The Best Vintage Clothing Stores in Brisbane, Australia
Although Melbourne is Australia’s vintage shopping heaven, Brisbane does give the city a good run for its money. Inner-city neighbourhoods like West End and Paddington are overflowing with op shops and vintage stores. Here are the best vintage clothing shops to visit in Brisbane.
SWOP Clothing Exchange
SWOP Clothing Exchange is a vintage store that was built on the ideas of sustainability, affordability, and anti-waste. SWOP buys your unwanted vintage and secondhand clothing to resell to their customers. The team at SWOP has an excellent eye for stylish and quality vintage pieces, so visitors will definitely be spoilt for choice. They also aim to stock their stores in Brisbane and Sydney with clothing that fits all body types, ages, genders, and tastes. SWOP loves supporting the local community, too.
SWOP Clothing Exchange, 161 Boundary Street, West End, QLD, Australia
Yesterdays Thrift Shop
All money raised at Yesterdays Thrift Shops goes to The Developing Foundation, which focuses on brain injury work. Yesterdays has thrift stores in Rosalie, West End, and Indooroopilly; as well as a secondhand book store in Paddington. Yesterdays Thrift Shop in Rosalie is a favourite because it’s located in an old workers cottage. There is a large selection of both men’s and women’s vintage apparel, with some of the lowest prices in the Paddington area.
Yesterdays Thrift Shop, 39 Nash Street, Rosalie, QLD, Australia
Box Vintage
Box Vintage is located within The Happy Cabin, an independent clothing store in Brisbane’s West End neighbourhood. Although its selection might be small, Box Vintage’s clothing racks are constantly stacked with high-quality vintage pieces and collectibles. If you like your vintage in pristine condition, then visit Box Vintage.
Box Vintage, 58 Vulture Street, West End, QLD, Australia
Retro Metro
Retro Metro is one of the most popular vintage clothing stores in Paddington. Located in the garage underneath a house, Retro Metro stocks a wide variety of vintage clothing, homewares, and accessories from the 1920s to the 1980s. These include ball gowns, kaftans, safari shirts, fur stoles, and jackets. Retro Metro has the perfect mix of expensive (but high-quality) vintage pieces, and bargain buys perfect for your next fancy dress party. If you need a costume from a different era, make Retro Metro your first stop.
Retro Metro, 297 Given Terrace, Paddington, QLD, Australia
Empire Revival
Formerly known as the Paddington Antique Centre, Must Do Brisbane calls Empire Revival the “original granddaddy of antique emporiums in Brisbane”. It’s the largest indoor market of its kind in Brisbane, with over 50 independent dealers. Visitors could easily spend hours browsing all of the market stalls. However, when it comes to vintage clothing, there’s an extensive range of pieces from the 1920s to 1980s. Definitely check out La De Da Collectibles, which stocks a huge range of vintage clothing, including collector’s t-shirts, men’s suit jackets, and retro dresses.
Empire Revival, 167 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, QLD, Australia
Ra Ra Superstar
A slightly different vintage clothing store in Paddington, Ra Ra Superstar is a clothing label and store owned by stylist and designer Kathy Szwedzinski. All of her designs are made using quality vintage fabrics. Follow the hot pink pathway to Ra Ra Superstar, which along with its own collection, stocks clothing from other local designers, and an array of vintage pieces too. If you’re a fan of flirty dresses from the 50s and quirky accessories, visit Ra Ra Superstar today.
Ra Ra Superstar, 284 Given Terrace, Paddington, QLD, Australia
Sunday Social
Located in Fortitude Valley’s whimsical Winn Lane, Sunday Social is a favourite among local vintage lovers. Although the store may be small, it’s stocked with plenty of retro hats, antique jewellery, preloved shoes, and vintage clothing of course. Its collection includes an array of blouses and dresses, as well as men’s shirts and pants. Its sister store is also located in Fitzroy, Melbourne’s premier vintage shopping destination. Alternatively, visit the Sunday Social website to shop the vintage looks from anywhere in Australia.
Sunday Social, 5 Winn Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia
Camp Hill Antique Centre
Brisbane’s largest antique centre, Camp Hill Antique Centre was formerly located in Woolloongabba. But its move in 2017 to The Old Planet Theatre building just means more room for more antiques. The centre is home to over 65 dealers, stocking everything from collectibles, to mid-century furnishings, to vintage clothing and jewellery. The Tart Cafe is also located on site, which serves coffee, breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Visitors will need the sustenance before browsing all the retro pieces on offer at Camp Hill Antique Centre.
Camp Hill Antique Centre, 545 Old Cleveland Road, Camp Hill, QLD, Australia
Can You Keep a Secret
Can You Keep a Secret is both a vintage boutique, and a retro-themed craft beer and wine bar. Inside the boutique, customers will find vintage pieces that are only sourced from Australia, and lovingly hand selected. Can You Keep a Secret’s owners say this is to ensure they are bringing their customers “the highest quality in design and style, while preserving Australian fashion history and sustainability.”
Can You Keep a Secret, 619-621 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia