Stopped by to pass some time and was pleased to find a pair of Mother jeans for $50 and a Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress for $60. Like any thrift shop, it takes a moment to find a bargain, but the mix of high and low is worth the hunt. They have jewelry and shoes - I keep looking and haven't found a match for my aesthetic or size just yet. read more

See all

I've been here a handful of times. I'm treated so poorly every single time. Like no greeting of any kind, looking at me up and down, and following me closely around the store. Because I'm not a white lady perhaps? On top of feeling racially profiled, everything there is overpriced. read more

Popped in with my husband on our way to lunch. Decent clothing, decent prices. Asked about something on display in the window, the woman said "not for sale." Oh, okay, when it is for sale? "not ever for sale. We hire people to style our windows so they put whatever they want in but it's never for sale." Oh, okay. Wait, what?!? So, they dress the windows with things that do not belong to store, they belong to the hired person styling the windows, and nothing in the windows is for sale? Isn't that false advertising just to get us in the store? "no, it belongs to the person dressing the windows. There's a sign by the window that says nothing in window is for sale." Okaaay. Sorry but that just irritated me, especially since it took us 15 minutes to find parking. We left without purchasing anything. read more

Well organized resale with decor, kids, women and menswear plus shoes. Some genuine 'high end' labels like Ferragamo and Karan but overall racks skew to mid range. In recent visit vintage framed Alvin Ailey poster priced $30 - spot on. Their staff around to ask questions. read more

Extremely overpriced even for Piedmont standards. Makes absolutely no sense to price used clothing at the original retail price... and besides that I'd never come back anyhow because the woman that works there treats you like your a criminal the second you walk into the store. I was doing last minute Christmas shopping, and now I know not to ever walk into "dress best for less" ever again. Also your store name is dumb and makes no sense. read more

02.09.19 UPDATE Someone from the business sent me a private message "thanking me" for taking me business elsewhere... I can't believe someone could be so petty and passive aggressive AFTER their business was initially rude to me. This place and their owners/workers are beyond unprofessional. I'm shocked. read more

Dress Best For Less - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Oakland, California

Completely over priced! In some cases, I found tags still on where the original price was LESS expensive than their resale price. While I understand they are a non-profit with the proceeds going to school and mostly volunteers, try to keep in mind that times are tough and to not price gouge like the big guys! read more

Lisa T. (clueless, wanders in off the street, browses a bit): Excuse me, do you buy clothing, too? Old lady clerk: (snarling) NO! It's all donated. Lisa T.: ..... ..... (silent) Old lady clerk: The store raises money for Piedmont schools. Lisa T.: PIEDMONT SCHOOLS?????????? (for those of you who don't live near here, Piedmont has a median income of $134,270 and was one of the "25 Top-Earning Towns" in CNN Money Magazine's list of 'The Best Places to Live in 2007) read more

Awesome finds and great prices. I love this little shop! And Julia, the store manager, couldn't be sweeter. If you love to find bargains on all sorts of items, Dress Best for Less should be on your list (and right next to Piedmont Grocery and the produce market so you can get your grocery shopping done too)! read more

This would be a five star review if the current person at the counter didn't take every question as a personal assault. Everything here is clean and in excellent shape. There are true bargains on designer items, especially lesser known labels. So take you time, walk in and look around. Then look again. Expect your friends to be jealous of what you got for so little. Just don't expect a friendly greeting or thanks for coming in the store. read more

I initially planned on selling my purse at Crossroads, but they were closed. On hand, I had a lovely brand spankin' new bright Red Marc Jacobs satchel. (How long will the men of yelp take to figure out what a satchel is?) The staff here are extremely helpful, and knowledgeable. They had a nice variety of stuff including hats, ties, scarves, purses,etc..Everything was color coordinated, and there was a good mix of low-end items to high-end designers. In the end, my purse sold the next day and they were prompt on the mailing of my check. By this time I had moved to NY and I received my check in about 3 days. CHA CHING $$$$$$$$. Great find, great place to sell as well. read more

I feel bad for giving a little neighborhood store such a bad rating. However, the selection is extremely limited. I think there were less than ten items that would fit me. They do have more clothes for women but not anywhere near the kind of selection in consignment stores. Prices seem decent though. read more

I had a great experience at DBFL.It was pouring rain and I was desperate for a raincoat or an umbrella. I found everything I needed plus a pair of rain boots on sale. The clerk was very helpful, knowledgeable and very patient. Within a few minutes, I was on my way, dry and warm. I'll definitely come back often as they have many unique items for sale such as lamps, dishes, table wear and toys - all you can imagine. read more

I live in. East Oakland no where near the store, but this place is well worth the trip across town. I try to visit the store at least once a week. Because you never know what treasures you will find there. Like last week, they had 50%off Sale and bought a pair of brand new Gucci platform pumps in an original box. I paid $25 DBFL price instead of $800 retail. Also the staff is nice and will give honest opinions if you give them a fashion show lol. Simply one of the best and most affordable consignment shops around, plus it's for a good cause. read more

Cute store with nice brands and fair prices. Staff is not friendly though. I would not recommend buying the $3 jewelry, really bad quality. I was not greeted. read more

Designer clothes at excellent prices and always a great sale rack. Proceeds benefit education nonprofit. Fun spending with a social conscience. Great place to donate gently used upscale clothing and accessories. read more

DBFL is a true gem. A wonderful store where you can find awesome items for the house ( glassware, home decorations, china, etc.) a great selection of toys and clothes for kids, and designer clothes for men and women. I never leave the store empty handed! They also run great sales all the time. I definitely recommend it and the lady who runs the store is very friendly and knowledgeable. Check it out! You won't be disappointed. read more

One year on Xmas eve my husband arrived to pick up his paycheck too late - office closed. ( he often ignored my pleas to leave early for important matters.) We sat in stunned silence . Christmas Eve, friends coming over, little money , what to do? He said," I feel like the grinch who stole Xmas." Gradually we pulled ourselves together, drove to Dress Best for Less . I bought us red sweaters to wear ( his was an expensive English brand), toys and trinkets for our friends. We ended up having a wonderful Christmas! When I told this story to a woman there, she said she'd had similar experiences. Flying home for Xmas is expensive . She has little left for gifts. At DBFL she has bought wonderful things that have delighted her family in a far away ( and very cold) country. As I told her my story I laughed showing the DVD id just bought at DBFL for my twin grandnieces: the Grinch who stole Xmas. So come on down ! Any time of the year. Great finds, and it's so much fun being there - especially before the holidays . read more

This is my favorite thrift store in the Bay Area! It honestly feels more like a boutique or resale shop than a traditional thrift store. The manager is a fabulous woman, who is ready to help you find whatever you're looking for. She even makes succulent arrangements from her own garden that are a steal compared to other stores nearby. You can find high end brands for low prices, and often you can still see the original tags. So the deals are right in front of you! They have an array of women's clothing, shoes, and accessories as well as men's and kid's. I will be going there for years to come :) read more

While piddling down Piedmont we came across this gem of a store. Proceeds go towards education and there were lots of great pieces. Found 3 great vintage/classic dresses in terrific shape. It was a nice surprise to find quality lined pieces that are unique. I'd definitely stop by every time I'm in the area. :) read more

Ok this place has gone through a big makeover and deserves a great review. When it moved to the new location at Lakeshore it's a smaller space and they seriously upgraded the clothes and dumped all the random crap they used to sell. Now it's as good as any second store imaginable. Super quality stuff, a little pricey but hey it goes to the schools as charity. Well worth it! read more

This thrift store is awesome! I especially love looking for shoes and purses. (I can feed my Coach purse addiction here without breaking the bank!) When my kids were younger, this was my source for Juicy hoodies, Groovy girl dolls and accessories, etc. I'd like to respond to the complaints that the donations go to Piedmont schools. DBFL was founded by a Piedmont school parent in 1982. The majority of the staff is made up by Piedmont school parent volunteers. The bulk of the donations are made by Piedmont residents. Occasionally DBFL will fund grants for other local schools, but the bulk of the proceeds go to the Piedmont Ed Foundation. This is a matter of public record and is not in any way hidden. And everyone benefits with the access to high quality merchandise at prices much lower than fancy resale shops like Maribel. For those of you who find this offensive, why don't you get a group of Oakland school parents together and open your own thrift store? read more

What nasty little attitudes these condescending volunteers have in this WAY OVERPRICED consignment shop. Their clothes are marked at near retail prices (are you serious?) and the ladies are just plain rude. The money they raise does NOT GO TO OAKLAND SCHOOLS - it goes to PIEDMONT High School (thereby benefiting only tho$e kid$ who live in multi million dollar home$). I guess they are raising funds to change the school's swimming pool tile from blue to azure? Would rather give my donations and shopping dollars to Goodwill. read more

I frequently drop by this shop because I live in the area and walk past it on my way down Piedmont Ave. I've gotten some great bargains on nice quality brands and some not so good deals. All in all, it was fine with me until my friend who was new to the place asked WHAT school benefited from this charity - and like many others who've reviewed the store, I was horrified to find the rich Piedmonters selling their hand me downs to Oaklanders and putting our money into their already well funded schools. If anyone representing the organization reads these reviews: IT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT PR MOVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OAKLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOO!! read more

What a great place. When I visited all men's clothing was 1/2 off. I am a short person so usually it's hard to find stuff because it seems resale clothing stores love xxl especially in Oakland but I found lots of nice shirts in my size. And loved almost all of the styles she had. I ended up buying an amazing hip suit (jacket and pants) for 21 bucks. Whaaaaat? Definitely coming back. They get new stuff all the time. read more

Best vintage store in the world. Nice selection and the person who runs it brings in aesthetically pleasing clothes with beautiful details. There clothes are so well priced. The jewelry is well chosen too and had a European sense to them. Thanks for the BEST vintage store. Also love the dressing rooms neutral gray wall color. read more

My first introduction to consignment shopping in Oakland and what a gem DBFL is! We continually stop in always to find new selections. Some items are a bit overpriced however there is an abundance of very reasonably priced items as well. I have always been greeted warmly and will be a customer for life. read more

This small used clothing store had exactly what I needed for my daughter's Halloween costume and since it came from the dollar bin I'd say it was a bargain at twice the price. read more

Omg this place is amazing! they have the best brands of clothes like juicy couture, calvin klein, abercrombie and etc. The clothes are like new and in excellent condition. This store has a very friendly atmosphere and all the employees are very helpful. You will find clothing for any ages here! Does it get better? Yes! The prices are very affordable too This store is a must go to! Besides that, they also have jewelry, antique objects an even antique furniture!!! read more

Having been a joyful client of thrift stores for decades, I have visited DBFL numerous times. Each time I have bought almost nothing due to the high prices. Their stuff is nice, but when I think that I have bought perfect cashmere sweaters for $1.95 at other thrift stores, and they run about $25 here, I am not tempted to purchase here. As well, the sales persons tend to be ''off hand'', treating one not exactly rudely, but not with politeness either. I have had much more pleasant exchanges at pet stores. Kind of fun to browse, but not to buy. read more

I absolutely LOVE this store. It is like a boutique with bargain prices. The manager always takes care of the customer like she is the most special person in the world. read more

I think people should disregard all reviews older than June/July 2011, because this store is in new hands. At first bite, it's difficult to tell this place now from the other RETAILERS on the Avenue. Their prices are good, their merchandise well cared for. I'd say yes, for DBFL..... read more

You can find great stuff here if you look. The staff are always kind and helpful as well. Prices may be a bit higher but so is the quality Reading through the posts I need to comment. Why is it that Piedmont should not be allowed to raise money for its schools. The people who live in Piedmont donate all of the items in this store in order to raise money for their schools. If the residents of Oakland want to start their own stores they can do so. Everyone in Piedmont is not rolling in dough. There are people there who are working hard to afford their life just like anyone else. If you dont want to shop there, then don't... but don't make it a political issue. read more

When I decided to check this place out, the salesperson would not give me the time of day. Perhaps I don't look very much like a person that would shop there. When I asked my questions about selection & size, in what I thought was a normal voice, she grudgingly answered them. There are other consignment stores in the area, with better selection and better attitude. I'll pass. read more

This is a great resale shop that has great range of designer to everyday clothing and household items. I've found a LV purse and Chanel small tote here! Also the portable sewing machine I bought years ago is still running great. I highly recommend this shop! read more

Great store with great prices. I purchased two pairs of shoes, a handbag, sunglasses and a necklace. I loved everything. Nice staff. Clean store. There was a bit of a wait for trying on the clothes but nothing unreasonable. I will definitely return. read more

Great shop- Nice things, Good prices, topped off with an OK attitude from owner/cashier!

There is something really special about this store, the staff of volunteers that run it and the community it supports. This thrift store is the best place to go for that something special or an extraordinary purchase you may not find elsewhere. Foremost it supports special programs for teachers in the Piedmont Unified School District. The donations all come from the Piedmont community and are either found at The Marking Room or Dress Best for Less on Piedmont Avenue. This is great example of recycling goods and putting these dollars back into the community it serves. There is a whole group of devoted volunteers, Sharon, Bev, Sue, Julia, Lindsay, Melanie and Kay all wonderful ladies who are helpful, have an open ear, a sense of style and will help you choose that perfect outfit. I wish that the Oakland School District would emulate this program and potentially raise much needed funds. read more

This is one of those places that make you wish Yelp gave a zero stars option. The (French?) woman at the counter was so incredibly rude and actually tried to shame me for requesting the 50% off that the employee in the back told me I would get for children's shoes. So first I asked if ladies shirts were also discounted and she just rolled her eyes and pointed to the sign. WOW. Then she charges me full price for the kids shoes. I told her I specifically asked the woman in the the back, who told me they'd be 50% off, and she shrugged and said, well, she's wrong, and how they were only 4$, so basically what was my problem? I expect to pay the price your employees told me. The entitled Piedmont school district (I learned just now from other reviews) would have missed out on 2$ and saved you yet another bad review and another Oakland resident from saying your place sucks and you shouldn't shop there (ps pls move your business to Piedmont and make room for a nonprofit who actually cares about Oakland). read more

I would have left a better review if it had not been for the VERY RUDE and ARROGANT interaction with the OWNER, yes owner, of this shop. The items are nice that are sold in the store, but it's not worth it! I went in when there was a 50% off clothing sale. The owner had left the store by the time I made my purchase, and a very lovely lady working there helped me. She ended up giving me a discount on an item that wasn't supposed to be discounted as I assume she was not familiar with the details of the sale. I did not notice this until I left the shop and checked my receipt. I left but went back 15 minutes later to pick up two items for my friend. When I went back the owner was there and rang up my purchase. I asked if the items (children's boots) were also 50% off. The owner responded, "Are shoes clothes? What does the sale sign say?" She pointed to her sale sign. I responded, "I have already been in your store and made a purchase. I know what your sale sign says. I am asking because your children's price list is titled, 'Children's Clothing Prices'." I asked a simple question that could have been answered with a yes or no, but the owner felt in her heart it would be best to put me on the spot and make a big deal about my simple question. At that time another employee approached the counter and began to converse with the owner in front of me and stated, "Are shoes clothes? Are purses clothes? Are dishes clothes?" Just to make a point! What I wish that I had said to the owners face in front of her employees and other customers is, "A simple yes or no will do, and if I am to ever come in your shop again you need to learn how to have polite customer service. You have a nice shop but are a terrible owner!" And I should have walked out without my second purchase. But I didn't and I made the second purchase and now I am left feeling degraded and so disappointed with this shop. The shop needs a new change of hands. I have told many people to visit this shop, but I will no longer recommend this shop and instead will be telling people NOT to go. I hope this review helps people to stay clear of this place so they wont have to experience the ridiculous humiliation that I, and from the looks of it, others have also dealt with. read more