Calling all globe-trotting, vintage-loving shopaholics! Welcome to the most fabulous guide to the hottest shopping spots across the fashion capitals of the world. With a focus on sustainable, vintage and second-hand boutiques, you will be sure to uncover a hidden gem or two within these one-of-a-kind outlets. Keep reading to discover Scarlett Gasque’s best-kept secrets…
PARIS
Paris has long been the benchmark for effortlessly graceful style. Combining simple and comfortable pieces executed with a considered design approach results in a look that has been replicated worldwide for over 50 years. Home to some of the biggest design houses in the world of fashion, it is also where the concept of haute couture was born. If you want to dress like a Parisian look for clean, crisp button-down shirts, long tailored skirts and schoolgirl loafers in these not to be missed vintage stores.
LA MARELLE 25 GALERIE VIVIENNE, 75002 PARIS
@lamarellevintage_depotvente
This entry doesn’t technically sell ‘vintage’ pieces but stocks ‘recent’ second-hand designer articles from classic brands such as Dior and Chanel, as well as items from more underground brands from international countries such as Japan. They calculate that 88% of all their high-luxe stock has never been worn and implement a 12-step quality control process to ensure the authentication of all donations. Offering up to 75% off the original pricing, La Marelle is renowned for its unbeatable prices and luxurious customer experience, with a multicultural and multilingual staff on hand to supply a tailored experience, no matter where you are visiting from.
OPULENCE VINTAGE 07 RUE RÉAUMUR, 75002 PARIS
@opulencevintage
Opulence Vintage does exactly what it says on the tin; it offers lavish vintage pieces from predominantly prestigious French and Italian fashion houses such as Prada and Mugler. Whilst their selection may not be the biggest or the most varied, Opulence provides a rare curated range of impeccable vintage clothes, bags and jewellery with a money-back guarantee for any items found to be inauthentic. Passionate in their mission to stamp out fake designer items, they offer guides and tips for spotting tell-tell signs on their socials.
PLAISIR PALACE 3 RUE PAUL DUBOIS, 75003 PARIS
@plaisirpalace
Created from the mind of French contemporary artist, Didier Barroso, Plaisir Palace is a ‘neo-pop’ playground for any admirer of the art of fashion design. The curvaceous and bright interior immediately entices you inside, where you will find scrumptious vintage pieces from the 1960s up to the late 1990s from designers such as Celine, Alaïa and Vivienne Westwood. Once an industry insider’s best-kept secret, the store has recently been featured in Netflix’s Emily in Paris, so we recommend checking it out now before stylists, fashion students and holidaymakers alike ransack the small boutique!
MAMIE BLUE 69 RUE MARGUERITE DE ROCHECHOUART, 75009 PARIS
@mamieblue_paris
With authentic vintage clothing, accessories and trinkets spanning three floors, Mamie Blue is the spot for true fashion history lovers. Items can be found in this Aladdin's cave of wonders from the roaring 1920s, all the way to the mid-1980s, with helpful staff on hand to provide information on particular items of interest or questions about customs of a particular decade. For truly daring customers, there is the option for a retro makeover for women if you make an appointment before visiting.
LONDON
Londoners are an eclectic bunch and their sense of style reflects this. In the west, you can spot casual, classy and understated designer looks in neutral shades but in the east, you are more likely to come across an explosion of colour and patterns that shouldn’t go together yet somehow just fit. In London, it is all about expressing who you are to the max, our only advice would be to pack a waterproof when browsing these vintage stores.
ALFIES ANTIQUE MARKET 3 - 25 CHURCH ST, LONDON, NW8 8DT
@alfiesantiques
Self-proclaimed as ‘London’s best-kept secret’, this huge market has over four floors filled with retro goodies from vintage fashions, antique jewellery, art, furnishings, textiles and more. A true collector's dream, Alfie’s is home to nearly one hundred dealers, each with their own unique antique offerings. Adored by celebrities and snoopers across the world, this vintage indoor emporium is one of the oldest and largest in the city, with over forty years in the business. If you get weary and lost in the abundance of choice with the bohemian paradise, make sure to check out their rooftop kitchen for delicious replenishment and a breathtaking view of London’s skyline.
ONE OF A KIND 259 PORTOBELLO RD, LONDON W11 1LR
@oneofakind.archive
Nestled in London’s stunning Notting Hill, One of a Kind offers ready-to-wear vintage designer pieces at slashed prices. The store is also home to a private archive of more than 5000 garments from leading designers including Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, this historical collection is accessible by appointment only, and is regarded so highly by fashion insiders that museums, collectors, and consultants often use pieces for their work.
LOVERS LANE 77 PORTOBELLO RD, LONDON W11 2QB
@loverslanelondon
Another store to be discovered on Portobello Road is Lovers Lane, where you can pick up hand-curated vintage couture as well as prints, sculptures and homeware. Adored by Gen Z, this store caters to their online customers by offering virtual appointments where clients provide their budget, size range and style inspiration and staff will produce a selection of handpicked items to try on when they visit the store in person. With a fantastic collection for fashion lovers to drool over from designers such as YSl, Chloe, and Fendi plus many, many more, it’s no wonder they named this store Lovers Lane!
RETROMANIA 6 UPPER TACHBROOK ST, LONDON, SW1V 1SH
@retromanialondon
Unassuming from the outside, this charity-run vintage shop contains immaculate haute couture and exclusive designer pieces at very low prices. Run by the charity FARA which supports vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people living in Romania, this store is laden with authentic vintage treasures and trinkets from the 1940s to the 1990s. Scarlett’s top tip: there’s a hidden basement next to the chunky knitwear rail with even more second-hand swipes including vintage leather accessories and more modern additions to your wardrobe!
MILAN
To earn the respect of the Milan fashion crowd, you have to follow their rules. It is all about fitted and tailored pieces that look as if they are designed specifically for your body. They value quality fabrics so look out for merino wools for winter and lightweight linens for summer, but no matter the season, the Milanese always wear their sunglasses darling! Be sure to hunt for your signature pair when pursuing the Italian streets.
MADAME PAULINE VINTAGE FORO BUONAPARTE, 74, 20121 MILANO
@madamepaulinevintage
A true hidden gem for fashion lovers, this store is not only fully stocked with some of the finest vintage designer pieces from the likes of Hermès and Prada, but stepping into this shop is like stepping back in time to 1960s Paris with its Tiffany blue walls and rich orange rugs. With a curated selection of vintage clothes, accessories and jewellery from as early as the 1900s, the boutique also offers to buy any unwanted vintage clothing or more modern clothing that is approved by members of staff. This is in an effort to reduce wastage and contribute to a more sustainable way of shopping.
20134 LAMBRATE VIA CONTE ROSSO, 22, 20134 MILANO
@20134lambrate_vintage
Inconspicuously tucked beneath a vintage 1940s barber’s banner, this vintage boutique is every fashion lover's go-to when visiting the Italian fashion capital. The store is stocked with pieces from the 1920s to the 1980s including haute couture pieces from luxury designers such as Marni and Chanel as well as antique interior furnishings. All pieces are carefully selected for their timeless style and signature silhouettes of the past.
L’ARABESQUE CULT STORE & CAFÈ LARGO AUGUSTO, 10, 20122 MILANO
@larabesquecultstore
Described by locals as a treasure trove of elegance found within the heart of the city, L’arabesque is a shrine to vintage clothes, jewellery and perfume which has expanded into retro dining just next door. With pieces from the 1930s to the 1960s, this store has a very clear aesthetic reminiscent of an Italian Mad Men set. The store also offers rare and vintage books on fashion, design and art transforming the space into an immersive experience for any vintage enthusiast.
CAVALLI E NASTRI VINTAGE VIA BRERA, 2, 20121 MILANO MI
@cavallienastri
A homage to twentieth-century fashion, furnishings and trinkets, Cavalli E Nastri offers immaculate designer pieces from brands such as Gucci and Valentino to both men and women in an environment described as ‘a bit boutique and a bit boudoir’. With 1920s petticoats, Edwardian skirts and Japanese silk kimonos, there is sure to be something for any shopaholic. With three store locations and a thriving online shop, the store is also making efforts to contribute to a more sustainable luxury market, offering tailoring services for vintage items, as well as the option to sell pieces or rent garments for a period of time.