The Top Palm Springs Thrift Stores & Vintage Clothing Stores

by Carley Lake | Last Updated:   June 5, 2020

I first got to know Palm Springs as a place all the bubbes would fly to during the winter months to escape the Midwest freeze. It was either this or Florida, and my grandparents chose the desert oasis. I didn’t at first know about the Palm Springs thrift stores and Palm Springs vintage clothing stores.

In high school and college, it became interesting for friends for two, maybe three weekends, thanks to Coachella and Stagecoach, and as a quick stop before Joshua Tree camping.

But it’s more than a place your grandparents live (which does make it pretty cool already) or a place to see Beyonce or Haim once a year (also cool). The city’s mountains, mid-century modern architecture, clothing, and bungalow hideaways make it a more than one weekend a year escape.

But first, the first online vintage clothing swap is here!

I’m thrilled to invite you to join the Lucky Sweater App vintage community—an exclusive space for vintage enthusiasts to connect, trade their favorite vintage clothing pieces, and share style tips and inspiration. It’s like a little secret society for those of us who love vintage and want to get new pieces without having to buy, buy, buy.

Use my invite code “VINTAGEPALMS” to get instant access and let’s share our finds and stories! It’s the app I co-founded and built so would love to have you join me and thousands of other vintage enthusiasts! You can download the app on iPhone and Android!

And now what you’ve been waiting for! See below for my top Palm Springs thrift stores and Palm Springs vintage clothing store picks (sorry, Grandma Gen’s home is closed for renters). And see eating, doing, and staying recs in my feature on Sustainable Stylist Lauren Engelke’s City Guides.

All Palm Springs thrift store and Palm Springs vintage clothing store picks are saved to this Palm Springs Good Finds Google Maps List to use on your upcoming desert vacation.

1. Mitchells Palm Springs

Tucked beyond the main road in downtown Palm Springs, N Palm Canyon Dr, Mitchells it is easy to miss—but don’t miss this designer consignment collection and one of the top of the Palm Springs thrift stores and vintage clothing stores. For finding the shop, you are awarded a bright, colorful welcome by 1960s Halston, Versace, and Gucci. I loved the patterned jumpsuits and Emilio Pucci mini-dresses. All I needed was party to go to at Frank Sinatra’s former Palm Springs home to wear my new frocks. Anything happening there soon…?

Price: $$$, $$$$

Hours: Monday 12pm – 4pm, Closed Tuesday + Wednesday, Thursday 12pm – 4pm, Friday 12pm – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm

Location: 106 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone:(760) 864-1515

Mitchells Palm Springs Website

2. The Fine Art of Design

The drive to Palm Desert (~20 minutes from downtown Palm Springs) is worth it for a view of this store’s rainbow vintage dress wall at one of the most beautiful Palm Springs thrift stores and Palm Springs vintage clothing stores. Once I stood in awe and took 10+ photos, I turned to the multiple sales racks (not as Instagram-post worthy, but still just as appreciated) in the back corner. The Fine Art of Design has designer names and less well-known vintage pieces which makes the prices reasonable with a sweet spot around $100. I found my New Year’s Eve dress here—a green, 1960s sparkly shift dress, originally $75, at 75% off—less than $20 and less than my NYE meal.

Price: $, $$

Hours: Weekdays 11am – 4pm, Weekends 11am – 3pm

Location: 73717 CA-111, Palm Desert, CA 92260

Phone:(760) 565-7388

The Fine Art of Design Website

3. The Frippery

When I look back at my photos of The Frippery I wonder why I am not poolside at The Parker Hotel wearing one of the bright, boho dresses drinking fresh lemonade. Desert sunlight and floor-sweeping day dresses fill the store. Clothes are organized by decade, with items ranging from~$100 to ~$500.

Price: $$, $$$

Hours: Thursday – Saturday 10:30am – 4:00pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm, Closed Monday – Wednesday

Location: 664 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone: (760) 699-5365

The Frippery Website

4. Gypsyland

If the mannequin with the pink dog maks doesn’t get your attention, the blue, furry chairs in the window will at one of the funkiest of the Palm Springs thrift stores and Palm Springs vintage clothing stores. Find reasonably priced mid-century modern furniture (the set of 4-chairs goes for $2,656….my previous dining table was $50 at a thrift store but I feel for these showstoppers, that sounds okay…).

Find modern-used and vintage from a beaded sequin kaftan evening gown for $100 to a 1980s white buckle belt for $10. Vintage concert shirts, fur coats, and cooky hats also line the store.

Price: $, $$

Hours: Thursday – Sunday 11am – 5pm, Closed Monday – Wednesday

Location: 2675 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone: (760) 251-0588

Gypsyland Facebook

5. Iconic Atomic

If The Frippery made me want to drink lemonade by a mid-century-designed pool, Iconic Atomic made me want to book a plane ticket and time travel device to head to 1960s Hawaii. Find vintage Hawaiian flower dresses, shirts, and bathing suits. I also loved the $35 vintage tennis skirts, $15 pocket squares (picked up one for my dad), broaches, and cowboy boots. For easy shopping, the store divides its items by style and decade.

Price: $, $$

Hours: Thursday – Monday 10am – 6pm, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

Location: 1103 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Phone: (760) 322-0777

Iconic Atomic Website

And before you go:

Palm Springs Good Finds Google Maps List – Happy shopping at the top Palm Springs thrift stores and Palm Springs vintage clothing stores!

Also check out all of my Palm Springs Eating, Doing, and Staying Recs!