The best online vintage stores are worth their weight in gold. While getting a buzz from buying a new outfit is one thing, the feeling you get from trawling through vintage clothes and discovering a unique find no one else will have is much greater.
With signature styles from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s all topping the style charts this season (think flared jeans, sweater vests, shoulder pads and relaxed tailoring), now is the perfect time to embrace vintage shopping and add a few key pieces to your capsule wardrobe.
“Vintage is better than buying new because it’s often so much cheaper but still fits so many of the trends at the time. It also has a story behind it and is incredibly unique to your wardrobe so it sets you apart from the crowd.” says influencer and self-proclaimed ‘thrifter addict’ Kavita Donkersley from @shewearsfashion
While vintage shopping used to involve trawling through local thrift stores to find the best jeans and dresses, online vintage stores are taking out at lot of the leg work—and opening up a whole world of vintage clothing opportunities.
Kate Moss wearing a vintage 1950s dress by French couturier Jean Dessès
How to shop for vintage clothes
Fashion insider and founder of online vintage boutique Top Of The Town Vintage, Sophia Rosemary, shares her expert tips on how to get the very best vintage clothes.
- Do your research: If you want to rummage IRL, find out about car boot sales, thrift fairs and house clearance centers in your area. These are the kind of places which sell vintage pieces at really reasonable prices. This research will help you understand what products are usually available second hand and help you target your searches when shopping online.
- Pay attention to labels: Learn about the brands and shops that were big in the era you love. You could be passing by amazing vintage treasures simply because you’ve never heard of the brand. It also makes it easier to shop online stores as you can filter by brand name.
- Check measurements and keep an open mind: Vintage dress sizing is not in line with modern sizes, so you are always best referring to actual measurements. But don’t judge a garment just by size, be a little creative and find yourself a good seamstress or alteration service who will tweak pieces to suit your shape.
The best online vintage stores, as selected by our fashion experts
The perfect-fit 501 Levi’s, retro 80s jackets and sold-out designer bags for a fraction of their original price can all be found at the best online vintage stores.
A cult destination among vintage-lovers, Beyond Retro is widely regarded as one of the best second hand stores online, stocking a handpicked edit that spans 60s dresses, 80s tailoring and 90s sportswear. Despite the large offering, the website is easy to navigate by color, brand and even era, so it’s a pleasure looking for special pieces to relove.
Best for: A go-to for vintage sports brands and denim labels, style insiders love Beyond Retro for its vast collection in an array of sizes.
Pricing: It’s super reasonably priced, a great pair of Levi’s jeans will set you back around $49/£35 and vintage shirts from around $25/£18. All in all, a lot cheaper than if you were to buy these pieces new.
Shop at: beyondretro.com
As one of the best online vintage clothing stores, Treasures of NYC has a website and app so you can choose how to shop. Founded in 2013 by New Yorker’s Robert Bird and Brittany Blanco, the buy-and-sell store is a go-to for all things luxury–from designer dresses and jeans to premium bags and sunglasses. Stocking every designer imaginable, the vast collection of authentic, vintage finds will have you scrolling for hours.
Best for: Designer, designer, designer. With the likes of Chanel, Balenciaga, Prada and Givenchy all on one vintage online store it’s a fashion-lover's dream.
Pricing: As expected, with some of the most luxury labels around, pieces aren’t cheap. Depending on the item and condition prices vary, but expect to find vintage Chanel bags from $698/£500 – still a third of the RRP.
Shop at: treasuresofnewyork.com
A clever service for people who want to embrace the world of vintage but may not want to spend time looking, The Twin Vintage have a team of the stylists that will do all the hard work for you. After a short style quiz, a curated box of five to seven pieces will be delivered to your door. Try them on in the comfort of your own home, send back what you don’t want and only pay for what you do. Simple.
Best for: Those who are unsure how to choose vintage pieces or want to get styled by someone else. Also perfect for those with limited with time to look
Pricing: $20/£14 styling fee (plus $10/£7 for the Jeanius Service to include Levi’s)
Shop at: thevintagetwin.com
An A-lister favourite, What Goes Around Comes Around was founded in 1993 and has since gained quite the reputation. Stocking handbags and accessories from iconic fashion houses, it’s no surprise the likes of Kim Kardashian has the store on speed-dial. Expect to fall in love with a vintage Chanel 2.55, be tempted by the array of Gucci goodies and dream over Christian Dior.
Best for: ‘The finest luxury vintage’. True to its word, What Goes Around Comes Around houses some of the most exclusive, designer second-hand bags we’ve seen. Sunglasses, scarves, hats and other accessories can be found, too.
Pricing: The best of the best comes at a price, and you can expect to pay anything from $1,500 dollars for a Louis Vuitton monogram tote and up six figures for a Hermès Birkin.
Shop at: whatgoesaroundnyc.com
Content creator Sophia Rosemary started Top Of The Town Vintage in 2019 to showcase her love of thrifting and 60s and 70s music is the main inspiration behind her brand. Sophia runs a boutique in Stockport, UK, but also shares all of her amazing finds on her website which are available for international shipping.
Best for: Fun, retro pieces that are actually wearable and manage to tick off current trends. Think frilly shirts and tea dresses all in delightful prints and colors with attention to detail being key.
Pricing: You can pick up a beautiful blouse for around $63/£45 and dream dresses for $91/£65 so it’s great for something you’ll get to love for a lifetime.
Shop at: topofthetownvintage.com
Having worked for some of the biggest brands in the fashion industry for almost a decade, Kim Wincott-Hanley launched Mother Vintage in 2020—a vintage haven in ode to her style-loving mom—hence the name. Focusing on 70s and 80s fashion staples, the site offers a carefully curated edit of pieces in small, non-seasonal drops peppered throughout the year. Beautiful shoots illustrating the pieces offer chic style inspiration too. “Think of vintage as a collectable; you are breathing life back into a piece of history and contributing to a circular economy,” says Kim.
Best for: A curated selection of dresses, blouses and blazers with retro appeal.
Pricing: Expect to find bags from $35/£25 and most dresses around $77/£55. All in all, great price points for the amazing quality.
Shop at: mothervintage.co.uk
