131/ 25 of London's Best Resale Shops According to 10 Stylish Residents
131/ 25 of London's Best Resale Shops According to 10 Stylish Residents
Dear readers,
Since starting this newsletter, it’s truly been a pleasure to discover and share my Resale Round-ups with you, as well as putting together my destination shopping guides. I often get asked to do a London guide, but sadly I haven’t had the opportunity to explore the city as much as I would have liked.1
But hark! I’ve found a solution. I reached out to 10 friends in London who have generously offered to share their favourite resale shops with the readers of In Moda Veritas! As 10 of London’s most stylish residents, not only do I trust their eye, but being in fashion and fashion-adjacent industries, these women have boots on the ground and are constantly surveying the landscape. They know what’s up.
Even if you’re not going to be in London anytime soon, keep reading because most of the shops have an online storefront so that you can dig for treasure wherever you are in the world.
A big thank to these lovely ladies for sharing their insights (clockwise from top left):
- of Every Body Gets Dressed
- of The Inside Pocket
- of It’s Not Sustainable
- of The Good Bones Life
Mija Knezevic, entrepreneur & ELLE Influencer of the Year 2023
Rosie Lai, acting fashion editor of Glamour UK
Eliza Majewska, photographer
Yana McKillop, stylist & fashion director UK & EU for PUSS PUSS Magazine
- of The Wardrobe Edit
Monica Velosa, gastroenterologist & co-founder of Riand 28
As a visual-spatial learner, of course I made a map to give you a sense of distances whilst travelling across the city. Londoners, please chime in, but I think takes about 45 minutes by transit to travel between the two most concentrated vintage hubs: Portobello Market (4) in the west to Brick Lane Market (2) in the east.
suggests that “if you’re limited on time, east is best because you’ll find a mix of hyper-curated designer high-price tag places and rummage-for-treasures/bargain basement places within a 10-minute walk radius.”
Noted! In the East we shall begin.
East
One of Liza’s favourite shops is Aro Archive (1) in Shoreditch which specializes in avant garde Japanese, Belgian, French and British design. “They have a hyper-edited collection of unique pieces in mint condition. They do the hard work of unearthing the best of the best for you and look, not just for anything with a designer label, but for pieces with character. The most dedicated thrifters might jail me for this, but I think it’s reasonably priced.” Aro is also a fave of Mia Knezevic for selling resale and vintage from designers that she loves like Dries, Miyake, Margiela and Valentino.
The east end is also home to the underground Brick Lane Vintage Market (2) which, from the photos, is giving me Dondaemun and Shimokita vibes.
“You’ll find £10 Mostro Puma sneakers from the early aughts, a £995 Runway Riccardo Tisci-era Burberry trench coat, and everything in between. I love this place so much because the people who work there are passionate and incredibly friendly,” says Liza.
Spots along Brick Lane that Liza frequents include Atika Vintage Department Store (2), which bills itself as the “largest vintage clothing store in London,” with “over 20,000 pieces of pre-loved fashion, along with unique lifestyle items, homeware, and a curated selection of books and magazines.” Liza says there’s “a lot of polyester to skim through, but you’ll also find gems like beautiful £70 sheepskin coats in immaculate condition.” Other shops include Serotonin Vintage (2) (“think if Devon Lee Carlson was a shop”) and Y2K Vintage (2). “If you’re cash-rich, the celebrity-stylist-approved Nordic Poetry (2) further down the road is worth a look.”
Also in the area is Quatrième (2), appreciated by for being “well-curated, with a wide range of prices and pieces, from high-end to smaller designers.” Giulia loves vintage shopping around Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market (3), but cautions, “please don’t fall for the crazy prices of their main vintage shops!”
West
Moving across town to the west end, Notting Hill is home to the famous Portobello Road Market (4) where vintage clothing traders sell their wares over the weekend. “It’s touristy and crowded, and more often than not, traders are in a foul mood.” But, Liza continues, “on a lucky day, and if you’re putting in the hustle, you might land a £50 Tom Ford-era Gucci blazer.”
Two more gems from Liza: “Pop into 282 (4) — they have excellent vintage tailoring and outerwear. Karen Vintage Boutique (4) is very expensive but for a good reason. You’ll find stunning silk and lace slip dresses for £1,000 as well as unique bridal options. It’s as far as it gets from a thrifty experience, but it’s the perfect spot to find something for a special occasion.”
Nearby is One of a Kind Archive (4), a favourite of both Rosie Lai and Yana McKillop. According to Rosie, it’s “probably one of the most exclusive vintage shops in London. It’s by appointment only because you can find runway JPG or exact pieces worn by Hollywood stars in the ‘80s.” And per Yana: “It’s stuffed with the most beautiful and rare pieces from Galliano to Prada, and is more of an aspirational destination as the prices are not affordable at all but a real gem for collectors. You can also shop their selection on 1st Dibs.”
Across the Westway lies Rellik (5), recommend by Mija, Rosie and . Tiffanie says: “It’s a Kate Moss favourite and you can find everything from Ossie Clarke to Halston. It's like a fabulous museum you can actually shop.” Says Rosie: “You never know what you might find but the owner is very knowledgable and the pieces are always in pristine condition.”
Tiffanie also turns to Chillie London (5): “It’s super cool — lots of sportswear and upcycled garage mechanic clothes.”
Nearby Reluxe (5) was founded by stylist Clare Richardson and, according to Monica Velosa, is home to some of the most sought-after designer pieces. “I’ve purchased a black Jil Sander t-shirt with feathers and a pair of Bottega Veneta cargo trousers that had been on my wishlist forever.”
A little further south in Chelsea is Sign of the Times (6). According to
, “you’re not going to get a bargain here — we’re talking vintage on the higher end of the designer scale. So think special. Think hidden gems!” Tiffanie says “you can pick up designer garb for half the price — lots even still have labels. It’s a receptacle for the cast-offs of the Chelsea ladies who shop too much. Sign of the Times, indeed!”Giulia is a huge fan of Accessories of Old (7) in Fulham. “I’m a big jewellery lover, and when I stumbled across this literal gem, I couldn’t believe it. Millions of original vintage jewellery pieces, once produced for stores like Liberty, Harrods, John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, and many more between the early 1920s and 1999, were stuck in an old warehouse for decades!”
And, our last recommendation in the west is Recollection which pops up around west London, and is a favourite of both Monica and Yana for being an all-in-one destination for pre-loved fashion, furniture, and lifestyle objects. Monica reports that she has found “unique candleholders, a perfectly structured Balenciaga short-sleeve shirt, and an Isthme Hermes necklace that my friends gifted me, which I wear constantly.” Yana was able to snag “a painting by a young British artist. It feels like stepping into The Row of resale market space with way more affordable prices.”
North
Since 2002, Beyond Retro (8) has been handpicking vintage for its shops in the UK, Sweden and mostly recently, Finland. The King’s Cross location is the go-to of Eliza Majewska: “They have amazing t-shirts and I always get one when I’m there. The location is great and the shop is spacious and very well organized. They also have great range of denim.”
Monica said that Beyond Retro initially “embodied everything I used to dread about vintage shopping. However, after a visit with my friend and business partner Keda Rich, I found myself drawn back for inspiration and to hunt down hidden gems. If you’re after vintage silk scarves, camisoles, or unique dresses, Beyond Retro is the place to be.”
For a “hit-or-miss” thrifting experience, Monica also recommends the Belsize Park location of Fara Charity Shop (9) which has 40 locations around London and the UK. “I’ve found amazing pre-loved men’s suits, silk shirts, and band t-shirts here — sometimes you just have to dig a little, but the rewards can be incredible.”
South
According to Giulia, car boot sales in Peckham (10) are at the beating heart of today’s London vintage movement. “I think it’s something we borrowed from the girls in Copenhagen who have been doing it forever. Here, you’ll find all the cool kids of London reselling their wardrobes. In my opinion, the best ones are in Hackney, Battersea, and Peckham. Peckham is a must-visit because this southeast London neighbourhood is busy, messy, diverse, and has the best food — you can’t help but fall in love with its vibrant energy. If you love the hunt, the sales take place every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and entry is just £1.”
Online Only
Onto the London-based, but mostly online resale shops. Shiny Things London is the first stop
makes when looking for unique homeware pieces, from dressing tables to benches. “I am endlessly surprised and delighted by this shop.” Leanne deigns Scene by Chloe as “the place for the coolest mid-century and one-off pieces of furniture. [Owner Chloe has] just got the eye!” Leanna also turns to Passé The Store for regular inspiration. The shop is a collective mix of antique and vintage pieces sourced from across the UK and Europe by owner, Dani Hides. “I have alerts set up to let me know every time Dani posts!”Rosie reports that she has found excellent vintage Chanel and Saint Laurent jackets at Hardly Ever Worn It. Finally, Yana resells her very own archive through Yana’s Archive where she parts ways with pieces from Old Celine, Prada and Bottega that need another lease of life. “I’m also thinking of opening up my archive of Prada and Old Céline for rentals so watch this space!”
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Also, check out some of my other shopping guides:
Storytime for another time! Sliding Doors situation… I was called to the Bar of England & Wales and in the process of interviewing for firms in London. That was October 2008. Financial crisis happens and before the economy recovered, I fell in love, so *tada* here I am in Toronto.
Love, love, love this post Irene. Great to discover some places that weren’t on my list. Thank you for sharing! ☺️
Such a great round-up! Thank you, my dear Irene, and all my fellow Londoners for putting together this amazing London second-hand guide xx
I love how I had to take notes on places that weren’t even on my radar yet!