Everyday People Clothing Exchange — Attraction in Saint Paul

Highly, highly recommend this adorable and super thrifty vintage clothing store - it's an experience, not just a shopping excursion. The clothes are in impeccable shape, the staff carefully sort through all items to ensure they only sell good quality items. You can find some real treasures too, if you're looking for name brands. Everything is sorted perfectly in terms of size and type, so you can head straight to what you're looking for if you're in a rush. But you probably want to make sure you're not in a rush because you might miss your dream item of clothing that you didn't know you needed but it's like winning the lottery when you find it. There are several fitting rooms which means you won't have to wait too long. The jewelry and sunglasses section is cool too - particularly for festival goers or those wanting to look exceptionally rad. The staff are very friendly and helpful, they make the whole experience extra awesome - particularly two sweet gals named Nona and Cecile. You can exchange your clothes for store credit which is an absolute bargain, but make sure you don't just bring in your dirty laundry or raggedy ol' stained rejects from your closet because you'll most certainly waste their time and it won't gain you that desirable discount on new items that you're after.

Anyway, I couldn't recommend this...

Does not cater to all sizes! I’m a size women’s L and can rarely find items that fit me here. Today, I found a bought a pair of earrings and a dress (for the first time in years) and shared with the sales person that they carry lots of xs/s but nothing bigger than a size L and would love to see more options in larger sizes. The sales person, who is a thin,white woman pushed back and said that it’s hard for them to keep size L/XL in stock party because it’s based off donations and also because “people have gotten bigger over time and they used to be smaller, so the vintage clothes are smaller.” She specifically mentioned the “slim hips” in the design and sizing of 70s jeans, and the “narrowness” of vintage shoes. I shared that there are stores specifically selling larger sizes vintage in places like Chicago and Portland, OR and how there have always been people who have bigger bodies and clothes that fit them. She continued to argue with me, perpetuating ideas of fat-phobia and size exclusivity, eventually not responding to the things I shared.

This interaction was very discouraging. I wish I had not made my purchase to support this shop. As much as I want to love this store, after these experiences I...

I loved this place when I was in college (pre 2012). Back then, they acknowledged they were selling used clothing and priced accordingly. In recent visits, the selection is packed in more densely but with less variety (all similar styles and very limited sizes), and it's more common to find items in disrepair, or especially in the jewelry case, cheap mass-produced items selling dear. Neckties - even basic and/or stained ones - sell for $30+ when accessories like these that people no longer wear regularly used to be priced to move. Very much a victim of the "vintage reseller" market, especially since the loss of more true-vintage shops like Via's. I'll stick with swaps...