Summer is a great season to freshen up your wardrobe with a new-to-you outfit or a fun find for your next barbecue. We love shopping secondhand, especially when it’s hot outside. Our Reuse Centers are perfect for cooling off, browsing, and picking up something useful without spending a lot. You save money, give items a second chance, and often leave with a surprise. That’s a win for everyone. Here are some summer secondhand essentials to keep an eye out for when you visit our Gowanus or Bushwick Reuse Centers. Our inventory changes all the time, so there’s always something new to discover.
A Summer Outfit That Feels Like You
Maybe it's a cute dress, a breezy shirt, or sun-shielding hat that completes your look. Shopping secondhand lets you try new colors, experiment with styles, and find unique pieces that feel like you, all without paying full price. Whether you’re planning a picnic, heading to an outdoor concert, going on vacation, or just facing another hot day in the city, there’s always room to add chic summer style.
Sunglasses and Accessories
A good pair of sunglasses can make any outfit look complete. We also enjoy finding sun hats, tote bags, scarves, jewelry, and other small accessories that add personality with little effort. The fun is in not knowing what you’ll discover until you spot it. That one accessory could be just what your summer wardrobe needs.
Plates and BBQ Finds
Summer often means eating outside, spending time with friends, and looking for reasons to grill. Before you buy new plates, bowls, glasses, or serving trays, try checking secondhand first. A mismatched set can be charming, colorful, and full of personality, especially for a laid-back barbecue or picnic. You might also come across pitchers, platters, baskets, tablecloths, or other items that make outdoor meals feel special without being too formal.
Books for Slow Summer Days
Reading in summer is more indulgent. Maybe you want a beach read, mystery novel, memoir or cookbook to spark new ideas. Our shelves are always changing, so finding your next read is part of the fun. A secondhand book is easy to take with you to the park, the beach, or a quiet spot with a fan nearby.
Planters, Baskets, and Garden Finds
During summer months, houseplants love more attention like watering, pruning and repotting. Ceramic pots, baskets, bowls, vases, and even mugs can all become new homes for plants or handy items around the house. We enjoy finding things that can be used in creative ways instead of being forgotten.
Make Summer a Season of Reuse
This summer stop by our Reuse Centers in Gowanus from 10AM to 7PM at 1 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 and in Bushwick from 11AM to 7PM at 378 Troutman Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237.
Written by NYSERDA Climate Fellow Tatiana Guerra