The best vintage shops in Sydney
Everything old is new again at these emporiums of yesteryear chic
Get all dressed up in frocks from the 1950s, flares from the swinging sixties and super trendy smocks from the ’70s. You can find outfits from all the ages at Sydney’s best vintage shops, and the homewares to match at Sydney’s best antiques shops.
Looking for pre-loved items on a tight budget? You'll love these stylish secondhand stores.
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Sydney's top vintage shops
1. The Vintage Clothing Shop
Owners Lorraine Foster and Grayson Cole have been collecting and selling vintage clothing for over 40 years, and their shop attracts the likes of fashion magazine editors and TV producers looking for authentic clothing for period film and TV productions. It’s the only vintage store in the CBD, found inside the time warp that is St James Street Arcade.
2. Zoo Emporium
No one does vintage quite like Zoo. With two floors devoted to their craft, Zoo’s entire ground floor is devoted to sale items only. The store specialises in ’70s and ’80s funk and retro tees.
3. Blue Spinach
It’s not strictly vintage, as everything in store is 10-15 years old maximum, but the blue painted corner store is a go-to destination for preloved clothing of an exceptional standard. It’s not a cheap store by any stretch of the imagination, but if you’ve got your eye on an item owner Mark Thompson is happy to put it on lay-by for you.
4. Cream on Crown Surry Hills
5. Potts Point Vintage
6. Dolly Up
7. C’s Flashback Surry Hills
8. Queen Justine Vintage
The reigning empress of ’90s crop tops and bralets is Queen Justine Vintage. Step into the Redfern studio nostalgic T-shirts or leotards for your next Retrosweat party.
9. The Collective Ensemble
Greg Harris took over the vintage store on South King Street a year ago, but it’s been part of the Newtown vintage community for around five years. They stock predominantly '80s and '90s fashion with tongue-in-cheek nostalgia, from an ironic Backstreet Boys T-shirt to a Mickey Mouse sweater like the ones you bought at Disneyland.
10. Blue Works
Men’s clothing of all shapes and sizes have been flown into this Surry Hills store from Britain, Japan and United States. Owner Steve Feng Du has created a stylish store where you’ll come across flat caps and tweed jackets that are new, but made in a vintage style.
11. Cream on King Newtown
Cream on Crown’s sister store is a one-stop shop for flannel, floral and Doc Martens.
12. C's Flashback Paddington
The twin store to the Surry Hills shop of the same name contains all the things you’d expect from this longstanding vintage brand: denim, leather and sweats from America and Australia. The Paddo store is packed with weathered dungarees and tea party dresses that attract younger vintage shoppers looking to make their first thrifty purchase.
13. Miss Brown’s
Head here for modified beachwear from the ’50s and ’60s, daggy Minnie Mouse pullovers from the ’90s and stacks of cut-off denim skirts.
14. Sammy & Sid
15. Fabrique Vintage
Fabrique Vintage has stacks and stacks of denim, leather shoulder bags and odds and ends shipped from Europe. On our visit we found a very cute Girl Scouts of the USA shirt.
16. Retrospec'd Clothing
Sister duo Sharon Hanley and Teena Borg love the looks from the ’50s, from wiggle dresses to prom frocks, but they recreate the looks from new fabrics.
17. Three 5 Nine King
At this Red Cross store in Newtown, shoppers can find rockabilly and punk styles all for under $30.
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