Introduction
If you’re an eco-friendly fashionista, there’s a good chance you like to shop secondhand. Thrifting isn’t just good for the environment it’s also a creative shopping experience and a way to find unique pieces that give your look lots of character. Besides, who doesn’t love finding designer items at thrift store prices? (That is the best kind of a steal.) And though many celebrities have jumped on the fast fashion bandwagon and teamed up with mass retailers for collaborations (trust us, we love Rihanna’s Fenty x Puma collection), others are sticking with small vintage shops and flea markets. From Bella Hadid to Sarah Jessica Parker, these are the celebrity-approved vintage dealers you should know right now:
Bella Hadid’s Favorite Flea Market
If you’re looking to get a little more cultured during your next artisanal flea market outing, look no further than Brocante de l’Hotel George V, which is located in Paris. The hotel’s grounds are home to one of the city’s most renowned markets and are frequented by people from all walks of life. This includes celebrities like Bella Hadid, who has been spotted shopping there on multiple occasions.
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of people shop at this market (and how much they spend), here’s what we know: a combination of upper-middle-class locals, tourists and even visiting dignitaries. Some sources say that some vendors have sold pieces worth as much as 2 million dollars! That’s right you could find yourself in possession of priceless art while browsing through vintage clothing racks or checking out an antique jewelry display case.
Kate Middleton’s Favorite Vintage Shop
Bicester Village is a luxury outlet village in Bicester, Oxford shire, England. It is the largest outlet village in the UK, Europe’s largest, and the world’s second-largest after Woodbury Common Premium Outlets (which is also located in New York).
What Goes Around Comes Around, New York
Priyanka Chopra, for one, is a fan. The actress and singer have been photographed wearing vintage pieces from the store’s collection on multiple occasions, including at the Golden Globes after-party in January. What Goes Around Comes Around is also one of the most well-known vintage clothing stores in New York City; it was featured in the 2007 film “The Devil Wears Prada” as well as an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, and it’s regularly written about in publications like The New York Times.
Nicole Richie’s Favorite Secondhand Store
Location: Los Angeles
What Nicole Richie Likes About It: “I love the vibe of The Way We Wore. It’s like walking into another time and place, and it’s a huge part of my style. I’ve done shoots there with photographer Bruce Weber, who loves their vintage as well.”
How to Find it: Located at 934 S La Brea Ave in Los Angeles, this boutique is right next door to another celebrity-approved vintage store called Kitson (which can also be found in Santa Monica). From LAX Airport or downtown Los Angeles (where The Way We Wore is located), you’ll need to take the 10 Freeway northbound until reaching the La Brea exit (exit 5) and then follow these directions from there: “Turn left on San Vicente Blvd.; turn right on Pico Blvd.; turn left on La Cienega Blvd.; turn right onto Beverly Blvd., which becomes Fairfax Ave., which becomes Third Street; continue driving straight for about 3 miles until you reach Wilshire Boulevard; turn left onto Fifth Street; look for parking along Fifth Street.”
What to Expect When You Get There: This adorable shop has been featured on several television shows including “The Rachel Zoe Project” and Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. With an ever-changing inventory that ranges from Chanel accessories to ’60s vintages inspired by Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ closet, you’re sure never know what treasure lies within its walls!
Why Nicole Richie Likes It So Much: “There’s always something new every time I go in [The Way We Wore]. It feels like Christmas when we walk through those doors!”
Rokit and Backdrop, London
If you’re a fan of Gigi Hadid, you’ve probably seen her on the cover of Vogue UK or in an ad for Chanel’s new makeup line. She’s also known to wear vintage and vintage-inspired looks. And if you’re a fan of Gigi Hadid, then it’s likely that you’re also a fan of Rokit and Backdrop, the famous vintage shop where she was spotted shopping just last week.
The store is located in Notting Hill, London, and has been around since 1988 (which makes it one of the longest-running independent fashion stores in Britain). This means that if there were ever any doubt about whether or not classic pieces can be modernized into something new and different, like this look by designer Tom Ford then Rokit and Backdrop would be here to set us straight: yes they can!
Housing Works Thrift Shops, New York
Housing Works is a non-profit organization that provides housing, healthcare, and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS. They have thrift shops throughout New York City and Long Island. The stores are known to carry a wide variety of vintage items from clothing to furniture, jewelry, and handbags. Sarah Jessica Parker frequents this location when she’s in town and if it’s good enough for Carrie Bradshaw, then it most definitely should be ok for you too!
Celebrity Approved Vintage Shops you Need to Checkout.
If you’re not familiar with the difference between vintage and secondhand, it’s simple: vintage pieces are old, original items from the past that have been re-worn and loved. Secondhand clothing has a few more uses under its belt, but generally speaking, it’s also pre-owned and that means there will be some wear and tear on your potential purchase. Here are our favorite shops to check out when you need something new to wear this summer.
- Shop owners at VANITY* Vintage love their job because they get to “play dress-up all day.” The boutique has an impressive collection of dresses in all shapes, sizes, and styles; whether you’re looking for a new take on the classic shift dress or want something fun like a polka dot top paired with high-waisted shorts (yes please), this is where you’ll find it. In addition to its extensive selection of vintage clothing (including accessories), VANITY* also sells some newer designer items alongside its used wares so that shoppers can pick up both modern classics as well as hard-to-find vintage gems.
- If finding great deals is what excites you most about shopping secondhand then consider making your next stop at Buffalo Exchange Los Angeles (BELA). This independent shop offers everything from popular brands such as J Brand Jeans and Madewell denim jackets at prices lower than what consumers might find elsewhere; however, unlike other discount stores, BELA only sells gently used clothing so each item comes with a guarantee that it won’t fall apart after one wash cycle!
Conclusion
You might not think of yourself as a trendsetter, but you have to admit: Shopping for vintage clothing is pretty cool. Whether you’re in the market for a new summer dress or a statement-making vintage bag, these are the celebrity-approved vintage shops you need to check out.