Vintage shopping is the biggest trend in global fashion in the 21st century. It is one of the basic principles of sustainability, but at the same time, it is also one of the basic principles of the truly stylish women and men of this world. On a planet where “fast fashion” is now demonstrably not the same as “good fashion” and neither are people necessarily well-dressed and stylish, the belief that quantity and variety should guide our personal style has long been rejected.
Unfortunately, however, for the average buyer, vintage shopping remains a difficult business, quite simply because we are talking about uncharted waters. Walking into a store full of countless second-hand clothes and accessories, many of which are not in very good condition, makes things quite complex and it is possible that you will lose your appetite and patience very soon. And then, figuring out the right way to combine a vintage piece with a contemporary one, creating a modern look for most is – rightly – a complicated story.
One of the first things you should know about vintage shopping is that whatever you see on the hangers, you should definitely try it on before you buy it. Try not to get carried away by a really nice shirt and always try it on to see how it looks on you before you head to checkout.
A second is the fact that not all vintage shops are the same. Especially if you plan to travel abroad, to a European metropolis like London, Paris, Berlin or Milan that are famous for their hundreds of vintage stores, do a good research before you start so you know at least what you will find and where. Where is worth stopping and where to just pass by.
Below you will find 5 top recommendations for very high quality (and quite profitable) vintage shopping in the center of Milan, the absolute capital of Italian fashion, the city that will never stop drinking water in the name of glamorous high fashion.
- Humana Vintage
The first attraction you will visit in Milan will probably be the Cathedral Duomo di Milano, one of the most impressive and emblematic churches not only of the city and of the whole of Italy, but also of Europe in general. From the famous and much-photographed Piazza del Duomo, you can easily and quickly walk to the main street Via Cappellari to hunt for vintage treasures in one of Milan’s hottest and most interesting vintage shops.
Humana Vintage is a cool chain of vintage shops that have an identity and you will find them in several Italian cities such as Rome, Genoa, Florence, Milan. If, in fact, you have the necessary patience and know some of the “secrets” of vintage shopping, then it is very likely that you will find some amazing pieces here that will make a real difference to your style.
Humana Vintage faithfully follows the philosophy of charity shops that sell used, vintage or not, clothes in the sense that a significant part of the proceeds goes to charities for a good cause. In the Via Cappellari store you will find a wide variety of clothes and accessories, from wonderful knits and silk scarves in very good condition, and it is extremely helpful, for anyone who comes here for the first time, that everything is divided with incredible order into specific categories and they always have a price tag. Just like you would in a brand new store.
Here you will definitely find some pieces with the signature of big and very recognizable fashion houses, they are just much less than those found in other vintage shops in Milan. Humana Vintage focuses mainly on high quality Italian fashion with a distinct character. The sweaters hanging on Humana Vintage hangers are so beautiful, handpicked one by one, and usually in perfect condition. So do coats and gorgeous scarves that look like new. Even if some pieces have a small blemish, the price is such that it’s worth it to buy it (if you like it and it fits of course) and find a way to either rework it or fix the “damage”.
You will buy amazing leather jackets from 25 euros, 100% wool sweaters from 15 or 20 euros, elegant coats with timeless quality from 37 or 38 or 40 euros. Note that on the second floor of the store there is a section exclusively for men’s fashion.
And here, as in all vintage shops, it is necessary to try everything on before you buy because even if a piece is in your size, sometimes the line and fit can look quite different on you especially when it comes to quite old ones clothes.
Via Cappellari 3
- Madame Pauline Vintage
Milan is the ultimate capital of Italian fashion. And although people continue to travel everywhere from Paris to London and from New York to Los Angeles with shopping on their minds, Milan remains steadfastly the city where you just can’t help but wander for hours on end. fantastic shopping streets, where it is impossible not to spend whole days in the boutiques of the leading fashion houses on the planet. After all, there are not a few visitors who arrive in the city just to visit the famous Serravalle Designer Outlet, looking for the best bargains on pieces signed by Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Gucci and spending large sums of money on items to be found in their wardrobe a whole life.
Such a city could not be without a vintage shop dedicated exclusively to high fashion, full of wonderful pieces that have a unique refinement and have the signature of fashion houses, so glittering that for most women they are a living lustful dream. Yves Saint Laurent, Missoni, Versace, Hermes in excellent condition, some of them are unwearable and still have the original label on them.
Everything at Madame Pauline Vintage located at 74 Via Foro Buonaparte, just a few minutes’ walk from Castello Sforezesco, is arranged not by type but in a very special way that makes perfect color sense. The store is beautiful and everything you will find here stands out for its quality and timeless design.
Certainly the jackets, coats, shirts and skirts at Madame Pauline Vintage don’t come cheap: for a Christian Dior silk shirt in perfect condition you might pay around 180 euros, while for an Yves Saint Laurent skirt you might need to spend around 350. , but for clothing masterpieces that completely change the wardrobe of every woman who knows the art of vintage style well, for statement pieces that you will have for a lifetime. And if you’re one of those women who knows how to wear a scarf properly and pull it off, then here you’ll find some enviable pieces, made from 100% silk.
Finally, take a look at the store’s own signature pieces too, as Madame Pauline Vintage has its own collection, with new clothes and accessories, of course. The best thing here is that the shop caters to those who don’t have a lot of browsing experience, as everything is beautifully arranged and in fantastic condition. And you can often find them placed on hangers in such a way, for example a shirt together with a skirt, that encourages unlikely combinations that only a true fashion expert can create.
Forum Buonaparte 74
- Surplus
A vintage shop with a more intense edgy and glam rock mood that has really special pieces mainly from the 1970s and 1980s, while there are also some completely unbearable items that still have the original tag hanging on them. Here punk and rock have their due and they “shout” it through irresistible accessories, such as rings, gloves, hats and sunglasses.
If you love coats and want to add another timeless piece to your collection, then Surplus is “the place to be”, as the English say. You will find a wide variety of vintage coats, not necessarily with the stamp of well-known fashion houses and this is reflected in the price. For a very high quality, classic coat you will pay around 100 euros, definitely a purchase worth its colors.
At Surplus, which means “excess” in Greek, it’s worth taking a look for the wide variety of hats and jewelry. You’ll find berets in all the colors of the rainbow for €20 each, woolen beanies, as well as fedora-style hats for €55. Still, you’ll find leather belts that look like new for around 35 to 40 euros a piece. Also, Surplus has clothes with its own label, only they are not new pieces. In essence, they are vintage options that have been processed in such a way as to create a different item. You may find shirts that have been made from camisole dresses, shorts that have been made from long pants, and mini skirts that were once maxis. An excellent example of the non-negotiable dynamic that vintage shopping can have in our lives, if you have a little imagination and get your hands on it.
Surplus is close to Castello Sforezesco, as is Madame Pauline Vintage, so you can combine the two shops in one walk for a satisfying fashion treasure hunt. It also has a separate section dedicated only to men’s fashion.
Corso Garibaldi 7
- La Bottega Rossa
If there’s one thing that’s true for everyone who goes vintage shopping in Milan it’s this: you can’t, even if you try, easily spot La Bottega Rossa at number 6 Via Ciovasso. Its red, very recognizable door is just one of the strong features of this very special vintage store that does not only focus on clothing, but also has a unique, very neat and beautiful collection of home and decoration items. Pieces that will make unique, not only your wardrobe, but your personal “nest”.
Passing outside the store, you will see a few tables spread out in front of you covered with glass glasses and porcelain mugs, complete tableware with all their pieces, jugs, amazing vases and lamps. In fact, another impressive piece of information is the fact that La Bottega Rossa is, according to the locals, the oldest vintage shop in Milan, counting over 50 years of operation.
Inside the shop under crystal chandeliers for sale and next to display cases of silverware, you will see hangers loaded with vintage clothes. Heavy coats and woolen jackets, skirts and shirts, authentic Valentino dresses and tops, The prices here are quite good and you are very likely to get very lucky, discovering the vintage piece of your dreams. Of course, this does not mean that the search at La Bottega Rossa is an easy task. The store is a little cluttered and the pieces are haphazardly placed on the hangers, so you’ll need to arm yourself with patience in order to carefully search through coats and jackets for that one midi skirt that will excite you.
However, the chances of finding a treasure here are quite high, so put your thrift shopping skills to the front and get started.
Via Ciovasso 6
- II Bivio
Il Bivio is not just another store with vintage clothing and accessories in the heart of a European fashion capital. This is the first store with second-hand clothes and accessories that opened its doors in Milan, a true Mecca of the fashion industry, where you will really find everything your mind can hold.
Now Il Bivio has “grown up” and has three branches in two of the most lively and fashionable neighborhoods of the city center: Porta Ticinese and Porta Venezia. Each of them is filled with thousands of unique and completely authentic pieces that have been selected with extreme care and attention to be in such good condition that they seem unbearable.
In the bright, colorful and funky Il Bivio, you too can sell a special vintage item from your wardrobe that you no longer need or don’t suit you and come out winning either by getting some money or another piece from this fantastic store. In fact, at Il Bivio, you have two options: once the initial value of the item you’re selling is calculated, you can either get 33% of the price in cash or get 50% of the value in a gift certificate for future vintage purchases. The gift voucher is valid for one year and is valid for all Il Bivio stores.
Via Gian Giacomo Mora, 4, 20123, Milan
