Baruch hallways are a mosaic of baggy jeans, funky t-shirts and cozy cardigans. This begs the question: where are people buying their clothes? It is usually difficult to find well-fitting, comfortable clothes without breaking the bank.
This is where thrifting comes into play. Thrift stores are filled to the brim with clothes of all sizes, brands and styles for a fraction of the name-brand price. Baruchians discussed their best thrift finds.
The most popular thrift store among students was undoubtedly L Train Vintage. They are a chain store with eight locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
Sophomore Joseph Farahat found his favorite pair of Lee jeans at their Williamsburg location. Students think the jean selection at L Train is phenomenal; they have everything from Levi to True Religion to Tommy Hilfiger usually for under $25.
Outside of the thrift store, these jeans are upwards of $50 and can end up costing over $150. L Train has a variety of other clothes as well: senior LaMartha Boock found a Brandy Mellville crewneck at their Flatbush location and senior Jaelyn Huang loves their $10 skirts.
Junior Anabel Suriel raved about Buffalo Exchange, a chain consignment store with locations throughout America. The store is different from a typical thrift store; in addition to buying clothes at mark-down prices, they will also buy your old clothes from you if they fit the needs of the store.
There, Suriel found a “perfect” pair of vintage Levi’s jeans that have become a staple piece in her closet. The pants were originally sold for $174, but she scored them for a mere $33. Buffalo Exchange has a location close to Baruch, on 26th St between 6th and 7th Avenue, which is where Suriel found her jeans.
Junior Paige Klapper uses thrifts for finding items other than clothes. She said her most prized possession is a $17 ice cream maker she found at “Piece by Piece,” a household thrift store in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The item was in perfect condition, and she uses it often to whip up a sweet treat.
Senior Marlie Fagan attended a thrifting event for clothes in Brooklyn this past September. Thrift2Death is a “pop-up market experience” according to their Instagram which has amassed over 26,000 followers. They host thrifting events throughout the year that feature a variety of vendors. They also sell handmade clothes and accessories.
Fagan raved about their diverse clothing selection; she found denim jeans, cargo pants and Juicy Couture track pants. Her most prized find is an oversized leather jacket in one of their clothing bins. It cost $20 and is a current staple in her wardrobe.
Seniors Kiera LiConte and Ariel Obero have turned to online thrifting to curate their closet. They use Depop, an app created to sell clothing, accessories and makeup at second-hand prices. LiConte found a lime green baby tee with a M&M graphic on the front for $13. Obero found a pair of $20 Tommy Hilfiger jeans on the app, which contrasts to their usual price of $40-$60.
Senior Lily Olson goes out-of-state for her fall finds. Four times a year, she drives to New Jersey and thrifts her wardrobe for the upcoming season. Her favorite item she found was a pair of vintage Coach kitten heels, made in the 90s. Vintage designer heels can cost anywhere from $100 to over $1000, depending on the retailer, but the student found them for a mere $20.
If your closet is feeling bland, or you simply want to explore a new store, go with friends or fly solo and thrift to your heart’s desire like these students. Happy shopping!
