thrifty thrifting
Look sharp: The only guide to Austin's many vintage stores you'll ever need
It’s no secret that Austin is a great place to shop for vintage clothes; we seem to have an unquenchable thirst for bars on East Sixth Street and vintage stores in this town.
If you're got a thirst for thrifting, there are a lot of shops to choose from, and it’s an ever-growing and changing scene. Below is my guide to help you navigate the world of vintage shopping Austin. Whether you are looking for a 90s party dress, a Mad Men frock or a silk kimono, you’ll find it somewhere in this town.
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Frock On Vintage (3016 Guadalupe Street)
North Campus has a new vintage store. Liz Ashabranner from Frock On says you’ll find pieces from all eras at her shop, but they emphasize “quality styles from mid to late 20th century.” The large store has mostly clothes and accessories, but they do have some vintage home items sprinkled throughout. (I also couldn’t help but notice a nice selection of sweatshirts in the back.) Frock On offers sell and trade options for your vintage goods, as well as in-store alterations.
Las Cruxes (2908 ½ Fruth Street)
Those not in the know could easily miss Las Cruxes, hidden in the alley between Spiderhouse and I Luv Video. But if you’re looking for an 80s or 90s-inspired vintage look, you’re going to want to find them. Beyond vintage, Las Cruxes also specialize in handmade clothing, art, music, film and zines. Check them out next time you’re returning a video or getting some coffee.
Cream Vintage (2532 Guadalupe Street)
Cream, the only vintage store left on the drag, has both men’s and women’s clothing. They also have a small vinyl section; if you’ve dragged your mate along, they will have something to browse through. You can also find handmade jewelry and a lot of cowboy boots, and the tailor in the back can help you fix anything that doesn’t fit quite right.
Splendor (100 West North Loop Boulevard)
Sadly, when I stopped by Splendor I learned they'll be closing at the end of the month — but you still have time to catch their closing sale! All regularly priced merchandise is 30% off until January 28th, and there will be a big bash that day with more discounts. If you like what you see, they’ll be opening an online store soon.
Blue Velvet (217 West North Loop Boulevard)
Owned by a mother and daughter team, Blue Velvet has been in Austin for 18 years (first on the Drag and now on North Loop). You’ll find men’s and women’s vintage clothes and accessories from a mish mash of eras. Co-owner Jennifer Barker says they have co-op dealers, "so we have a lot different tastes and styles available, plus we have new stock added several times a week." Head to the back of the store and you’ll find a section with vintage kids clothes (so freaking adorable).
Ermine Vintage (106 East North Loop Boulevard)
Ermine’s owner Elizabeth, an Austin native, says at Ermine Vintage you’ll find “a selection of men’s and women’s 20th century fashion in a variety of size and styles.” Ermine also conveniently organizes their racks by modern sizes, instead of what’s on the label. Frequent vintagers will know how handy this is — a size 14 is definitely not what it used to be.
Hog Wild Vintage (100 East North Loop Boulevard)
Hog Wild currently has a large selection of vintage furniture and décor, but they do have some clothing racks in the store. Make sure you flip through the vintage posters in the back while you’re there, too.
Room Service Vintage (107 East North Loop Boulevard)
Room Service is “3,500 square feet packed with vintage finds of all shapes and sizes for every taste and budget,” says owner Lucretia Sisk. Walking through the store you’ll find vintage clothes, housewares, toys, furniture and more. It’s a great source when you’re looking for some good old-fashioned kitsch.
Get Back Vintage (4807 Burnet Road)
A mixture vintage of men’s and women’s clothing, furniture and home décor fill Get Back Vintage on Burnet. They also have a very healthy selection of vintage cowboy boots; they will buy your old boots, too, so trade it that pair you never wear for something new.
Feathers Boutique (1700 South Congress Avenue)
Feathers offers new and vintage and women’s clothing and accessories. Masha Poloskova, the store owner, describes their range as “high end designer labels to casual street wear.” Walking around Feathers, I noticed some hot Jeffrey Campbell shoes as well as a variety of cute vintage shoes. Masha adds they also carry a “wide selection of artisan jewelry from around the world.”
Prototype (1700 South Congress Avenue)
If you haven’t been to Prototype in awhile, you’ll noticed they've moved more towards clothes and less towards furnishings. They carry mostly women’s items, but they do have a sizeable men’s collection with a ton of t-shirts. A small amount of accessories and furnishings are for sale as well. You'll find styles from a variety of decades, but mostly from the 60s to 80s. Bargain shoppers: in the back right corner you’ll find a sale rack (they also have reduced merchandise spread throughout the racks).
Uncommon Objects (1512 South Congress Avenue)
Uncommon Object is probably Austin’s most famous antique store, but you can find some vintage clothing and accessories. Check out their cases by the register for gorgeous jewelry and hip vintage belt buckles. It’s the best place to go if you are looking for some early century vintage wares.
New Bohemia (1606 South Congress Avenue)
New Bohemia has expanded to bring you even more cool clothes from the past. Their large collection of men’s and women’s clothes and accessories spans anywhere from the 50s to the 80s. You can also support Austin Pets Alive while shopping there; a dollar from every sunglass purchase goes to the great organization.
New Brohemia (2209 South 1st Boulevard)
The only all men’s vintage store in town! They have a very large selection of men’s clothing and accessories from t-shirts to cowboy-wear. Head towards the back room of the shop for deep discounts.
Amelia's Retro Vogue (2213 S. First Street)
Amelia's Retro Vogue is kicking it old school with looks from the 1860's to 1960's. You can find men's and women's attire, but what makes them stand out from the rest is their selection of vintage wedding apparel. Even if you don't have a wedding planned, there's no shame snatching up your wedding dress early. Right? Right?
Bitch’in Threads (1030 South Lamar Boulevard #D)
Where could one go to find a great kimono in Austin? To Bitch’in Threads. You’ll also find vintage women’s clothes and accessories. Bitch’in Threads is great for evening wear or fun 80s prom dresses, too. Don’t miss them — they share the same complex as Alamo South Lamar.
Charm School Vintage (2109 East Cesar Chavez Boulevard)
You may recognize Charm School Vintage’s exterior — it’s the house Art Palace used to inhabit. They carry “must-have ladies and unisex clothing from the Victorian era to the 90s,” according to shop owner Shari Gerstenberger. Shari says Charm School strives for “wearibility, timeless style and affordability.” You can leave Charm School not just with a new outfit, but with a new wig too: Charm School shares the space with wig boutique Coco Coquette, as well as Salon d’Etoile.
Laced with Romance (1601 South 1st Boulevard)
Housed in an old garage on South 1st Street is new store, Laced with Romance. It’s a great place to find the 60s glam or boho vintage looks popular in Austin right now. Laced with Romance is part of an exciting, growing retail scene on South 1st Street.
Lovely (1506 South 1st Boulevard)
Lovely is a combination boutique and vintage store located right across the street from Laced with Romance. You’ll find vintage clothing and accessories from all eras mixed throughout the store with new designer jewelry and clothes. Pick up a t-shirt by Austin artist/musician Daniel Johnston while you’re in there.
Flashback Vintage (1805 South 1st Boulevard)
Flashback Vintage is a quaint old house on South 1st Street. The majority of their stock is vintage women’s clothes, but they do have a whole room for men's clothing, too; I noticed vintage finds from the fifties as well as fashions from today. There’s a sale rack on the front porch you won’t want to pass over.
Let’s Dish (1102 South Lamar Boulevard)
Let’s Dish carries women’s and some men’s vintage clothes along with accessories. They also have plenty of vintage décor and housewares and a great selection of old hats. You’ll even find a table with bags of vintage lace and sewing goods. Located right next to the Alamo South Lamar, stop in before a movie.
Big Berthas Bargain Basement (1050 South Lamar Boulevard)
At Big Bertha’s you’ll find neither Bertha nor a basement. You will find a lot of vintage women’s wear and a good selection of men’s vintage clothing packed into its space. Look for their upcycled jackets and designer pieces as well.
There’s also:
Buffalo Exchange – The national store buys new and old clothing to resell.
Next to New – St Jude's thrift store that also does consignment. Though mostly vintage furniture and housewares, you can find some clothes and accessories for a good deal.
29th Street Yard Sale – Every second Sunday of the month 20+ vintage vendors get together at the Spiderhouse Ballroom to sell hot vintage duds.