The St. Louisan Vintage Shopping Guide
When Etsy launched in Brooklyn in 2005, what followed was a renaissance of craft. Suddenly, creative makers all over the world had a way to sell their wares outside the traditional pop-ups, fairs, festivals and trunk shows. That online retail boom also produced an avenue for vintage and antique sellers to market their treasures. Suddenly the novelty of scoring a perfect band t-shirt, a choice pair of 501s or a previously-loved Balenciaga bag was at our fingertips.
Vintage Fashion
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Vintage Fashion 〰️
What came next was the launch of online resale and vintage-selling hosts like DePop and Poshmark. Then came luxury markets like 1rstDibs, Dora Maar and James Veloria. Yes, vintage was – and still is – having a moment. It will always have a place in the fashion lexicon. Wearing an original designer piece that is no longer manufactured is the ultimate statement, and with the growing concern around climate change, buying vintage and pre-worn is that much more of a necessity.
The launch and subsequent boom of online vintage retail, while convenient, produces one problem. When buying vintage and pre-worn clothing it is sometimes crucial to feel it, assess the wear and tear and try it on. At times, when shopping for a specific piece, online is still your best bet. But for those looking to inspect the quality of an item in person and invest in a wardrobe that is not only climate-friendly but original and chic, you’re in luck. The St. Louis area has some of the best vintage sellers in our region.
Vintage Shopping in St. Louis
Yes, vintage fashion is alive and well in our city. From fresh faces to established shops our retro-style community offers a vast array of choices. Whether your vibe is an antique aesthetic, you’re seriously interested in shopping green or you’re dedicated to buying local, all three reasons are excellent convictions for choosing from a set of talented local purveyors.
With the long list of well-curated stores we have in St. Louis you’d think there may be a bit of healthy competition. What we’ve found when speaking with several local shop owners is in fact the opposite.
“The vintage community in St. Louis is special. Many vintage sellers in our city have created a sense of community over competition and I believe that’s something most other cities aren’t able to claim,” says Patrick Dolan, owner of the eponymous online boutique and style project, Patrick Ray Dolan.
Another common critique of vintage fashion is that it is only available to those of a certain size, age or gender. We buck the tradition that age or gender determines who is fashionable, and while vintage sizing can be complicated, we have sellers in St. Louis that are passionate about creating marketplaces that are more inclusive. Dolan regularly features men, as well as non-conforming styles in his collections. Ethical Bodies celebrates all body types and promotes self-love by offering targeted sizes of vintage and modern that aren’t often available at traditional shops. Mesa Home on Cherokee Street has an entire Instagram page dedicated to children’s vintage fashion in addition to offering adult styles.
There truly is a shop for all tastes. For those wanting to browse large, excellently curated selections with great reputations we have OG antique and vintage retailers here like Retro101 Cherry Bomb Vintage, designer boutiques like The Vault Luxury Resale and excellent fashion-forward shops like May’s Place.
A Few Vintage Shopping Tips
1. Buy clothing measuring tape.
This is handy when shopping for vintage online as sellers will often list measurements instead of modern sizing.
2. Consider tailoring.
When shopping for designer resale pieces, remember that these items may have been tailored in the past. Also, with money you may save on shopping vintage, you may be able to get your ideal piece and have it tailored to the ideal fit.
3. Look out for misspellings and listing errors.
When shopping for vintage online, common misspellings may have an absolute treasure listed in a place no one can find it. Get creative with your search. Spell out designer names, specific fabrics, colors and sizes.
4. Be kind.
Of course, this is always just a good rule of thumb, but these vintage sellers are often small, independent businesses. If you make friends and let them know your favorite items, they’ll remember you and possibly reach out if they get something you may like.
5. Shop In bulk.
If you’re new to the scene, know that you will have to dig for the treasures. But a great way to dip your toe into buying vintage is to hit up a group market like May’s Night Market to access a lot of sellers in one place. Or Found by the Pound where you can access a ton of clothing for a smaller price point.
Original Favorites & Fresh Faces
Read on for our growing list of favorite shops and bookmark this story to come back to as you plan your shopping trips. Tell us in the comments who we should add to the list and we’ll continue to update.
Appletree Chic
Assassin Vintage
Avalon Exchange
Black Rabbit Vintage
Commoners Vintage
Ethical Bodies
Fifth & Vintage
Found Vintage
FunkyTown & Country Vintage
Lily Kiti
May’s Place
Mesa Home
Patrick Ray Dolan
Paso Collection
Remember Me Vintage
Reset Vintage
Retro101 Cherry Bomb Vintage
Sawyer STL
The Green Shag Market
The Vault Luxury Resale
Vintage Haberdashery
Wild Iris Vintage
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Featured photos courtesy of the Patrick Ray Dolan Collection by Wil Driscoll.