Thrift-store shopping doesn’t have to be the only way to discover hidden gems. Affordable, quality clothing is hiding in plain sight, and in stores you probably walk by every day in the mall. Here are a few examples of stores you wouldn’t be expecting to be carrying the motherlode of cheap jewelry, the perfect plaid shirt, or the best hats.
Capital Iron (1900 Store St.; 202-9768 Fifth St., Sidney) (Men’s and women’s)
Known for its eclectic mix of hardware, surplus items, kitchen supplies, gardening tools, and outdoor gear, Capital Iron isn’t the first place one might think to go clothes shopping, unless it was for a tundra parka. But the store has a growing section of clothes and accessories. They carry Hunter boots, an array of affordably priced moccasins, plaid shirts, and more. They have a clothing clearance tunnel fully stocked with a pair of shorts with miniature hot dogs embroidered onto them. There truly is no store like it.
What I found: A chocolate brown fedora with a leopard print band.
Mark’s Work Wearhouse (530 Chatham St.; 210-777 Royal Oak Dr.; 117-2955 Phipps Rd.) (Men’s and women’s)
This store is not just for the outdoorsy men who work in the harsh elements: it actually has a pretty good selection of basic women’s and men’s clothing. All the clothes are functional and heavily targeted towards middle-aged folk, so if something is trendy it’s probably on sale.
What I found: A faux-fur Russian Ushanka hat for half of what it would cost at any other store.
Sears (Hillside Mall) (Men’s and women’s)
Often seen as the cheaper, less classy sibling of The Bay, Sears is a department store waiting to be rediscovered. In between the racks of high-waisted, pleated pants are gorgeous Aztec coats and a dazzling array of tights and socks.
What I found: Gold- and silver-flecked tights, basic black tights, lace tights, coloured tights, over-the-knee socks, and Christmas-patterned reindeer socks.
Suzy Shier (Mayfair Mall; The Bay Centre; 111-2401B Millstream Rd) (Women’s)
Walking into Suzy Shier (after boycotting it, thinking it was a frumpy-middle-aged-women store) was one of the best decisions for my jewelry box. The clothes are outdated and look ill-fitting, even on the hanger, but their jewelry is often half-price and gorgeous.
What I found: An ornate bejeweled locket. Everyone is flabbergasted when I tell them it’s from Suzy Shier and not a trendy Lower Johnson boutique.
Dots (724 Fort St.) (Women’s, with a small men’s section)
Resembles the jumbled racks of a thrift store, but instead of used clothing it has brand-name clothing heavily discounted. They often run sales on their already discounted items, making them even cheaper. It’s a thrift store for new clothing. It’s awesome.
What I found: Beautiful blouses, shorts, too many dresses to count (they have a whole wall of them!).
The Cobbler (718 View St.) (Men’s and women’s)
No, it’s not an actual cobbler: it’s a store that specializes in carrying comfortable shoes. Style is often sacrificed for comfort here, but often hidden gems emerge on their sale wall (yes, it’s a whole wall).
What I found: Cowboy-inspired leather ankle boots by Born.
So don’t judge a store by its reputation or questionable curb appeal. Walk into a store that you think isn’t your style and maybe you’ll find something truly special. Remember, when walking into one of these stores, you can’t be looking for the perfect necklace: the perfect necklace has to be looking for you.