TL;DR/The Short Version: Cool consignment shop that recently relocated from another location. This space is bigger so much less cramped. The Long Version: Elsie's used to be in one of those colourful row homes along Queen St (it was at 1530 Queen St). That location was on multiple levels and was incredibly cramped. It had a bohemian feel and reminded me of all the vintage shops in Kensington Market (in Toronto) circa 1990s. I would go to that location every time I visited Halifax. On my most recent visit in September 2024, I went there to see the store was closed and all the colourful row homes along there had signs in the window warning of asbestos and only authorized personnel were allowed to enter. It looked like they were going to tear the buildings down for redevelopment. I was so disappointed, and took out my trusted phone to see when they closed. To my delight, I discovered they reopened on Grafton St and I immediately headed over. Their new location is inside the building that used to be St. Mary's School for Boys. It's much larger so the shop is actually spacious now and not cramped at all. The feel now is more contemporary consignment shop, similar to the ones in Westboro (in Ottawa) of the 2010s to present day. They have luxury brands now. I saw a Chanel purse for close to 10K. They had Gucci too. However, they have more accessible brands in the $40 range as well. I spoke with staff there and they told me they moved to this new location in April 2024. Still a fun shopping experience, but I walked away empty-handed this time. (183) read more

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We had a bit of trouble locating Elsie's with Google maps, however I called and spoke with the owner who told us we were just around the block on the other side- but to call back if we got lost! Upon stepping into Elsie's was like going into another world...brilliant silk scarves billowing in the breeze, a gorgeous array of colors, eye catching shoes including John Fluevog and Louboutin, and an eclectic mix of jewelry. Vintage mixed with modern, many clothes new with tags and lots of designer pieces including Hermès. Incredibly soft cashmere sweaters. Elsie's has something for everyone and is a treasure in Halifax. I would highly recommend the store to anyone. Plus they welcomed our 4 Biewer terriers with open arms! A terrific spot read more

Elsie's Used Clothing is a gem of a thrift shop! I was looking for wool and cashmere sweaters, and I found a wonderful selection of clean, well-organized vintage and hand knit pieces. The mother/daughter owners are friendly and knowledgeable, and their prices are very good for the quality of pieces they offer. Highly recommend it! You will find a treasure here! read more

Elsie's is an amazing little second hand shop; it's not hard to see why the store has won 'The Coasts' 'Best of Halifax' award 2007-2009. Immediately when you walk into the store you notice all of the fine detailing that makes Elsie's such as wonderful place. Is that a sequined clutch hanging on the wall? Are those safety pin brooches? Wooo, look at those 'pin up' style high heels. Maureen, the shops proprietor seems to go the trouble of hunting around (and only accepting) really amazing stuff. Her sense of style is obviously great too judging by the shops success! When I was in most recently a few little things caught my eye: necklaces made from bits of china, fabulous silk scarves in bold patterns and prints and a green leather jacket! Elsie's also has a pretty awesome men's nook as well, so be sure to check that out! Maureen also lets people take items away with nothing more than a promise that they'll come back and pay later. Pretty trusting. When I was in, she let someone take away a winter coat with the comment: "I'd rather you'd be wearing it, just come and pay me when you can." -Easy to see why this little shop wins readers choice awards that's for sure. The best part of Elsie's: Nobody else will have those retro heels and vintage scarf you just bought! Gotta love that! read more

Elsie's Used Clothing - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I had heard so much about Elsie's I thought I would go check it out. Elsie's is one of the second hand shops that I would actually shop in. I am not a big fan of the second hand places because most of the cloths are ugly, point blank. Elsie's was a nice surprise, the outside is a bright yellow, which is inviting and the inside is full of wonderful surprises. I will go back and recommend this shop to some friends who are the Thrift Queens. They can find a bargain anywhere. Elsie's is a really great store, please support it. read more

Elsie's Used Clothing - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

First, there's the smell. Elsie's sells a few soaps and bath products at the front of the store, and the scent of these products hits you the moment you walk in the store and instantly lifts your mood. Then, there's the stuff. Everything in this store has been specially selected for its retro-chic stylings, and the clothing is all of amazing quality. It's more expensive than many second-hand shops, but hey, this place ain't meant to be frenchy's. Keep in mind that they don't take debit, so you'll need to bring cash or pay with a credit card. Ouch. Who carries cash anymore? But it's not that difficult to just pop around the corner to a banking machine, so no bigs. They'll hold your extra-awesome purple cashmere cardigan until you get back. read more

Elsie's Used Clothing - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

While strolling through Halifax, I passed by a little, yellow, creatively decorated vintage shop called Elsie's. While I had never heard of Elsie's before, I thought it looked interesting enough and decided to check it out. I was incredibly impressed with the store. It truly was vintage - but great vintage! All of the clothes were in fantastic shape and were very reasonably priced (e.g., $35 for a Diesel winter jacket). They carried many brand name fashions including Gap, Abercrombie, and Mexx, and offered a great variety for both guys and girls. The shop was quite busy when I went in, but I gathered that a fair number of the people there were shopping for last minute Halloween costumes. While I didn't purchase anything this time, several things caught my eye and I will definitely be returning in the near future. read more

Elsie's Used Clothing - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Delightful boutique, with so much more going on than mere "used clothing." The clothes are curated to be quality and include both current and retro fashions. The inventory includes purses, shoes, and jewelry. I enjoyed browsing so much when we vacationed in Halifax that I returned to be sure I hadn't missed anything! read more

Lots of variety - not much for bigger sizes which was disappointing as I was extremely excited to go there.

Great spot for vintage finds. This wee space is chalk full of goodies. While there's been many a' time second hand shopping has left me hanging, Elsie's has consistently delivered a stellar stock to razzle and dazzle. The store is intimate and inspired. Attention to music and atmosphere is carefully rendered. Piecing through garments can easily become an enjoyable time and enough to forget the stuffy notion of retail shopping. Note: The CDs in the back of the store are not for sale. I was sad to find this out after thinking I'd hit the jackpot. Oh well, this shop is a guaranteed hit for the girl who likes to play dress up and get creative with her clothes. Also noteworthy-- old school bike messenger bags in the front are fabulous. Calling all fashionistas and the eco-savvy! Go and take a look around, Elsie's is a hard place not to love. read more

Elsie's is a treasure trove of fun and fantastic finds. I've browsed through this shop a few times now, but must go back some day when I have enough time to fully explore and dig. On my most recent visit, I scored a fabulous hat fit for a Royal Wedding watching party. The lady who was working in the upper level definitely tried the hard sell approach and also tried to upsell their selection of hat pins. Despite this, I was able to negotiate a lower price on the hat. So much is packed into this store - clothes, shoes, bags, accessories - oh my! Definitely worth a visit. Oh - I noticed a previous review stated that Elsie's does not accept debit, but they do now! read more

Oh Elsie's, such a lovely little shop filled with treasures and sweet vibes. The space is always warm and inviting, with ensembles draped from shelf corners and racks adorned with colorful pieces. There are always new items being steamed by Elsie, preparing them for a new home. The clothing is consignment and varies from top designer labels to everyday mall stuff. All of the pieces are selected with care and contribute to an overarching desire to create a place that is both sweet to visit and fun to shop in. I often come away with fun finds: super soft cashmere sweaters, tops and skirts from the toonie bin, and the occasional dress. Elsie's is a wonderful place to spend time milling about, not to mention a great shop to find lovely pieces to add to your wardrobe. read more

I'm a sucker for second-hand shops. Elsie's is one of my favourite consignment shops. One requirement for second-hand clothing shopping is patience. I find this with Elsie's especially. It's a rather tiny spot jammed pack with unique clothing, some vintage. When I stop by to check out Elsie's, I head directly to the back of the shop to scour the trunk in the back. Each of the items in there are $2. She has heaps of colourful scarves, handbags, jewelry and shoes as well. The clothes are always in great condition and are reasonably priced. Don't worry, boys. Elsie's has some pretty neat threads for you, too! read more

I actually didn't realize that Elsies was a second-hand store. You wouldn't really be able to tell judging by the clothes they have. Everything is pretty nice and in good condition; something that doesn't happen often at used clothing stores. I was surprised by the amount of fashionable clothes they had, and the amount of people looking around. It must be good when you have to fight people for an article of clothes. Okay, it wasn't a full blown fight or anything, but we both reached for the same article. I gave it to the other girl because she was a little bigger than me... and I'm a wimp. Okay, that aside, I really enjoyed browsing around in Elsie's. It was a refreshing (and welcome) change from other second-hand stores around the city that don't have as nice of clothes. read more

Elsie's is such a great vintage store. It's small, but has two levels packed with goodness for both men and women (but more for women, sorry dudes.) Items here are good quality, regardless of price. You'll find clothes and accessories here that span the past six or seven decades, lots to look through. Stealing is never cool, kids, but please pay extra heed of Elsie's sign in the dressing room asking you to reconsider if you're thinking about shoplifting from this sweet, independent shop. (She even says she can talk prices down if you're desperate!) It's not easy to run a small business, and we want these places to stay alive. I'll help out by dropping by occasionally to see the new stock that rolls in frequently. And I won't feel guilty about it either, because deals are easy to find. I bought a $3 plaid dress shirt from the 50's and a pair of $10 legwarmers on my last visit. Approved! read more

Elsie's Used Clothing - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I was making the rounds of consignment shops looking for a costume today and I was next door, didn't find anything then a girl recommended I try Elsie's. While It wasn't busy at all, I got full attention of the girl working in the shop and she pointed out all the pieces that would be perfect. Found this AMAZING jacket and even got a discount. The employee working there gave me probably some of the best customer service i've gotten in a while. I'm so happy she helped and seem genuinely interested about what I was doing to! It's definitely not as expensive as Yelp is making it out to be, there are some great finds at low prices and SUPER-reasonably priced vintage pieces. I'm definitely going again! read more

Such a cute store, it's really a hidden jem! I found some super cute shoes for only 2$ today ! The owner and lady at the cash where both really sweet and they make you feel welcome ! The 2$ bin always has something in store for those who don't mind tossing things out of their way to get it ! Love love love read more

Such an amazing little store full of hidden treasures! The $2 bins has been a win for me several times and Elsie is such a kind store owner. She's very understanding and will change the price to fit your budget. Highly recommend checking her out! read more

This is such a cool little second hand shop. I didn't end up buying anything on my visit but I talked to the owner for awhile and she seems lovely. If you like vintage items, this is the spot. read more

My favourite place to shop in Halifax. The staff know me by name and vice versa. Elsie's is extremely fair priced and they know their stuff when it comes to product knowledge, especially regarding high end pieces. I have found many amazing and unique once in a lifetime finds at this place, and I make a point of visiting almost once a week. If you're a fashion buff I seriously recommend checking this out, especially if you're on a budget. read more

I have had the best of luck shopping at Elsie's used clothing store. The location is fantastic. The shop is a mix of all kinds of clothing, carefully displayed by the colour of the clothing as opposed to size. I found an adorable skating dress, complete with the fur trim. The last time I was there in December I bought a gorgeous blue parka made by the Yukon Parka Company for $ 50.00. There is so much to look at I can be there for over an hour and not notice how much time has gone by. read more

elsie is most often willing to barter/lower her prices, and i have made some awesome scores from the $2 bin. ideally i would prefer more true vintage and less consignment/second hand, but this has even shares for both style preferences read more