Common Sort is a buy-and-sell consignment shop that's been a part of Toronto's Riverside neighbourhood since 2008.

With sister stores in Parkdale and the Annex, Common Sort is one of Toronto's top destination for buying and selling gently-used, on-trend clothing.

The spacious location, with its large front windows, provides ample space and bright lighting for showcasing a wide variety of apparel, along with accessories like shoes, bags, hats, belts, and scarves. 

While the store does offer a selection of men's clothes, its primary focus is on women's clothing. The men's section is relatively compact, occupying a small corner near the front of the store.

Nearly everything in the store is secondhand, except for a collection of jewellery, sunglasses, socks, tights, and greeting cards. All of the socks and tights sold at Common Sort are from the brand Hue, with jewellery sourced from Lover's Tempo.

Token, a gift shop across the street that's also owned by Nicole Babin, the owner of Common Sort, is currently in the process of closing, but the Common Sort team has plans to integrate Token's sustainable gifts into their offerings.

In fact, Common Sort's gift card selection comes directly from Token! The decision to integrate was made to allow Babin to channel her focus on managing the multiple Common Sort locations.

Unlike the disorganized chaos at some thrift shops, Common Sort is exceptionally well-organized.

Their merchandise is thoughtfully selected to ensure it's in-season and on-trend, so you won't find an overwhelming amount of clothing to sift through on their racks.

Even a novice thrift shopper should be able to quickly find a piece they love in this space.

You can also bring your own gently-used clothing in to sell for cash or trade for store credit. Their buying counters are open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Common Sort buyers then inspect items, taking into account factors such as seasonality, condition, trendiness, and resale potential.

The buyer will then select and price the items they wish to purchase for the store, providing you with the option to receive either 50 per cent of the total amount in store credit or 25 percent in cash.

For those still needing a bit of assistance, there's plenty of staff on hand to assist.

Upon my arrival at the store, I quickly noticed a pair of purple snakeskin boots that not only caught my eye, but also happened to be in my size. Emma Jonas, the store's general manager, assisted me in styling a couple of fall outfits to complement them.

Jonas paired items that I would never have thought to combine, highlighting how the wide variety of brands and styles available in their store can seamlessly come together to create a single stunning outfit.

Every item I tried on was in great condition and reasonably priced, with most items costing around $30, depending on the brand and type of garment.

One Aritzia top I tried on even still had the original tags attached!

Though they carry items from well-known brands like H&M and Free People, Common Sort also offers a selection of vintage and designer items (although the price tag on these styles is also higher).

If you're looking for a serious bargain, the store has a good-sized sale section, plus a $4 sale bin full of goodies. 

Common Sort Riverside is located at 760 Queen Street E.