"Thanks, it's vintage." Haven't you always wanted to say that? Vintage shopping [1] has always had a certain je ne sais quoi about it; the promise of unique, beautifully crafted pieces from bygone eras and access to some seriously glamorous wardrobes. And it's no coincidence that with so many people striving to shop more sustainably [2] in 2021, the vintage market is on the rise. Not only is shopping for vintage clothing better for our environment, but it's also an opportunity to create the ultimate capsule wardrobe [3] with one-of-a-kind statement pieces.
We get it, though. Learning how to step out of the high-street comfort zone can be intimidating, and shopping resale [4] or vintage can be overwhelming, unfamiliar, and dare we say a bit daunting. To help you get started, we put together the ultimate list of online vintage stores to shop — both based here in the UK and in Europe — allowing you to easily and comfortably shop secondhand from the comfort of your own home. Keep reading to check out our favourite virtual vintage shops — and maybe scoop up a new piece on the way!
Retold Vintage
Established in 2018 by Clare Lewis, this London-based brand handpicks timeless pieces for fashion-conscious women who wish to keep up to date with the latest styles, whilst maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. In addition to lots of boxy blazers and cable-knit jumpers, Retold also sells preowned jewellery (Retold & The Nines) and bridal gowns (by request).
Shop Now: Retold Vintage [5]
Selena's Shop
Searching for a real statement piece that's not too spenny? Look no further than Selena's Shop, which was founded by Sheffield-based Selena Williams, whose love and passion for vintage clothing was fuelled in part by her grandparents. Full of boldly printed dresses and jumpers with unique silhouettes, Williams sources all of the pieces herself. To top it all off, all orders are delivered to your doorstep in compostable packaging.
Shop Now: Selena's Shop [6]
Bonsergent Studio
Based between Paris and the south of France, cofounders Ben and Chris created Bonsergent Studio to share affordable vintage clothing. They also recently launched their own clothing line that features beautifully crafted pieces, made from vintage fabrics and sustainable materials.
Shop Now: Bonsergent Studio [7]
Darling and Vintage
Founded by Cassie O'Neill, Darling and Vintage is the dose of retro style that everyone needs in their wardrobe. All pieces are handpicked, cared for, and mended by O'Neill to ensure that you are getting the very best that vintage has to offer. Whether it's the darling '50s, the go-go '60s, or the flared '70s, there is something for every vintage lover on the site.
"Vintage clothing — the sourcing, the styling, the history — has always been there for me and that moment of uncertainty gave me the opportunity to pursue it properly. So something good came out of something bad and here I am," O'Neill wrote on her website. "I wake up thinking of vintage and I go to sleep thinking of vintage. She is my happy place and I hope that comes across, rubbing a little bit of that happiness in your direction along with it."
Shop Now: Darling and Vintage [8]
Selfridges Resellfridges
In 2020, Selfridges began joining the call for a more sustainable fashion industry. As part of the iconic British retailer's Project Earth initiative, Resellfridges was launched to help customers both shop and sell expertly curated pieces, which includes quite a lot of designer handbags, we might add. Head over to their website and keep an eye out for the Resellfridges label . . . happy shopping!
Shop Now: Selfridges Resellfridges [9]
Grus Grus Vintage
German brand Grus Grus stands against fast fashion by encouraging people to wear pieces that have been circulating in the fashion industry for quite some time. With a range of beautifully designed shirts, jumpers, and jackets, you can expect minimalist chicness and cool, neutral tones. Their selection of vintage blouses is also something to marvel at.
Shop Now: Grus Grus Vintage [10]
Nordic Poetry
Nordic Poetry founder Ameli Lindgren — who is Swedish born and London based — got her start selling vintage clothing at Boxpark Shoreditch and online before setting up shop in Bethnal Green in London in 2017. Specialising in unique, luxury designer finds, she's become well-known in London for her selection of incredible vintage pieces from brands like Gucci, Christian Dior, and Prada (although you can sometimes find great items from trendy athletic brands like Champion and Nike).
Shop Now: Nordic Poetry [11]
Rokit Vintage Clothing
Calling all London fashion-lovers. Founded in 1986 in London's Camden Market, Rokit now has four London stores and is home to tons of great vintage clothing — all with lots of colour and attitude. All items sent to Rokit are seen as valuable, as even items deemed unusable are transformed by the Rokit Recycled crew, who create trendy, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Shop Now: Rokit Vintage Clothing [12]
Cos Resell
If you're not interested in pieces from decades past, Cos Resell is a great place to shop for contemporary, preloved pieces. Launched in 2020, Cos Resell enables customers to reinvent their wardrobes in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Here you can sell and buy preworn Cos clothing and accessories.
Shop Now: Cos Resell [13]
Cudoni
Cudoni is a premium online service that aims to make selling and shopping secondhand fashion completely faff free. From Chanel bags to Gucci loafers — and all the Burberry, Prada, and Stella McCartney in between — shopping at Cudoni gives you access to extraordinary, preloved designer clothing and accessories.
Shop Now: Cudoni [14]
Farfetch
With thousands of well-known brands, Farfetch has always been a great place to find high-end pieces from across the globe. Now, with their vintage section, you can still shop the same big designers you love whilst maintaining a sustainable lifestyle.
Shop Now: Farfetch [15]
Re-See
Re-See was founded by two fashion editors — Sofia Bernardin of French Vogue and Sabrina Marshall of Self Service Magazines — who believe that great fashion moments should be easy and inclusive to all. Re-See offers clothing, bags, and accessories from the pre-1960s to the 2000s, and their website makes it easy to shop by trend, designer, theme, or decade. A highlight: because of their connections within the industry, there's a beautifully curated section on the site called Editor's Pick, where famous stylists (like Law Roach and Kate Young), designers (Batsheva and Margherita Missoni, to name a couple), and other fashion editors choose their top picks to shop from Re-See's offerings.
Shop Now: Re-See [16]
Atijo Store
Founded by London-based stylists Anu Odugbesan, Caitlin Moriarty, Londiwe Ncube, and Safiya Yekwai, Atijo Store is ideal for anyone who wants to shop secondhand but prefers a sleek, minimalist fashion aesthetic. An Instagram-only shop (so you to DM them to purchase), the offerings are full of lots of neutral colours, reasonably priced designer pieces, and sizes to fit all. You can also now shop for menswear and homeware.
Shop Now: Atijo Store [17]
Second Stories
Second Stories was formed out of founder Nicci Fletcher's passion for clothes and a desire to live more sustainably. With 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, Fletcher has an excellent eye for detail and a great talent for sourcing unique pieces from around the world. Expect to find great blouses, easy-to-wear dresses, and gorgeous knits.
Shop Now: Second Stories [18]
Open For Vintage
Open for Vintage is a luxury online market place that's passionate about circular fashion, sourcing all of its pieces from independent boutiques that get a portion of the sale. The site specialises in preloved accessories — handbags, watches, jewellery — from high-end designers like Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Hermès, Chanel, and Celine, so prepare yourself for equally as high-end prices.
Shop Now: Open For Vintage [19]