Best of KC Thrifting
Image credit: Rowena Naylor
Our preferred way of getting reccos is hands down, word of mouth. Everything from our gyno to our skincare faves to the best breakfast burrito, has come from a trusted friend or relative. It’s part of what makes Kansas City so great! People actually wanting to help one another. Less competition, more community. That being said, utilizing our resources well and being mindful of our own consumerism has definitely become something we are continuously working on. Quality over quantity as well as sustainable and ethical fashion sourcing have become practices we wholeheartedly are actively learning about. Sidenote, did you know Nelle owner Lauren has a line of upcycled creations? Find out more here: Indian Summer Collection.
So we happily present to you, our favorite places to thrift. Over the past few years, getting rid of things that no longer serve us has been more than refreshing- it’s downright therapeutic. Our rule of thumb is that if you don’t wear it within a year, time to say byeeeee. Clearing up space in our home allows for new energy, new beginnings. It also just feels really lovely to know that our things won’t be going straight into a landfill. Repurposing is giving back to our community. Treasure belongs to the eye of the beholder, afterall. Have fun! Get crafty and stay curious. Turn on your imagination and remind yourself that everything is washable. We hope you enjoy our list of little secrets, Nellies!
Savers (95th & Nall)
A complete goldmine for those that are willing to mine. This place has so much traffic and high quality furniture drop-offs, it’s worth checking once a week. We scored a $10 dark wood hutch that currently sits like a total boss in our kitchen. We’ve seen countless clothing pieces with pricetags from designer brands for both men and women. The workers are helpful and if you donate your gently used items you receive a 20% off coupon, every time. Insider tip, Tuesdays nights are 🔥. It’s Senior Night and seniors receive 30% off. Not only is it the friendliest night and kind of a social hour, we have had more than one offer from a senior shoppers to utilize their discount. Read: a great place to meet a new friend and get a great deal.
Okay, technically not a thrift store but did you know that they have major sales every Wednesday? A little bird told us that they routinely clear out their stock rather than sending it to an offshoot. Meaning, you can get seriously marked down items simply because they want to get rid of items on the shelf. The bird told us she stocks up on UGG boots for her kiddo, each season, this way. Read: get in when the store opens and look for those clearance tags (you can score 75%-90% off items this way).
Okay, hold the phone because this place is off the damn hook. Exclusivity only makes us want things more. Urban Mining is only open every first Friday. Think unique finds that certainly bring to mind another era. One of our friends got cool modern matching lamps for $20 a piece. The store is gigantic and you can easily spend hours there. The cool thing is that they restock each month so there’s just no shortage of interesting gems to enjoy. Read: If you’re an MCM queen or a Design Within Reach lover on a budget, go get ya some.
TurnStyles Thrift (9750 W. 87th St)
Admittedly we don’t know too much about this one, but one of our go-to girls for everything about town said it’s super cheap and they have great stuff. Per Yelp, it has 4 out of 5 stars and sounds very clean and worth the trip. Like we said, one of our friends is basically a concierge for all things cool in KC and this was her first recco. Read: Okay, it’s our Nellie pal Jane Ehinger and she truly knows all about everything and has impeccable taste. Head to TurnStyles!
A highly organized, super clean shop. They have an amazing assortment of Chiefs gear and the store is just seriously enormous. We love the color-coded organization and the nice selection of books. Look for name brand items here! You can haul some beloved brands if you look closely (Birkenstock, Free People, etc). They even have a link to Bungii on their website (our total go-to for getting big items off the floor and into our casa). Read: a little pricier than the others but less of a dig situation and more of a clean display situation.
As any true thrifter knows, different shop locations mean completely different things. The is our dad’s favorite shop and he routinely stops in to pick up a book or two. We have frequented this location together and we have also actually bumped into one another here. It’s much like the other CIty Thrift location in that it definitely has name brand items. We scored a cool Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation-ish dress here recently. We’ve seen perfectly nice rain boots, sweaters, spring coats and they do have a vintage section you can shop (hand-selected and overpriced but worth a look). Read: you could easily score a dope barely used trench coat or J.Crew espadrilles, just expect to spend a little more.
This is a shop that does pick ups! Give them a call and their volunteers will find a time to help get rid of your gently used items. Their pricing is super reasonable and they keep a cute seasonal section in the front. You can expect quality furniture and home pieces and occasionally art and frames, too. This of course varies upon when you visit (as it does any thrift shop). It’s part of the thrill! In our book, it’s never going to hurt to try and barter. If you see something you like, offer what you can. Read: organized shop and kind workers, occasionally a little pricy but keep in mind it’s secondhand and it’s still more than half-off (closer to 75% typically) what you’d pay for in stores!
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