When people ask me if I’m a type A person, I show them my meticulously organized Google Drive folder filled with an itinerary for every single trip I’ve ever been on. I’m the kind of person who schedules “walking time” with a bulleted list of every café, restaurant, and shop worth stopping by. And when it comes to vintage store shopping, I have a whole day dedicated to making sure I don’t miss a single one.
If you love vintage, shopping for it in a new city is exciting. But even if you’re not typically a thrift obsessive like myself, it’s worth noting you can learn so much about a city you’re visiting by seeing what kind of clothing its most fashionable inhabitants are sourcing and buying. Oftentimes, shop owners will tell me where they sourced a piece or who in town they bought it from, and the item becomes so much more than something that caught my eye—it becomes a physical embodiment of a special memory made on a trip I don’t want to forget.
Below are 13 vintage shops I know are worth planning a trip around because I’ve been to all of them and acquired multiple timeless pieces for my wardrobe that I can’t imagine living without.
James Veloria in New York City
Ask any fashion girl in New York City what her favorite vintage shop is, and I can guarantee James Veloria will be somewhere on that list, most likely in the number one spot. The beloved shop is located on the second floor of an unassuming Chinatown mall, and getting there feels like a journey in itself. Stepping into the shop with checkered ceilings, colorful walls, red velvet curtains, and a purple rug feels like a 2000s movie’s walk-in closet come to life. Nothing beats the edit of archival Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Prada, and more, for prices that you just can’t beat. I bought a ’90s yellow Miu Miu handbag for under $200 that I wear more than any other designer bag I own.
Address: 75 East Broadway #225, New York, New York 10002, United States
Aralda Vintage in Los Angeles
If you aren’t familiar with Aralda Vintage, yes, you are. The shop provided the iconic archival pieces in the much-discussed scene in Euphoria season 2 when Maddie tries on clothes from the closet of the mother she is babysitting for. When Brynn Jones isn’t sourcing vintage gems and lending them to television shows, she’s curating incredible archival pieces often bought and worn by celebrities on the red carpet. The store is now open by appointment only, and Jones says she often adds pieces to her archive only when someone special comes to mind. (And somehow, she says they always find their way to her.)
Address: 2691 Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068 United States
Vice Versa in San Juan, Puerto Rico
When Vice Versa in San Juan is closed, there is a metal gate covering the store that says, “Stay cool, buy vintage,” which is, of course, exactly what you can do when Vice Versa is open. If you’re visiting the island, this store is an absolute must. Sitting atop vintage armoires and cabinets are rows of secondhand designer bags and shoes. If you sift through the clothing racks in the back, chances are you’ll find some vintage Roberto Cavalli for under $100.
Address: 1951 Calle Loíza, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00911
Lover’s Lane in London
Lover’s Lane is the kind of vintage store you plan on going to and may have to wait 30 minutes to reopen because a very famous celebrity is shopping inside (based on a true story). But the blue shop in Notting Hill is famous for a reason. If you want to see holy grails up close (we’re talking runway items worn by the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell), then look no further. The store might as well be a museum with the amount of storied fashion history kept within its walls. Unlike in a museum, though, you can buy all of the art you see.
Address: 77 Portobello Road, London W11 2QB, United Kingdom
Time’s Up Vintage in Copenhagen
Do fashion editors plan their Copenhagen Fashion Week schedule when it is most convenient to go to Time’s Up Vintage? Honestly, yes. The shop is indisputably the most well-known vintage shop in Copenhagen for a reason. You’ll also probably run into Danish designers shopping for inspiration for their next collection while you’re there, along with every other fashionable person in town. Be prepared to see lots of ’90s Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, some great YSL jewelry, and really great sunglasses from all over.
Address: Krystalgade 4 1172, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thanx God I’m a VIP in Paris
If there’s one shop that fashion editors plan their Paris Fashion Week plans around, it’s Thanx God I’m a VIP. This is the kind of vintage store where you need to block off a couple of hours because the store is massive, with racks of clothing perfectly organized by color. And while some of the vintage in Paris feels unattainable, the prices at Thanx God I’m a VIP are notably reasonable. You can find everything from a cheeky orange Moschino blazer to classic Chanel slingbacks—all for a price people wouldn’t believe.
Address: 12 Rue de Lancry, 75010 Paris, France
Vintage Déjà Vu in Marbella, Spain
While plenty of vintage shops on this list are well known, there are a handful of hidden gems like Vintage Déjà Vu, which stands out in the touristy beach of Marbella. The town is mostly known for its dance bars and parties, but it’s worth venturing into town to stop by this shop. Speaking from firsthand experience, I’ve found an incredibly rare ’90s Roberto Cavalli gown I later wore to a black-tie wedding here, as well as two runway Alexander McQueen pieces from its spring/summer 2004 collection. The store is also filled with incredible vintage furniture you’ll want to somehow find a way to ship back home.
Address: Calle Pedraza, 8, 29601 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Le Swing Vintage in Barcelona
(Image credit: Courtesy of Le Swing)
This shop in Barcelona is as fun as its name sounds. With brick walls and arched doorways, Le Swing feels like a cathedral that just happens to have a vintage designer hanging from its storied halls. Whereas some vintage stores in Barcelona specialize in designer bags or Phoebe Philo–era Celine (shout-out to The Favorite Vintage!), Le Swing is where you’re most likely to find some really good old Miu Miu or Marni that’ll become wardrobe staples.
Address: Carrer dels Lledó, 4/6, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Sangueblu Vintage Shop in Venice, Italy
If you want to buy a vintage item people will automatically assume is from Italy, you go to Sangueblu in Venice. The store is filled with cheeky, mostly Italian designer items—from funky Moschino to hard-to-find Prada you can imagine Miuccia herself wearing. And if you need to take a breather from shopping or to give your wallet a break, the store has tons of fashion books and magazines lying around to read and plenty of vintage movie posters and art on the walls to admire.
Address: Calle dei Fuseri, 4337, 30124, Venezia, Italy
Madame Pauline Vintage in Milan
This famed vintage store in Milan was once taken over by Valentino to showcase various Valentino vintage pieces—need we say more? When it’s not being taken over for a pop-up by one of the biggest designer labels in the world, it’s stocked with the kind of alluring, loud, and colorful pieces you’d imagine fill Donatella Versace’s closet.
Address: Foro Buonaparte, 74, 20121 Milan, Italy
C’est Chic Vintage in Florence, Italy
If you’re looking for great Italian accessories or vintage items with texture, look no further than C’est Chic. The shop in Florence has so much vintage velvet, fur, and fringe that combing through the racks is just as fun to touch as it is to see. You also might stumble across some vintage Chanel stockings in the drawers of its old armoires. Thankfully, every inch of the store is for sale, with hidden gems in every corner.
Address: Via del Parione, 51/Red, 50123 Florence, Italy
Zzer in Shanghai, China
Zzer in Shanghai is a major warehouse located about an hour outside of the main city center. It’s certainly not a place to go on a whim, and it’s absolutely a journey, but everyone will tell you it’s worth it. Not only does the store have racks, but it also has floors of designer bags organized by brand. It’s the kind of place you want to go if you know what bag you’re in the market for, and you should go with some brands and specific items in mind. Make sure to also check out the Hermès section. Even if a Birkin isn’t on your budget, the rare items they have are worth seeing in person.
Address: Shaohong Road No.52 F B1 Room 01-05, Shanghai, China
BerBerJin in Tokyo, Japan
When Alexa Chung tells you to go somewhere for vintage denim and concert tees, you go. The style icon often snaps selfies in the shop while visiting Tokyo. The store is known for worn-in denim, great bomber jackets, and effortlessly cool T-shirts that are often extremely hard to source online. The store specializes in stocking the kind of uncomplicated coolness that Chung has made her signature. And while that is impossible to buy, it is somewhat possible to get if you go to BerBerJin.
Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 3 Chome−26-11, 原宿SHビル
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