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Vintage Clothing Online: The 42 Best Vintage Stores You Can Shop On The Internet
From Etsy stores and Instagram shops, these are the best places to buy vintage, pre-loved and second-hand clothes online
The most sustainable clothes are, of course, the ones you already own.
However, styles change, bodies fluctuate in size and, occasionally, the itch for something new just can't be ignored. Thankfully, there is one (very stylish) way you can scratch said itch without (or minimally) contributing to fashion's carbon footprint: buy second-hand and through online vintage stores.
Now, we love a charity shop as much as the next person, but, they don't quite have the ease of your favourite e-retailer. However, we have a solution. Many of our favourite vintage sellers have ensured they have an online presence, which makes perusing their stock a whole lot easier.
If shopping for vintage clothing online seems a little daunting, there are tips worth remembering to make sure you get the right fit and style you want.
Be sure to check, or ask sellers directly for, detailed measurements of items and cross reference the measurement with clothes of a similar style you already own and know fit you. Likewise, asking about material composition (that you can similarly compare with pieces in your own wardrobe) will help you determine how pieces with fit. It's also always worth asking if the item you want to purchase has any flaws, stains or smells (not that that should necessarily stop you from buying) and what the returns policy is. Following these extra steps gives you a higher chance of being a satisfied customer as these small boutiques.
Here are our favourite online vintage stores and sellers on Instagram and beyond...
Aubourg Vintage
Aubourg Vintage is named after Layla Dale's late grandmother, whose collection of clothes she inherited, inspiring her vintage shop. Specialising in pieces from the 1930s to 1970s, Dale prioritises sourcing natural fabrics.
'I also source of lot of my older pieces in the South of France where my family live and still have a genuine excitement rummaging through boxes of old clothes and scouring markets. It brings me so much joy to share my passion with other vintage fans and I hope this is contagious,' Dale tells ELLE UK.
Vestiaire
While you may have already used Vestiaire to shop lightly loved designer items from last season, perhaps you don't know that vintage designer items are available on the luxury resale site. Well, other's are cottoning on, since search of 'vintage' items on Vestiaire has almost tripled over the last year.
Whether you're looking for a specific vintage Dior saddlebag or just want to peruse (go to the dedicated 'Vintage' tab on their site), Vestiaire and their quality-control team is where to go for vintage designer items you can trust.
Skux Vintage
Usually to be found in the vintage haunts of Brighton (namely Snooper's Paradise and the Brighton Saturday Market), Skux Vintage also has an Etsy store.
'Within Brighton, we've become renowned in particular for selling vintage leather motorbike jackets,' owner Max Barford tells ELLE UK.
'We also stock a series of collections that feature everything from tassel to Avirex jackets, spanning mainly from the 1970s to 1990s.'
Farfetch Pre-Owned
Don't overlook the designer e-retailer behemoth Farfetch in your search for the perfect vintage item. Selling Galliano-era Dior, Susan-Caplan-sourced jewellery worn by Princess Diana and Lagerfeld-designed Chanel, Farfetch's vintage selection is hard to beat.
The Faraway
If you wear your heart on your sleeve then look no further than romantic vintage store The Faraway.
Run by 33-year-old Kelsey Burns in Canada, The Faraway features dreamy silk slips and perfect old denim for a mid-range price point.
'I source on the road often and photograph each piece in a thoughtful way,' Burns said of her shop. 'I would love for the faraway to be more than a piece of clothing, but a whole vision that feels lovely and dreamlike.'
ROSY and Jérôme Vintage
Founded in 2017 by Pia Anna Kierulff and Mai-britt Gamdrup: 'Jérôme Vintage is a Copenhagen-based vintage boutique specialising in selecting and selling fine vintage clothing.'
They also own ROSY vintage, which specialises in no-brand vintage, as well as Jérôme Studio which creates upcycled pieces.
AMO Vintage
Specialising in personal and private shopping (their cowboy boots are often sold before they even make it to the website), AMO Vintage, founded by Clarissa Bowman. is a hype-y vintage shop full to the brim with Noughties and Nineties gems.
'Having initially launched a career as a stylist, I noticed early on that I was drawn to the appeal of vintage pieces,' Bowman tells ELLE UK.
'I began sourcing pieces for my styling archive and it didn't take long until I was saying to friends that I wished I could do this forever. Over the years I continued to add to my collection and had been toying with the idea over and over until a friend gave me a six week deadline to launch, and as such AMO was born.
'AMO is an Italian phrase, reserved for loved ones, and the collection is really just an ode to that, pieces I love, that deserve to be loved again.'
Jesse & Iris
After dreaming of owning a vintage store during her time as a High Street Fashion Buyer, Jo Cross took the plunge in the summer of 2020.
'Each and every piece has been individually sourced and hand-selected, appreciating the quality and uniqueness you find in vintage clothing,' Cross tells ELLE UK.
'I curate each collection to include on trend, timeless and wearable pieces to slot effortlessly in your wardrobe.'
Bobby & Dandy
Bobby & Dandy owner Donna Grimaldi has been selling vintage clothing since 2006. In her almost two decades in the business, her pieces have been frequently sourced for use in film, theatre and television, most recently Sex Education.
'Bobby & Dandy specialises in hand- picked vintage womenswear and menswear, with particular emphasis on original items from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, vintage French workwear and vintage American clothing,' Grimaldi tells ELLE UK.
'Each item is hand- picked by myself, not sourced from warehouses or bought in bulk like many other vintage shops.'
Cabinet 49
Gail Taylor founded Cabinet 49 in about 2014, and quickly came to specialise in French antique clothing, theatre costume, workwear pieces, along with Eastern European folk-wear.
'My choices are a reflection of my personal taste,' Taylor tells ELLE UK.
'I travel regularly to source pieces and feed my Instagram page with the latest finds. Inspirational pieces can range from a pair of early 1900s hand knitted socks, which have been darned and repaired in 30 different places, to the most exquisite show stopping Opera costume from 1920s Paris.'
Atijo Store
Spanning homeware, womenswear and soon menswear Atijọ Store is vintage shopping for the truly cool.
Founded by four London-based stylists and creatives Anu Odugbesan, Caitlin Moriarty, Londiwe Ncube and Safiya Yekwai, you can expect extremely reasonably-priced designer vintage pieces, such as a 1990s YSL dress for only £90, from a trustworthy source.
'We want Atijo to inspire conscious consumption and celebrate style, culture and diversity,' they told us. 'Additionally, we want to provide a more curated and elevated shopping experience to vintage and second-hand.
'We have editorial shots for all of our products and we provide the same luxury packaging experience (we’re also 100% plastic free) as leading retailers.'
Retold
A minimalist's dream, Retold sells crisp and on-trend mid to high priced pieces in mint condition. If you're looking for cool AF workwear or even a bridesmaid dress, then look no further.
'As a life-long collector of vintage I wanted to inspire others to also rethink their fashion choices and consider vintage as an alternative to buying new, so when I left my job I thought it was the perfect opportunity and thus created Retold,' founder Clare Lewis told ELLE UK.
'At the core of Retold is the mission to make vintage and second hand clothing inspiring and accessible and for every person who chooses vintage over new it’s a step closer to creating positive change on a larger scale.'
House of Vintage
'House of Vintage offers true American vintage in a paired back, contemporary style. We specialise in vintage denim and workwear, classic wardrobe staples as well as rare and collectible vintage pieces. We source hard-to-get pieces and provide them with friendly customer service at an affordable price in our two East London boutiques as well as online.'
Shrimpton Couture
Something of a holy grail for fashion lovers, Shrimpton Couture dubs itself as 'the best vintage site in the world' on its website and we're not disagreeing.
Pieces are regularly lent to A-listers such as Kaitlyn Dever and Tracee Ellis Ross, but you can contact owner Cherie herself to buy part of her amazing high-end collection (that does have a price tag to match).
'I love finding the history behind pieces and really try to convey the stories of each of the things that I bring into the shop., Vintage aficionado Cherie told ELLE UK of her shop Shrimpton Couture.
'I think because I truly love vintage as much, or more, as my most vintage-crazed clientele, I am as much of a fan as I am a dealer. I have a genuine excitement for what I do and I hope that it is contagious. I think that I do what I do in my own little way that is just a touch different then how anyone else is doing it.'
Darling + Vintage
Possibly the most joyful account on Instagram, Darling + Vintage sees owner Cassie O’Neill dancing in her vibrant vintage finds.
'When I started Darling + Vintage I had the mindset that I wanted to sell vintage in a contemporary way, by bringing fun and personality to my store,' 39 year-old O'Neill told us. 'I really think the dancing helps my customers see how each item moves.'
And, though you might come for the dancing, you'll stay for the reasonably-priced vintage stock that jumps era as smoothly as O'Neill's moves.
'Also, my stock isn’t lead by one trend or style direction. It’s an eclectic mix- I pick items that I think are beautiful, which means that 70s prairie dresses sit happily alongside 80s Avant Garde. I like to keep my followers guessing on what’s coming next.'
Strobe and Strange Moon Vintage
Sister stores Strobe and Strange Moon Vintage are both run by Kimberley Nicolson-Moelle. Whilst Strobe is a high-end collection of largely 1970s pieces, Strange Moon features cheaper, but no less beautiful, separates, meaning there is something for everyone.
'Everything I choose is a reflection of me and my character. It must be one of a kind, rare,' Nicolson-Moelle explained to ELLE UK. 'I take inspiration from music culture and street style and try to find the vintage equivalent. I love mixing modern with vintage to give that individual edge.'
Adored Closet
'Started in 2019, Narrations LDN is a true reflection of my romantic nature - I love fun, unusual and rare pieces,' 29-year-old Aleks Karpiuk explained of her vintage store.
'It’s very much a reflection of my personal taste and every piece is hand picked. I do weekly drops which are a mix of 1970s dresses, statement collars, pastel knits as well as florals and ruffles in any form. I also specialise in vintage nightwear from the signature eras of the 1930s and 1940s alongside vintage designer lingerie (La Perla, Dior, Valentino) to help you find that unique piece you will love forever. '
Peony Vintage
One of Margate's most treasured vintage shops also sells online, meaning you can grab a slice of Kent-based Peony Vintage wherever you are.
Georgie Roberton has created a compact collection of low price pieces that often celebrate colour and print.
'I believe in styling true vintage to curate a collection of wearable, affordable and accessible high fashion-style pieces for the modern woman who cares about sustainability,' Roberton told us about her shop.
Imparfaite
Working with over 350 thrift and consignment shop owners across France, Imparfaite is a veritable treasure trove of vintage pieces specialising in low to mid price separates like Austrian cardigans and Levi's jeans.
Though, if you're worried about feeling overwhelmed by their daily vintage drops, then look no further than their monthly edit by a different 'muse', which provide a more curated edit. Plus, their website allows for you to filter through size, material and quality.
Top Of The Town Vintage
Often including pieces from blogger Sophia Barresse's personal vintage collection, Top Of The Town Vintage offers: 'limited capsule collections which are each inspired by a different film, song, person or place.'
'Top Of The Town's key ethos is to make vintage shopping easy, accessible and inspirational,' Barresse told us.
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