With back-to-school supplies and the often-steep price of tuition, being a college student — or the parent of one — can get expensive.
So, finding deals on trendy clothes might be your best bet for saving finances. Not only that, but shopping at local Bloomington thrift shops gives back to the community all while helping sustain the planet. It often helps to map out closet essentials or statement pieces you want using apps like Pinterest, which allows you to focus on looking for pieces you are actually going to wear.
Here are three secondhand shops you might want to check out in Bloomington:
Plato's Closet on South College Mall Road
I have been to plenty Plato's Closet locations around Indiana, and I can safely say that Bloomington's location at 1145 S. College Mall Rd. stands out as one of the best. Every time I go to the store I usually come out with something I can wear to stroll down Kirkwood Avenue, visiting its many shops.
It’s also a great place to find trendy name brands for about a third of their original cost. For example, I was able to find Lululemon leggings for $23 when their original price was a hefty $99. And their catalog of pricey brands is large, often having whole racks dedicated to name-brand activewear.
This Plato’s Closet location also holds seasonal events where you can find cute outfits for the upcoming season, and sale events where their lower prices drop even further. So I suggest following their Instagram to get a heads up on any upcoming events and sales. Parents can find great deals on back-to-school clothes for their teenagers during these times.
skullznbunniez on West Kirkwood Avenue
Nestled on Kirkwood Avenue, in the Fountain Square Mall, skullznbunniez is where the y2k aesthetic meets modern clothing. You can find almost anything you are looking for there, from a vintage robe to a slip dress. And while this shop has its share of older garments, I found plenty of trendy pieces including some Urban Outfitters corsets.
This little shop has all the statement pieces for a night-out on the town or any get together with friends.
In addition to shopping in-store, the shop's owner Indiana Coté has a website and does weekly live sales on Instagram. On her website, Coté said that she considers vintage denim and lingerie the backbone of her business, attributing the two categories to creating the shop's name. The shop's prices are decently cheaper than retail shops, having what I think is a fair pricing point for such vibrant and bold items.
The Cat's Closet on South Pete Ellis Drive
The Cat's Closet, located at 223 S. Pete Ellis Dr., acts as both a cat lounge and vintage clothing shop. This quirky little spot can offer an unforgettable experience, where you might find some cute new clothing or your new furry best friend.
After thrifting at their vintage selection of size-inclusive and budget-friendly clothes, you can get a drink and a snack while playing with some adoptable felines. They often offer funky, nostalgic pieces with the goal of helping slow fashion consumption. You can also support this queer-owned business by donating supplies and by ordering things off their Amazon wish list located through their Linktree.
The Cat's Closet's upcoming events are located on their website and their Instagram.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's Fall/Winter 2026 Source Campus Visitor’s Guide.
