A Vintage Shopping Road Trip

Many moons ago, in what almost feels like another lifetime, I owned a vintage clothing shop. Every week, I would give a new home to unique, bold (read: out-there) and quite often sparkly (Magpies must be my spirit animal) pieces from the likes of YSL, Dior and Hermes and many designers that are now long-defunct.

I would (and still do) quite literally dream of stumbling upon racks of designer vintage and somewhere along the lines, I started acquiring them, building up my collection until I had enough to open a shop. The joy that these pieces brought to my new customers was something special- there is something so exhilarating about finding that perfect vintage piece IN YOUR SIZE! Knowing there may only be one left in the whole world, and it’s yours, well…that’s priceless.

So why the journey into my vintage-laden past? Why, to let you know I have quite the eye for purchasing such goods, which is why my list of go-to places for vintage treasures may just be your new little black book.

Best to start this one in Canberra and work your way north to Sydney.

Vinnies, Dickson
I’m going to get straight to the point here… winning purchases over the years from this gem of a store have included Gucci shoes, a Mimco bag and a never-worn Country Road coat…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The Salvation Army, Fyshwick
Another absolute treasure trove (and huge), I have found many a unique vintage piece here, including some fantastic bags and jewellery (and a Chloé scarf)! Go for a hunt and take your time, there is a lot to get through.

Designer Op Shop, Braddon
If you love vintage and pre-loved designer pieces but are a bit strapped for time and patience, Designer Op Shop take all the hard work out of the process with their carefully curated selection of clothing, accessories and homewares. The beautifully designed space and affordable price-tags make this the perfect place to get your vintage fix, without breaking a sweat.

Dirty Janes, Bowral
If you fancy a drive, it is absolutely worth your while dropping into Dirty Jane’s on your way up to Sydney. A warehouse space filled with over 75 vintage and antique retailers, this is shopping heaven. On my last trip, I found a bunch of gorgeous jewellery (very reasonably priced) and a Galliano bustier from the 80’s that was an absolute steal.

Red Cross Shop and Vinnies, Sydney
If you do indeed keep driving on from Bowral through to Sydney on your vintage hunting jaunt, make sure you take a pit-stop in Oxford St in Paddington. One afternoon of hunting at the Red Cross Shop and Vinnie’s stores had me walking away with a Moschino jacket, Zimmermann dress and Salvatore Ferragamo shoes. Hot tip: I went on a Friday morning and I think a new drop of goodies had arrived!

Now, I have many more stops… but a girl needs to have some secrets, right?

words by annie brown