively small, this thrift store has a large selection of clothes, most of which are basics that can prove to be staples in your everyday wardrobe. I would recommend this place if you are looking for vintage basics. This Goodwill is also located in the fryt zone, which makes it extremely convenient and accessible if you’re looking to shop somewhere nearby and are on a time crunch. From Helmut Lang, to Paige Denim jeans, to Urban Outfitters crop tops, I’ve found all kinds of steals at this store.
Space City
Address: 339 ½ E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Rating: 9/10
Price: $$$
Space City is definitely one of the most fun and unique thrift stores in the neighborhood. If you’re looking to up your streetwear or for some new staple pieces, then Space City should be on your list. This shop is located in Little Tokyo, a 15 minute drive from campus and definitely worth the short trip. Space City also lets customers make online purchases to accommodate during these times. They have a lot of vintage clothes, leather shoes and even a large collection of vinyl records. The store is divided into 3 sections: vintage t shirts, colorful statement garments for women and men’s clothes. From Harley Davidson tees to Cowboy boots, they have all of the rare vintage pieces you could dream of.
Goodwill Bins Southern California Outlet Store
Address: 3150 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Rating: 8.5/10
Price: $
I’ve been to the Goodwill Bins more times than I count and have never left empty handed. The Goodwill Bins are by far one of the best spots to go to in the area, if you’re looking to find rare pieces for a very affordable price. One of the biggest downsides however is how time consuming shopping at the bins can be. While you are certainly likely to find rare pieces here, be ready to spend hours digging through piles of clothes to end up finding something amazing. Another con is the long wait to get inside of the store on weekends. I recommend coming on weekdays or early in the morning, as there are usually less people and you are less likely to have to wait in line. Some items that I’ve found at this location were vintage corset bustier tops, a Marc Jacobs jacket, silk dresses and vintage USC sweaters. Since this Goodwill is an outlet store, the price is dependent on the weight of your items, rather than pricing each individual item separately. The current rate is $2 per pound. This means that all items, regardless of what brand or condition, will be extremely affordable.
FIDM Scholarship Store
Address: 919 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $$/ $$$
The FIDM Scholarship Store is the perfect place to go to, if you need clothes for a special occasion, but don’t want to break the bank. This shop has a lot of clothes, some brand new and some used, but all greatly discounted. Most of their garments are donated from large fashion brands and designers and all of the proceeds go to fund scholarships for FIDM students. They have a great range of contemporary brands from Stussy, to Revolve and Elyse Walker, all of which are sold for a fraction of the retail price. The store also has a wide range of fabric for sale, if you’re looking to make your own garments. A few of their items for sale are samples or damaged donations, so I would recommend being weary that a piece might have a minor flaw, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of having to fix your new finds. If you’re looking for a bargain and want your money to go to a good cause, make sure to visit this store.
Goodwill Southern California Store
Address: 2823 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA
Rating: 7/10
Price: $$
The Goodwill on Figueroa Street is one of the thrift stores closest to the main USC campus. Although this location is relatively small, this thrift store has a large selection of clothes, most of which are basics that can prove to be staples in your everyday wardrobe. I would recommend this place if you are looking for vintage basics. This Goodwill is also located in the fryt zone, which makes it extremely convenient and accessible if you’re looking to shop somewhere nearby and are on a time crunch. From Helmut Lang, to Paige Denim jeans, to Urban Outfitters crop tops, I’ve found all kinds of steals at this store.