Score designer pieces like an Alexander McQueen knit cutout dress (brand-new, with tags) or something homespun — but always in black. “Some of my favorite pieces were hand-stitched by someone’s mother in the 1950s,” says owner Courtney McGee. “I am not saying that labels don’t matter in vintage, but that they’re not all that matters.” Read More »
128 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA Website
Set up a visit with Manzanita’s owner extraordinaire. She’ll present you with pieces (a silk polka-dot jumpsuit, a leopard-print blazer) you might never have selected yourself but obviously (to her) should rock. She’s also watching current trends and making them work for vintage apparel — her recent Museum of Butter event attracted lovers of the hue of the moment. Read More »
4206 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website
An ultrasuede Halston jacket and a 1970s-era fringe vest are among the finds we snapped up from this boutique. (We would’ve snatched the Burberry jacket, but we have some restraint.) The beauty of this place is in the thoughtful sourcing of a bit of everything — well-preserved but reasonably priced vintage, dreamy antique lockets, sustainable modern apparel. Even cutesy socks are available, and we may have purchased a few of those, too. Read More »
6622 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website
Once you’ve decided how you feel about the vintage Playboy mags on display, turn to the clothing. It ranges from the 1970s to the 2000s, with an emphasis on the styles you sported as a preteen or teen (if you’re a millennial, that is). Think low-rise jean miniskirts and Juicy Couture velour sets, plus men’s tees and jeans from the early aughts. Downstairs? Heavily discounted styles. And you won't be able to resist the retro drinkware in Technicolor hues on your way out. Read More »
53 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA Website
Before there was concert merch, as the kids call it, there were just plain old concert tees. There’s nothing plain or old about the retro t-shirts here, where a random mix of sports, music and Harley-Davidson tops from across the decades lines the racks. The authenticity of the goods is in the hearty cotton fabrics, the Made in USA tags, and, most of all, the single-stitch construction that characterized clothing until the mid-’90s. Read More »
720 South 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA Website
Located in Queen Village, this year’s best vintage shop is run by Tracy Feldman, Jen Zimmerman and Abby Codrea, who have been peddling groovy pieces from the ’60s through Y2K since opening last fall. Read More »
744 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA Website
There’s nothing like a good vintage t-shirt, and there’s no such thing as too much merch. At Cruel World Vintage, a highly curated collection of vintage clothing is available to suit every nostalgic mood. From Whitney Houston tour memorabilia to dark-wash Levis 501s, you’ll be thrown back to your chosen decade in a flash. Shop online, or email to make an appointment at their private West Philly location. Read More »
In the wake of the debut of the Halston miniseries on Netflix, Katy Kane — the shop’s owner and an Antiques Roadshow appraiser — sold out of the ’70s designer’s looks in 24 hours, drawing interest from here to Hong Kong. She finds her pieces through private house calls; browse her proverbial closet online, then visit her appointment-only studio in New Hope. Recently acquired: designs from Jackie Kennedy favorite Sybil Connolly. Read More »
At this shop in the Bok Building, you can level-up your wardrobe with vintage women’s wear from Issey Miyake and John Paul Gaultier and expand your mind with rare books from writers of color like Sonia Sanchez and Toni Morrison. Read More »
1901 South 9th Street #1H, Philadelphia, PA Website
The vintage goods in this Kennett Square shop form a well-curated collection — a Wynona Rider ’90s flowered dress, a Working Girl ’80s white blouse, a Michelle Pfeiffer puff-sleeve jumpsuit from the ’70s — that says, “I’m cultured and deep but never over-the-top.” Read More »
210 South Mill Road, suite 103, Kennett Square, PA | 610-444-3570 | Website