I love clothing, shopping, fashion, and fun. I love the thrill of breaking in a new pair of jeans or busting out my newest little black dress for Friday night fun. I also love living and growing up in a friendly small town like Chico. Even though I love both, it’s sometimes hard to find “big city” looks in “small town” stores, and when I do, they are often being sold for flashy boutique prices.

That doesn’t really work for me.

So here’s the deal. Believe it or not, the best and most cost effective way to get those trendy designer looks is to shop at the best used clothing stores. Yes. You read that right. The best way to look like you just waltzed off the runway is to know where the best second hand finds are.

Lucky for you, I do.

Here are the 5 best second hand clothing stores in Chico, California for the fashionista in you.

Timeless Boutique in the Arc Store

The Arc store in Chico has been voted “Best Thrift Store” by the Chico News and Review for 15 years for good reason. The Timeless Boutique is a dedicated section for high-end clothing, shoes and accessories. You can find all of the hottest brands including Miss Me, Lucky Brand, The North Face, Nike, Teva, Clarks and Abercrombie & Fitch, just to name a few. Because almost all Timeless Boutique items are donated, prices are some of the lowest in town. The Timeless Boutique also carries new clothing and accessories from brands including Miss Chic, L.A. Idol, Montana West and Mossy Oak. Visit the Arc Store on Facebook for updates on sales, new merchandise and more.

Elite Repeat in The Salvation Army Thrift Store

The Salvation Army is one of the largest and well-known second hand stores in the United States.The Salvation Army located at 700 Broadway here in Chico, California also has a dedicated style section called Elite Repeat. Elite Repeat receives a large and continuous influx of merchandise so prices are relatively low compared to smaller-scale boutiques. You can also find Elite Repeat on Facebook for sales, pictures and updates.

Clothing Revival

Clothing Revival is one of the newest and most exciting second hand clothing stores to spring up in Chico. Clothing Revival sells only name brand clothing and accessories. Shopping here gives you the high-end boutique experience at second hand prices. Clothing revival receives stock from local consignment so not only is it a good place to buy designer clothes but it’s a great place to SELL designer clothing too. Consigning your items is much easier than dealing with trying to sell your quality items online and other difficult forums. Clothing can be consigned for cash and for store credit so you can literally trade your used clothing for new threads – new to you at least! 

Boho in the Garden Walk Mall

Boho is one of the smallest and most well-loved second hand clothing boutiques in Chico. Boho also operates on consignment and specializes in vintage and bohemian fashions. Prices are some of the lowest around for vintage threads. They also offer a great store credit consignment rate so it’s definitely the place to go to make a trade. Even if you are not big on vintage fashion, bohemian styles are BIG for 2015 so it’s a great place to find maxi skirts, suede, fringe, leather and more. 

Three Sixty Ecotique

Three Sixty Ecotique is one of the most unique and charming boutiques in Chico. This store highlights local artisans who specialize in repurposing vintage clothing and textiles into one-of-a-kind original creations. You can find anything from jewelry to dresses. This is a creative way to save money, get a fresh look, help the environment and support local artisans at the same time. Three Sixty Ecotique features items like this one-of-a-kind dress that was repurposed from vintage garments and materials by local artisan Elaina Dart.

Visit Elaina’s Etsy store Pools of Laughter for more of her amazing garments for sale.

So there you go! Now you know the best places in Chico to hit while building the perfect trendy wardrobe for 2015.

Not all used clothing stores are created equal so don’t waste your time searching through mediocre thrift stores when you can pop into any of these 5 shops for great deals at great prices!