After reviewing hundreds of stores, I made an edited list of on-line vintage shops. By vintage, I mean both vintage and secondhand/thrift pieces, with a focus on women’s clothing (I may do a housewares version one day–we’ll see!).

I chose stores with interesting stock, acceptable mark-ups, (usually) pleasant websites, and good reputations. I try to update the list every few months, so it stays relevant. However, it’s not an end-all, be-all list: great new sellers pop up every day, and there’s no way I can list them all. Conversely, placement on the list doesn’t guarantee anything, so shop carefully.

The directory is ordered alphabetically and by price range (below).  Happy shopping!

PRICE KEY (avg price per item)$          $0-$30$$        $30-$75 $$$      $75-$150 $$$$    $150-250 $$$$$   $250+ THRIFT-STORE CHIC Stunning prices, varied collections.  Extremely fun to hunt through. The Bees Knees Vintage ($) Femminastyle.com (site and eBay)($) Frecklewonder ($) Peppermint Vintage ($) PopFizz Vintage ($) Reware Vintage ($) ETSY ($-$$$$) Spurred by rising fees, more and more vintage sellers have migrated from self-hosted sites and eBay to Etsy. What’s good for sellers is also good for buyers: Etsy stores combine easy to use, reliable interfaces with low prices (plus, no insanity-inducing auctions). Check out the Etsy Vintage Directory for an edited list of sellers. CHEAP & TRENDY Slightly pricier than the thrift-store items (often due to auctions), but still easy on your pocketbook. California Vintage Connect ($-$$) Dandelion Vintage ($$) DeniseBrain ($-$$) Elisa’s Bodacious House of Style ($-$$) Funkoma Vintage ($-$$) Glamville Boutique ($-$$$) Kuku Vintage ($-$$$) Liebemarlene Vintage ($-$$) Lullie Vintage ($-$$) MakiMaki Vintage ($$) Mainstreet Mall (some faves: Alley Cats Vintage, Damn Good Vintage,  The Purse Diva )($-$$$) MouseVox ($-$$) mr boots vintage ($-$$) Nelda’s Vintage Clothing ($$) Penelopepup’s Vintage ($-$$) Plaid Pony Vintage (also at Etsy)($-$$) Rusty Zipper Vintage($-$$) ShopCalico ($-$$) ShopGoodwill ($-$$) Tin Roof Vintage ($-$$) TheURBANcollection ($-$$) V for Vintage ($$) Vintage Devotion ($-$$$) OTHER VINTAGE & SECONDHAND RESOURCES A Dress A Day Fashion-Era Lulu’s Vintage Blog Modish N.E.E.T. Magazine Style Bytes Thriftland Vintage Fashion Guild Zuburbia UNAVAILABLE These collections were down for maintenance. We’ve heard good things about them, though, so we’ll review them ASAP. Elsewhere Vintage ($$-$$$)

FASHIONISTA FINDSHigher prices than Cheap & Trendy stores, but still with affordable finds across the board. Ballyhoo Vintage ($$$) Babylon Mall (some faves: Fuzzylizzie Vintage ($$-$$$), Hatfeathers Vintage ($$-$$$)) Blue Velvet Vintage ($$-$$$$) Buy Vintage Clothing ($$-$$$) Couture Allure ($$-$$$) Debutante Clothing ($$-$$$) FashionDig Vintage ($$-$$$) Jailhouse Frock (UK)($$$) Mint & Vintage ($$-$$$) Monster Vintage ($$-$$$) Northstar Vintage (site, Etsy, and eBay)($$) Senorita Hollywood ($$-$$$) Specialist Auctions ($$-$$$) Sydney’s Vintage ($$-$$$) Vintage Martini ($$-$$$) Vintage Pretties ($-$$$)(lingerie) Vintage Vixen ($-$$$$) Violetville Vintage ($$-$$$$) SPOILED BY SUCCESS Great vintage stores with audiences to match. Auctioned items go high, and fixed priced items are snapped up as soon as they go on sale. AdoreVintage.com ($$) Bleubird Vintage ($-$$$$) Mama Stone Vintage ($-$$$$) The Olive Shoppe ($$-$$$) Thriftwares ($-$$$$) BRIDGE LINES Dresses and coats tend to go for $150+, while accessories and separates remain affordable. Cat’s Pajamas ($$$-$$$$) Dorothea’s Closet (site and Etsy)($$-$$$$$) emmapeelpants (UK)(website & eBay) ($$$$-$$$$$) enokiworld ($$-$$$$$) K8tykat ($$$-$$$$) Kakkoii Mono ($$$$) Kitty Girl Vintage ($$$-$$$$) Posh Girl Vintage Clothing ($$-$$$$$) Rag Nation ($$$-$$$$$) Shrimpton Couture ($$$-$$$$$) Steptoes Dog Antique & Vintage (UK)($$$-$$$$) Tasty Vintage (UK)(web & eBay)($$$$) Woodland Farms Vintage Clothing ($$$-$$$$) POSH & LOVELY Too expensive for most of us, but some truly stunning selections. Prices typically start at $500 (although some only start around $250). The Frock ($$$$$) Hemlock Vintage Clothing ($$$$$) The Paper Bag Princess ($$$$$) Past Perfect Vintage (web & eBay)($$$$$) Posh Vintage ($$$-$$$$$) Vintage Griffin ($$$$-$$$$$) Vintage Textile ($$$$$) FOR COLLECTORS, COSTUMERS, & HISTORIANS These stores focus on collector’s items rather than wearables. Prices frequently range between $650-$2000+. Extremely fun to look through. Bustledress.com ($$$$$) Contentment Farm ($$$$$) Corsets & Crinolines ($$-$$$$$) Heritage Haberdashery ($$$$$) Stitches in Times ($$$$$) Vintage Kimono ($$$$$)

At left, Red & Black Polka Dot Bombshell Dress, Stop Staring! @ Daddy-O’s, $89.95.  At right, Veronica Revisited, ReVamp Vintage, $150.00.

The idea for this post came from La Pulga Diva, a great budget fashion blog with a pin-up obsession.  We second that obsession, and raise you one retro fashion guide:

REPRODUCTION CLOTHING

While vintage is often less expensive and more environmentally sound, repro clothing (clothing made from or inspired by vintage patterns) offers flexibility.   In addition to being available in multiple sizes, reproductions come in the larger sizes of today.  Some of our favorite stores:

• Stop Staring!: Fantastic retro/rockabilly-style dresses, available in up to a 26 (3X).  The styles come dangerously close to costume, but are sexy and flattering, and great value for the price ($75-$110).  Featured in BUST’s June/July issue.
• Daddy-O’s: Largest selection of Stop Staring! dresses on-line, in sizes S-XL, although many dresses also go up to 3X.  The separates section is also worth a look, although the shoes, accessories, and purses are aimed at a more specialized, kitsch taste (translation: ugh).
• My Baby-Jo:  A wide range of clothing and accessories, including products from Stop Staring! and Besame Cosmetics.  Great collection of menswear.
• ReVamp Vintage: More expensive than Stop Staring! or Pin-up Girl, and most items are more appropriate for a theater production than the street.  The site is a wonderful vintage resource, however.  For Los Angeles residents, the ReVamp salon also has hair and makeup workshops, a cloche construction class, and an afternoon tea with Dita von Teese this July 9th.
• Pin-up Girl Clothing: Sexy designs and reasonable prices, a must-see.  Goes way beyond womenswear, offering accessories, lingerie, swim wear, menswear, and gifts.
• Trashy Diva: Nice reproductions, particularly the dresses.  Focuses on small-waisted 40s and 50s styles.  Expensive (the dresses average around $175-$220).
• *NEW* Red Dress Shoppe: Solid set of well-priced reproduction clothing.  Great art as well.

VINTAGE

Vintage is often cheap, and, if not dry-clean-only, the most environmentally-friendly clothing you can buy.  Vintage sizes run small, so for vintage shopping on-line or off, focus on measurements, not labels.  UPDATE:

• Visit our on-line vintage clothing directory for links to some of our favorite vintage stores.
• Peppermint Vintage
• AdoreVintage.com
• Lullie Vintage (eBay)
• Mama Stone Vintage (eBay):  The gorgeous dress at right is currently selling for $37.95.  Similar steals abound.
• Thriftwares (eBay):  Bidding starts at $9.99 for this store’s fantastic selection of shoes and dresses (they also offer a limited number of separates and accessories).  My eyes fell out of my head when I saw this going for less than $10.

DIY

Not for the faint of heart.  For those with determination and sewing skills, however, these sources offer vintage patterns, vintage fabrics, and vintage fabric reproductions.  Also see reconstructed vintage clothes (coming soon).

• Repro Depot: Sells wonderful vintage reproduction fabrics, and other vintage-inspired items (check out the hungry plates).  Source for the popular Aloha 60″-ivory fabric at left.
• Revival Fabrics: Sells vintage fabrics only (no reproductions).  Also sells vintage “home decorating textiles,” i.e. tablecloths, towels, and placemats.
• Vintage Cat 1950’s Uncut Simplicity Patterns: Nice selection of vintage patterns, $5-$8.
• Vintage Vogue Patterns:  Includes vintage hat patterns, prices $8.00-$15.00.

PERSONAL LIBRARY

• Secondhand Chic: One of the best fashion/clothing books, period.  Incredibly useful.
• Virtual Vintage: I haven’t read this one, but have heard good things about it.
• After a Fashion: For the DIYer.  Again, haven’t read it, but have heard great things.

We know there are many links we’ve missed.  If you know of other stores or resources, please send us a link below.  Thanks!

Also see: Retro Fashion Guide: Complete The Look (accessories, makeup, & hair).