Macklemore sings the praises of the thrift shop come-up, and we’ll have to agree that snagging a bargain on a vintage piece of clothing is a great feeling. Take your vintage game up a notch when you visit Europe, where the offerings are certainly more than secondhand. Some of the best souvenirs from your travels are the ones that can’t be imitated or duplicated. A unique piece of clothing that has passed through the hands of various people (and isn’t mass produced in your local department store) is a serious come up nowadays. If you’re a purveyor of amazing style and want a wardrobe that screams, “c’est magnifique!” – sashay on down to these European vintage shops and turn your wardrobe into a fashionable time capsule.
Paris – Free P* Star
For vintage junkies, no visit to Paris is complete without a rummage through Free P* Star. Get lost in the piles of clothes in bins and racks – this is a place that will make you work if you’re looking for something special to take away. They also have a 1 Euro bin and a 5 Euro bin if you’re looking to find vintage pieces without a hefty price tag.
20 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, France
Budapest – Cydonia Vintage
Run by a mother-daughter team in Budapest, this shop is a vintage treasure trove if you want to be reminded of the looks and wares from the 20th century. You’ll find vintage Hungarian clothing pieces but you might also score some serious antique swag in the form of jewelry, accessories, and other items.
Budapest, 1065, Hajós u. 43, 1065 Hungary
Om Diva Boutique – Dublin
Located in the Creative Quarter of Dublin, Om Diva offers three floors of modern and vintage clothes. The shop also serves as a platform for emerging, local Irish designers – giving them a shop to showcase their goods. The décor is feminine and fun and you’re bound to walk away with a great piece of jewelry, a funky accessory, or your own unique piece of clothing that you won’t find anywhere else.
27 Drury St, Dublin 2, Ireland
Le Swing – Barcelona
Barcelona, a city of old and new, is the home of Le Swing Vintage Boutique, a shop for lovers of vintage looking for gently worn or never worn pieces that harken back to the 20th century. This two-story shop offers clothes and accessories for men and women – as well as eyewear, and they also have a sister store, Blow Boutique, nearby so you can continue your shopping.
Carrer del Dr. Dou, 11, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Garments – Berlin
Berlin has dozens of vintage shops to choose from but we’re highlighting Garments as it is one of the most established vintage shops in the city. The shop offers gently-worn designer clothing, and many are said to come from TV and movie productions.
Stargarder Str. 12, 10437 Berlin