Best Resale Clothing '97

Best Resale Clothing

Buffalo Exchange
2001 E. Speedway
7045 E. Tanque Verde Road

READERS' PICK: No shirt? No shoes? No problem. Combining the thrill of the hunt with the joy of saving a buck has made Buffalo Exchange one of Tucson's most exalted and beloved shopping institutions. Carrying a wide selection of new and used clothing from blue jeans to business suits, vintage to vanguard, leather to lace, this place has it all, and in all sizes. In addition to being able to update your wardrobe for a fraction of what you'd spend anywhere else, you can turn your used clothing into immediate cash. Don't be surprised if you find yourself hooked after just one visit.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Value Village Thrift Store, 300 N. Fourth Ave.

A REAL SCREAM: Wonderland, 266 E. Congress St., is owned and operated by Stanley Blanchard. He used to have a great store called Congress Vintage; but now he has Wonderland, which has a little bit of everything for even the most discriminating non-conformists. One entire rack is dedicated to men's cotton-poly "Perma Iron" sport shirts from the '50s and '60s. Some selections are so ugly they're cool, like a pale blue blouse printed with little, dark-blue kangaroos eating orange ice-cream cones on a city street. There's an entire rack of funky old cruise wear and Hawaiian-print shirts, and still another sporting only bowling shirts, company work shirts and team jackets with other people's names.

Blanchard's knowledge of exactly what constitutes "collectible" in clothing is unparalleled. He's even plotting to bring vintage clothing into the next century with his own web page. Visit the Congress Street homesite now, before his reasonably priced selection of vintage casual wear goes global.

1998 Winner: Buffalo Exchange
1996 Winner: Buffalo Exchange
1995 Winner: Buffalo Exchange