THIS WEEK'S ISSUE — Updated Every Monday!
It seems that it sucks to be a black woman these days. Or at least that is what the media…
In her newest single “Sponsor”, Teairra Mari decides to speak out for the full fledged and would-be gold diggers out…
I grew up in a loving home – both parents, older sister, older brother. I went to good schools my…
I have a long, lengthy laundry list of irks and pet peeves, and anybody who stands even on the outskirts…
When Monique stepped on stage to accept her Best Supporting Actress award at the Oscars, residents in California could hear…
I am blessed with a unique situation in life in that I work mostly with African American women. When I…
It’s like a broken record isn’t it? Pretty much every year an African American or two is up for an…
Black women are some of the most beautiful women on the planet, with God-given curves that some go under the…
Picture this: You are awakened with soft and gentle kisses from the glistening rays of the Saturday morning sun peeking…
Mane & Chic is not your ordinary natural hair blog – it’s an eclectic mix of hair and fashion. Don’t get…
It’s hip. It’s hot. It‘s totally fab. All the cool kids are doin’ it….going VEGAN, that is. And, one of…
For my sisters in the struggle, my fellow prayer warriors who bum rush altar calls and wait, who bombard clergy…
Have great fear. Tiger Text is here.
As if practicing fidelity wasn’t hard enough, somebody saw fit to create an mobile…
My mother always taught me to pace myself…
Yet like the ticking of a clock, I hear the urgency in garnering…
Ding, ding.
The Tavis-Sharpton on air fight over whether or not President Obama was going to have a black agenda started…
You don’t need to survey five or six of your girlfriends and listen to their opinions. You don’t need the…
My mother and my grandmother are like the father and mother I never had – my mother being the father,…
I recently had the chance to sit down and watch Spike Lee’s 1986 film, She’s Gotta Have It. The main character,…
The Fashion Barter System
A few years ago if I had an event to attend my girls and I would head straight to the mall or to South Street in Philly (where I’m originally from). We’d make our rounds in every store from Urban Outfitters to Express and of course ran through every girls last minute oasis Forever 21. However, these days I’m totally in love with the explosion of Barter Boutique Shopping (BBS). What is barter boutique shopping? It’s when you go to a store, vintage or other wise, that allows you to trade, sell, and buy clothes! If your unfamiliar with this idea let me explain how it works.
First — you bring some old clothes of yours that you no longer want or something new that you just never wore to your local BBS. You pick out some pieces from the store that you would like to purchase. Once you have both sets of items, a sales associate will take your old clothes and calculate their value. Once the value of your old clothes is tallied you have the option of selling them for cash or trading them for your new items. Amazing I know, but it gets better.
All the clothes that they sell are super cute and really inexpensive. My favorite place to barter shop is Beacons Closet in Brooklyn. Once, I went there and got two dresses and a pair of earring for under $35 dollars! Beacon’s Closet gives you the atmosphere of a boutique, the labels of chic vintage and the prices of Goodwill.
BBS’s are popping up everywhere; you have Dee Lux in Costa Mesa, Mexico, Freestyle Clothing Exchange on the West Coast and Buffalo Exchange which is in over 25 cities across the US. Another favorite is Crossroads Trading Co., which has locations in Portland, Seattle, California and Chicago.
All of the BBS’s listed above have websites that I suggest you visit. BBS’sing is one of my favorite things to do and definitely my favorite way to shop. I fell in love with it and I know you will too.
If you have any questions, comments or would like to recommend your favorite BBS email me at kbarge@clucthmagazine.com.
RELATED POSTS
8 Comments – Add Yours
TWITTER — @clutchmagazine
- New Post on Clutch: Rachel Stewart: Keeping The Online Artisan Revolution Aflame http://goo.gl/fb/bd1w 3 hrs ago
- New Post on Clutch: Mossimo for Target Spring 2010 Lookbook http://goo.gl/fb/PbM2 3 hrs ago
- New Post on Clutch: Robin Thicke (Feat. Estelle) – Rollacoasta http://goo.gl/fb/rW5a 6 hrs ago
- More updates...
SPONSORS — Advertise with us!
RECENT COMMENTS
- Angela on Robin Thicke (Feat. Estelle) "Rollacoasta"
I'm iffy on Robin now--he seems like he's trying too hard with these last few albums after he blew u... - Angela on Rachel Stewart: Keeping The Online Artisan Revolution Aflame
I saw an ad for her designs over at the Black Girl with Long Hair blog. I love supporting black arti... - Angela on Mossimo for Target Spring 2010 Lookbook
Hm...something just isn't working for me from this look book. Perhaps it's the styling (wrong pieces... - Tiffany W. on Liya Kebede Floats for Vogue
Liya is great, no surprise there. I wonder who the hairstylist was for this shoot. I can't take my e... - cherish on Times Square Mural in Hot Water
They must think that they're trying to be cute with this mural, but it's not. This mural depicts the...
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER — Sign up!
RECENT VIDEOS + PHOTOS
THIS WEEK'S MOST POPULAR POSTS
NEWS.GOSSIP.INFO — Daily Blog
There has been a renewal of African American entrepreneurs and artisans in the past few years, and a majority of…
Kebede’s spread for Vogue April, “Float On” is the definition of a fashion editorial. Styled by Edward Enniful, Kebede graces romantic dresses…
If this isn’t proof that Rupert Murdoch’s Fox organization is a mouthpiece for an sinister, counterproductive and archaic faction of…
Clutchettes & Gents,
We at Clutch want to enhance our ability to capture the complex needs of our audience, so we want…
It’s a good thing that Gabourey Sidibe is comfortable in her own skin because there are plenty of people out…
Article from The Grio – For the second time in less than a year, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has…
definetly feeling this, favorite is beacons closet been dying to go there. heard its truly worth more than life can offer.
We have alot of BBS’s here in Chicago. The only problem is that our stores tend to carry cloths that are extremly vintage….like my great-grandma wore that to here prom kinda vintage. I love the idea but Chicago needs to upgrade on the BBSs
i like the reference to south street i can really relate to you … many vintage looks now days…
Woah, you’re a Philly girl? I thought all the contributers to Clutch repped the ATL.
Walnut and Chestnut St. and King of Prussia are the go to spots for girls in need of a cute look. I didn’t think many people went to shop on South St. though; I thought that people went shopping before hand to look good on the flyest street in South Philly.
@ Liah: Clutch writers, editors. contributors are from all over the world. L.A, ATL, NYC, Philly, London, Africa and more, our homebase is in Atlanta. But, not all staffers live here :)
Liah, thanks for showing hometown love by reppin’ PH and reading Clutch! I’m originally from Philly but now live in NYC, so I know all about KOP and Center City shopping, but I love little the hidden oasis shops, because they have the all hottest clothes. The higher hundreds of both South st & Bainbridge have fabulous vintage boutiques that me and my girls love to shop in. So for us south st is a one stop shop, there we can shop, eat, drink and be merry!
Wow! What a fabulous idea! I can’t wait to check this place out.
Thanks for the heads up on Beacons Closet, I’m moving to NY in a couple of weeks…
Which cities in Africa do Clutch contributors come from?