Once upon a time, a kaleidoscope of independent boutiques could be found along Seventh Avenue, with vendors selling everything from unusual airbrushed clothing to vintage cigarette holders.

These days, Ybor retail is slightly more spread out, but great shops are certainly still around. One of my new favorites is Revolve Clothing Exchange at 1620 E. Seventh Ave.

Those familiar with Buffalo Exchange out West will recognize the buy/sell/trade concept, popular with budget shoppers like myself. Customers are invited to trade in their gently used fashions for store credit or cash, and then go crazy scouring the racks.

Whether you come to trade or just to shop, Revolve is a fun, colorful store definitely worth visiting. Hunting through the eclectic mix of new and vintage items has yielded me several one-of-a-kind pieces. A fuchsia cowl-neck top and mustard yellow handbag are among my coolest finds.

For night owls, the store’s late weekend hours are an added bonus. Shop until 11 p.m. on Friday or Saturday, then refresh with a cold drink at one of Ybor’s many lounges (which I'll explore later in more detail).

Moving on down Seventh, I usually skip the Centro Ybor mall in favor of independent shops like La France. This Ybor mainstay has been around since I was a teenager – and long before – solidifying its reputation as purveyor of the finest in vintage clothing and jewelry. Reproduction clothing now shares rack space beside original vintage, but the overall selection is still large and diverse.

During my latest trip, I fell madly in love with a green sequined cocktail dress. But a relatively reasonable $58 price tag lost out to the knowledge that I've nowhere to wear such a luxurious frock. 

This store’s pieces are well cared for, and because of that they don’t always come cheap. La France can be an easy place to blow your budget. I wholeheartedly recommend a visit, but exercise restraint when shopping or wait for one of the seasonal sales.

Happy hunting! And stay tuned for more Ybor City ramblings soon to come.