2025-09-13T16:41:56-04:00

Affordable Thrift Stores: Newport, Rhode Island’s Best Deals

September 13, 2025September 13, 2025/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

When I hit the “thrifting trail” on Broadway in Newport, Rhode Island, I had high hopes. But the experience far surpassed my expectations when it came to variety, prices, and quality. I found thrift shops with everything from vintage clothing to the latest styles. The vintage shops had amazing, varied selections. And the consignment shops were packed with reasonably priced, high-quality clothes. What impressed me the most, though, was the pricing. Given Newport’s incredible popularity as a summer getaway, I figured prices would be sky-high. But they were surprisingly reasonable, making for an all-around wonderful experience.

St. Paul’s Thrift Shop
326 Broadway
Newport, Rhode Island
401.847.844

St. Paul’s Thrift Shop has a fantastic selection of clothing, housewares, furniture, books, and more for both men and women. I was impressed with the quality and variety of items throughout the shop. The brand-name tops offered excellent value for money. Prices ranged from $7 to $10 and above. This is a fair price considering the current high prices in most thrift shops nationwide. The pricing is more than fair for pants, skirts, dresses, shoes, and other items. What really caught my eye was the fantastic range of solid, well-made furniture. This furniture is hard to find these days. It always gets snapped up when I’m thrifting. The store is well-organized, spacious, and has great displays. It was a pleasure browsing through the racks. What I love most about St. Paul’s Thrift Shop is the friendly staff. They do an excellent job. All proceeds go towards supporting the McKinney Homeless Shelter. Excellent!

Newport Thrift & Gift
30 Broadway
Newport, Rhode Island

Check out this charming shop for a great variety of one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories, women’s clothing, shoes, and books. The jewelry and accessory section alone is worth a stop. I’m sure you’ll discover unique pieces that grab your attention!

Closet Revival
30 Broadway
Newport, Rhode Island

What a great secondhand/consignment shop! This shop is so well curated and has such a good vibe. The prices are on point for consignment and vintage. There were still quite a few great buys when browsing the racks. The staff seemed incredibly friendly and helpful, and when you did ask for help, they were present and knowledgeable. The windows are fabulous here. If you are on the Newport thrift trail, this is a must-stop.

VS Vintage Newport
174 Broadway
Newport, Rhode Island

I liked this shop because they have a unique and stylish vintage decor. It was well curated, and the choices were outstanding. Additionally, I thought there were some gorgeous jewelry pieces for sale. They have different price points, so you should find something you like. VS Vintage is like shopping at the best estate sales you have ever seen. So many things catch your eye. You must refrain from buying too much. Remember that when purchasing high-quality vintage, the price reflects the quality and condition of the pieces.

Respoke
6 Bowens Warf
Newport, Rhode Island

This great shop, Respoke, also reimagines vintage scarves and creates one-of-a-kind slides. I found this to be quite unique and impressive.

I hope you enjoyed my Newport thrifting experience.

Until next Time, Happy Thrifting!

How Thrift Shopping is Changing in 2025

May 4, 2025May 19, 2025/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

According to the Thred Up 2024 Annual Report, two-fifths of the clothing items purchased were secondhand. The report also states that 55% of consumers say that if the economy doesn’t improve, they’ll spend more of their apparel budget on secondhand, and 60% say shopping for secondhand apparel gives them the most bang for their buck.

I have seen this increase in the number of people shopping in the thrift stores I visit; prices are starting to increase in some stores. Some thrift store managers state that more resellers than ever are shopping to increase their inventory; quite a few thrift stores are now checking Poshmark and eBay to see what their items are worth and adjusting their pricing. The demand for second-hand clothing is increasing dramatically every year. I know of one thrift store that has adjusted its pricing by charging Poshmark prices. Rummage sales and thrift stores have special sections with new items with tags and designer merchandise. It is a sign of this new thrifting era.

With this many people shopping secondhand, it is harder to find the bargains of yesteryear, but don’t despair. There are still plenty of bargains out there; it just takes a world of patience now. I love local rummage sales, especially when the money goes back into the community (The same for smaller independent stores, where the money goes right back into the community). Rummage sales are gaining in popularity by leaps and bounds. I recently went to a rummage sale in Westchester County that started at 9 am. I got there at 8:30 am to get in line, and there were 64 people ahead of me. That was unheard of just a few years ago. The good news is that most rummage sales have fixed pricing on clothing and shoes. Fixed pricing usually does not include high-end merchandise, but if it does, jackpot! Patience and a good eye will always be the key to excellent thrift shopping scores.

Thrift store shoppers save approximately $1,760 each year by making purchases secondhand. Approximately one-third of clothing and apparel items purchased in the U.S. over the past year were secondhand. In 2023, the U.S. secondhand market generated an estimated $53 billion in revenue. Resellers are also taking advantage of the booming thrifting business. For some, it is a full-time business; for others, it is a way to make ends meet.

I still love the thrill of the hunt when thrift shopping and seeing so many people that I have become friendly with on the thrifting circuit. So go out there and REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE, and most of all, enjoy finding those great bargains that we all love to brag about and show off. There are still plenty of bargains out there. So keep thrifting!

Please check out my Facebook page for local sales!

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day

August 17, 2024August 17, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day. We all know that I think it should be a national holiday. I love my thrift shopping – both shopping and writing about it. Why do people love thrift shopping? Why do I love thrift shopping? The thrill of the hunt is looking for that great find. The chance to create your style and make a fashion statement. The ability to save money by not shopping in expensive department stores. Secondhand and vintage clothes are better quality than today’s fast fashion. Even thrift stores have sales. Help your community by supporting local thrift shops that use their proceeds to help people in their communities. It gives you a chance to keep updating your wardrobe at reasonable prices. If you dislike a purchase, you can donate it right back.

Most importantly, by thrift shopping, you are saving the planet and keeping clothes out of landfills. These are just some of the reasons why we all love thrift shopping. I have been thrift shopping for over forty years, and it brings me great joy and is my passion. There is no better way to enjoy a few hours than by going to a thrift shop and just looking through all the racks hoping to find those unique pieces that I will buy and love for years to come.

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!!

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

Here are some of my favorite quotes about thrift shopping that I love!

January 7, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Happy New Year! I wanted to share with you some of my favorite quotes on thrift shopping! I hope that you enjoy them!

Thrift shopping is all about going into the thrift shop and having no expectation of what you might find.

Macklemore

My mom passed on her obsession of all things antique or vintage. I love to go thrift store shopping or explore any sort of garage sale. Treasure hunting is a family passion.

Zoey Deutch

Thrift shopping is really just an extension of me being that same kid and going into a place that’s completely unconventional that has really endless possibilities in terms of outfits that you can put together and really just expressing yourself.

Macklemore

I love thrift shopping. You can get ten things because everything costs, like, three dollars.

Lorde

I might wear skinny pants one day; I might wear thrift shop pants the next day.

Post Malone

I am a theater girl, and a lot of theater girls dress however pleases them. I wear whatever looks good on me. I wear what I wear because I have been shopping at thrift stores since I was five.

Kirsten Vangsness

The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which.

Helen Mirren

Thank you, Brainy Quote, for the above quotes!

And here are three more:

Natalie Joos
On her advice for new vintage shoppers: “Never shop for something specific. Just browse. Don’t expect to find what you were looking for. It never works. Either go for cool pieces that stand out and are unique (you will keep them longer) or go for the big designer pieces that will last you a lifetime. Don’t buy things you know you will dispose of. Try stuff on. Vintage was made for smaller people. But don’t be afraid to buy things too big. Alterations are common when buying vintage. You don’t want to miss a cool piece just because it’s too big. Too small is not recommended!” —Elle, February 2013

Winona Ryder
“Most of my wardrobe is vintage and I’ve worn dresses to the Oscars that I got for $10. At Sean Penn’s last Haiti gala I wore this vintage dress that I’d worn to a film premiere in 2005. I know that’s kind of a no-no in the fashion world, but why wear something just once if you love it?” —Red, April 2014

Tracee Ellis Ross
“I buy a lot of vintage because, well, it’s AMAZING! And truthfully you can get great stuff for not a lot of money. I have a passion for vintage clothing because of the quality and uniqueness of the pieces (you don’t really have to worry about showing up in the same outfit as someone else). To update some of my vintage finds or sometimes just to make them fit, I have the help of a fabulous seamstress and dressmaker, Daniela Kurrle. She really is stupendous and our collaborations have resulted in some of my favorite dresses in my closet.” —her site, February 2013

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

The Turnover Shop in Wilton, Connecticut – I can’t wait to go back!

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/3 Comments

What makes The Turnover Shop different from other thrift shops is that they consign clothes as well as sell donated clothes. This makes The Turnover Shop a well-visited destination for thrift shop lovers. Located in the center of Wilton, CT, and open six days a week, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM, it continually gains popularity and has a high turnover rate. They carry a full line of women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, shoes, antiques, housewares, games, books, jewelry, and small furnishings.

I went through racks and racks of clothing and found a beautiful sweater, jacket, and a couple of other household items, and I spent at most $30. They also happened to have a phenomenal sale, which made it easy. The shoe selection alone was too tempting, not to mention the jewelry and accessories. I know I was not alone because the store was crowded during my visit.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Sharon Sobel, the President of the Turnover Shop. She told me that what makes the Turnover Shop special is that customers who consign can donate the proceeds of their sales to a non-profit of their choice if that organization opens a consignment account to receive the funds. It is a great way to support a favorite local charity. The Turnover Shop donates proceeds from their store sales to many organizations, such as the PTA of Wilton, Visiting Nurse & Hospice, CT Humane Society, and ABC House, to name a few. All the volunteers love working at the Turnover Shop and look forward to their shifts there. I had a lovely visit with Sharon and saw the store. You can see that they have a very loyal customer base, and people are happy to shop there and are friendly with the staff.

Here is some history from their website: Founded over 75 years ago by a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community’s needs, The Turnover has kept that tradition of service and generosity alive as we have evolved to help each generation. Our hard work reflects every lifestyle and fashion, and our current team of over 130 volunteers remains committed to the prospect of always being creative and innovative. Thousands of satisfied customers continue to validate their hard work.

A visit to the Turnover Shop should be on your must-see thrift shop list.

The Turnover Shop

98 Old Ridgefield Road

Wilton, CT 06897

Phone: 203.762.3160

Monday – Friday – 10 AM to 4 PM

Saturday – 10 AM to 1 PM

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day

August 16, 2022August 16, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!!

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

Bring ‘n Buy – Great shopping and consigning made easy!

July 8, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

I spent a fun morning at Bring ‘n Buy. I went through each rack and had a blast doing it—incredible selections at very reasonable prices for such high-quality clothing. Every single piece of clothing was in pristine condition. All the high-end names everyone loves and wants right now are in the store plus the traditional brands as well. They carry everything from fast fashion to the classic pieces that every wardrobe needs. Her accessory collection is amazing and her handbag selection is one of the best that I have seen. Great shoe selection too.

The pictures will give you an idea of how well-stocked the store is. Check out the @bringnbuy Instagram page for a closer look at some of the great inventory in stock.

Bring ‘n Buy has been in business for 48 years. Tina Hassenstein, the owner, has been there for 29 years; before that was her mom. You can tell that Tina is well-loved by the community by the number of people that come in, some just stopping by to say hello. Tina loves what she does and would not want to do anything else. She is friends with many customers and loves seeing them outside the store. The outpouring of love that the customers showed Tina after her mom passed away stays with Tina every day.

I asked Tina about business during the pandemic, and she said that she was able to do personal shopping, delivery, and pick-up for her customers. Since the pandemic, Bring ‘n Buy has had many new customers as former New York City residents relocated to Ridgefield and surrounding areas. The store is busier than ever. According to Tina, the hottest item during the pandemic and now is designer bags and the demand does not seem to be waning.

Tina gives back to the community by donating all unsold items at the end of August to local charities. Well done, Tina!

Bring ‘n Buy also has personal shopping and closet clean-outs available. Call for information regarding consignment.

I highly recommend Bring ‘n Buy, it really is one of Connecticut’s best.

Bring ‘n Buy
590 Danbury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-438-7714
Sunday | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Monday | Closed
Tuesday thru Saturday | 10:00am – 5:00pm

**Check social media for weather closings closings

ToniOnThrifting