Shopping for vintage pieces can be likened to embarking on a treasure hunt at times because you never quite know what you’re going to find. But that’s the thrill of it and what makes it so special.
Vancouver has an unparalleled vintage clothing scene with boutiques everywhere from downtown to Main Street and Commercial Drive brimming with era-specific garments, most often in pristine condition.
What’s more is that shopping for pre-loved pieces, whether vintage, thrift, or consignment, allows you to do your part for the second-hand economy and reduce textile wastage. That being said, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best places to buy vintage clothes in Vancouver.
Community Thrift & Vintage opened its doors in Vancouver in 2011. Today, the social enterprise, which donates all of its profits to the PHS Community Services Society, has two locations in the city. The first is its Frock Shoppe on Carrall Street, where you’ll find everything from vintage dresses to shoes and accessories, and the second is its Unisex Shoppe on West Hastings, a go-to spot for denim jackets, graphic tees, and outerwear. At both stores, you’ll find a curated selection of pieces year-round.
Address: 311 Carrall Street
Phone: 604-682-8535
Address: 11 West Hastings Street
Phone: 604-629-8396
East Vancouver is home to a ton of incredible vintage stores, and Woo Vintage Clothing is one of them. With an address at 4393 Main Street, the store has a chic, old-school vibe and a collection featuring clothing, accessories, and footwear. At the back of the boutique, you’ll see garments from the 1950s through to the 1970s and beyond — most of which are labelled, so you know the era you’re shopping. (Think evening dresses, sharp suits, and bold prints.)
Address: 4393 Main Street
Phone: 604-687-8200
C’est La Vie Boutique on Main Street is easy to find, with a vibrant pink storefront that sets the stage for the items shoppers can find inside. Owner Faustine Faure-Podguszer opened the store back in 2002 and has since continued to focus on selling quality items. Although the stock in-store is updated frequently, the boutique is known for offering a variety of vintage and designer pieces, including hats, footwear, bags, and a stellar collection of sunglasses. It’s not uncommon to find a sale rail outside the store loaded with items at marked-down prices.
Address: 3247 Main Street
Phone: 604-876-2284
Another Main Street vintage destination worth visiting is F as in Frank Vintage Clothing. The store zeroes in on vintage pieces from the 1980s and 1990s in addition to reworked vintage and everything in between, stocking the likes of vintage Polo Ralph Lauren and vintage Tommy Hilfiger. It’s one of the best places in the city to find classic band and movie tees, sportswear (hockey jerseys, in particular), bucket hats, and denim pieces.
Address: 2425 Main Street
Phone: 604-568-5130
Like C’est La Vie Vintage, Bohemia Gallery is easily recognizable with its colourful, inviting storefront (both stores are located right next to each other, too!). Inside the 3,000 sq ft space, there’s plenty to shop: retro-chic, vintage garments from the 1960s through to the 1980s, along with pieces by local designers. When you’re finished exploring the ground-level offerings, venture upstairs to The Loft, where there’s even more to discover. Pro tip — the store is a haven for sequin tops and dresses.
Address: 3243 Main Street
Phone: 604-874-2781
“It’s a mall of vintage clothing shops. Need we say more,” reads the description on Mintage Mall’s Facebook page. The East Broadway vintage venue is home to several pre-loved clothing vendors, and it’s become a local favourite for everything from patterned dresses from the 1980s to jumpsuits, leather jackets, and streetwear. Equally wonderful is the original Mintage boutique on Commercial Drive. Here, you’ll find reworked clothing and accessories, plus reasonably priced coats and bags.
Address: 245 East Broadway
Phone: 604-428-6732
Address: 1714 Commercial Drive
Phone: 604-646-8243
Nestled on East Cordova Street, Far Out Vintage is led by a vintage collector who has been in the business since 1994. The boho boutique stocks an assortment of pieces, which change from season to season, often including vintage denim jeans, blouses, cords, jumpsuits, tees, utility jackets, and more. Many of the items you’ll find in store can also be found on the Far Out Vintage Etsy page.
Address: 165 East Cordova Street
Phone: 604-369-8916
An Indigenous and queer youth-run business store, Velveteen Vintage specializes in vintage, retro, and thrifted clothing and handmade goods. You can find and shop the latest collection assembled by the collective at its Commercial Drive location or at festivals, markets, and pop-up shops across Vancouver. To stay in the know about their next event, check out Velveteen Vintage on Instagram.
Address:1303 Commercial Drive
Phone: 604-423-4933
Vancouver’s Story of Things studio and its alley-side entrance makes it one of the city’s best-kept vintage secrets. Tucked away off Commercial Drive, it has a handpicked collection of designer and rare vintage items — with the kind of craftsmanship and fabrics most vintage clothing aficionados will swoon over (silk and cashmere, for example). Locals can book an appointment to visit the studio or stop by during one of its seasonal sales.
Address: 1111 Commercial Drive
For those born in the 1990s who wish to tap into a sense of nostalgia, The Front Supply Co is the perfect thrift for you. There’s every kind of tee one could desire in-store, and even some Vancouver Grizzlies swag. Apparel by the local streetwear brands Loose Change Apparel, Money Hungry, and Welcome To Eastvan is also stocked at the Venables Street store.
Address: 1641 Venables Street
Phone: 604-657-0276
This article was originally published in September 2021.