Working on the buy-sell-trade model, the Uptown outlet of Buffalo Exchange provides the local hipster contingent with yet another venue for bargain hunting. The space is surprisingly airy, with grass-green walls and brushed metal fixtures creating a bright, energetic shopping atmosphere.  Ample curtained dressing rooms at the back of the store are equally clean and welcoming.

Stock varies widely depending upon the items that have been bought or traded within the week, but the racks are surprisingly heavy on the H&M and Target side. A few James Perse jersey dresses and White & Warren cashmere sweaters will turn up amongst the low-end pieces, but they are vastly outnumbered by fast-fashion cast-offs.  And yet the impressive vintage offerings mixed into all sections – from dresses to blouses to pants – are well worth perusing, if your tastes run to wildly flowered polyester or rust-colored corduroy.

Most of the women’s offerings are tops and dresses, with a single rack of jeans and slacks and a miniscule skirt section. During the summer months, shorts take over a rack or two, but this shop is definitely focused more on clothing your upper body than your lower.

The women’s shoe section is the store’s most impressive feature, showcasing everything from Target to Nine West to Michael Kors to Tory Burch.  Shoes are generally in excellent condition, and priced to move, so unless used shoes give you the heebie-geebies, do browse.

A business that essentially recycles clothing, Buffalo Exchange takes its natural environmental bent a step further: Pass on a shopping bag for your purchases, and you’ll receive a token. Pop the token in one of three boxes in the lobby area, and Buff will donate $0.05 to the charity of your choice.  Shopping never felt so good.