THRIFTING: THE TREND THAT’S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT – AND YOUR POCKET. LITTLE WONDER IT’S TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM. – Pynck

Image Credit Saskia Price
Clothing at ThreadBARE Vintage by Cécile Paul

Vintage Stores Thrill me like no other Stores.

In the blink of an eye they can transform one from your dowdy office-worker self to quirky Florence and the Machine, Spice Girl of your choice or even leggy Lara Croft. Just add imagination!

They can lift you straight out of a dull present day and teleport you straight to a glamorous Hollywood dinner party or a jazzy 1920s boardwalk.

Image Credit and styling Cécile Paul
Vintage Clothing by Cécile Paul at ThreadBARE

Worst case scenario is you leave a thrift store with an immaculate pre-loved pair of tomato-red Prada kitten heels (at a fraction of the original price tag of course).

Image Credit Cécile Paul

Image Credit South China Morning Post via Instagram
Sex And The City’s Sarah-Jessica Parker is a huge fan of thrift stores.

For me the titillation of the vintage/nearly-new/pre-loved/‘thrift’ store lies in the unbeatable element of surprise. In your wildest dreams you can never pre-empt which gems lie waiting for you inside!

Unlike high street and designer campaigns that leave little or nothing to the imagination, the anticipation, the excitement of the thrift store takes one back to being a toddler under the Christmas tree just prior to ripping open your pressies! Adrenaline rush!

Image Credit Cape Tourism
Endless possibilities up for grabs at Nevernew in Observatory

Aren’t you even a little intrigued by the extraordinary stories that each of these frocks, brogues and breeches would tell if they could speak? Tales of gossip and wild parties, late nights and intrigue… the joy, melancholy and bliss a certain ballgown or LBD has been party to?

Image Credit Cape Tourism
Bombers, bikers and blaze

And finally – on a pragmatic note, I’m always heartened by the fact that someone had already taken the time and care to pick out each and every one of these garments, and that they had liked it enough to purchase it in the first place! If that’s not a vote of confidence

But the allure of the thrift experience goes deeper than just aesthetic thrills: you know that by re-using/ repurposing/ recycling you’re also being infinitely kind to the environment.

And to your pocket!

So – what’s not to Love about Pre-Loved?

Image Credit Cécile Paul
A family day out to the vintage shops!

Hipster Cape Town showcases the full spectrum of thrift stores, from nearly-new designer fashion stores to old-school vintage stores, student-fashion thrift stores and charity shops. From the city bowl to Observatory, Claremont to Sea Point, each enclave boasts its own flavour of thrift.

Image Credit Grand Funk Vintage Observatory (@grandfunk_retrovintage)

Image Credit Cécile Paul
At Maids of Honour in Observatory

Having been part of the vintage store fraternity across the world, I feel decidedly at home in this world of endearing, grungy, glamorous olde-world charm.

I invite you to sit back and experience the allure of a hand-picked selection of a few of my favourite stores in Cape Town.

1. GLITTERATI

The Long Street Antique Arcade, 127 Long Street, Cape Town

glitterati_vintage
https://www.theantiquearcade.co.za/glitterati/

Nestled snugly between antique jewellery stores in the aptly named Long Street Antiques Arcade, sits a gem of a family-run store. Here you can glide effortless between the decades gone by.

In the mood for a lookalike 1960s Biba minidress? A dapper brass-buttoned military jacket? Or perhaps a Scottish tweed skirt from the 1950s? It goes without saying that they won’t let you leave without being fully shod, booted and belted for your event, and gorgeous period jewellery is part of the offering too.

The vintage is curated and considered at Glitterati, and that translates into the clientele that frequents this bustling little store. This is for serious vintage aficionados!

Image Credit Cécile Paul
Olde-world charm in abundance. At Glitterati

Image Credit Cécile Paul
A charming belted 1970s coat. At Glitterati

Image Credit Cécile Paul
Handbags for all occasions. At Glitterati

Image Credit Cécile Paul
Costume jewellery puts finishing touches to an ensemble. At Glitterati

2. AFRAID OF MICE

@afraidofmicect

99 Harrington St, District Six, Cape Town

This highly curated retro boutique is situated in the East City, on funky Harrington St, amongst hip pubs, clubs and world-famous coffee shops.

Their motto is, “The clothes you wish your mother had kept for you”, and navigating the considered rails of retro designer gear, you would agree. Here Moschino jackets rub shoulders with Chanel bags and Balenciaga sneakers.

The vibe is cheery and joyful, the space bright and airy. Make this a decided stop on your thrift shop journey through the city.

Image Credit Cécile Paul
Funky designer labels. At Afraid of Mice

Image Credit Afraid of Mice on Instagram
Folksy floral vibes. At Afraid of Mice

Image Credit Afraid of Mice on Instagram
Chanel, baby! At Afraid of Mice

3. LUXITY

Shop 6280, V&A Waterfront, Victoria Wharf, 19 Dock Road, Cape Town

@luxity.shop

www.luxity.co.za

Luxity is Africa’s largest reseller of authentic, pre-owned luxury fashion. The various physical and web stores are at poised at the very luxe end of the nearly-new, pre-loved spectrum and without a doubt South Africa’s rather robust answer to Vestiaire Collective.

The array of designer brands on offer is dizzying. From sunspecs to handbags, stilettos to sneakers, frocks to watches, the merchandise is eye-wateringly tempting and albeit pricy, nowhere as steep as the original price tag.

Perhaps the most gratifying of all are this company’s sustainability credentials – here you can shop in the confidence that you’re also doing the planet a favour in re-using these curated, authentic creations.

Image Credit Luxity on Instagram
The stores ooze luxurious elegance. At Luxity

Image Credit Luxity on Instagram
An vast array of designer handbag labels are in store and online. At Luxity

Image Credit Luxity on Instagram
Ladies who lunch in luxe. At Luxity

Image Credit Luxity on Instagram
Looking good at less than full price. At Luxity

Image Credit Luxity on Instagram
Where the bold and the beautiful shop. At Luxity

4. STOCK EXCHANGE

116 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town

Stock Exchange on uber-fashionable Kloof Street is one of the best kept secrets in Cape Town. With no social media, little advertising bar word-of-mouth, this company has been kitting out stylish Capetonians as well as local and international visitors for decades.

From Isabel Marant to Burberry, Max Mara to Dries Van Noten – you’re bound to spot something covetable at Stock Exchange every time you visit.

There’s always a fresh, hand-picked, highly curated selection of nearly-new (and of late, also some virtually new) designer clothes, shoes, bags and belts on offer. They also perennially have the very best offering of cashmere in the city.

Image Credit Cécile Paul
Retro Prada. At Stock Exchange

Image Credit Cécile Paul
There’s always an abundance of cashmere to drool over. At Stock Exchange

5. VINTAGE SWAG

@vintageswag.co.za

www.vintageswag.co.za

This curated vintage store is the brainchild of Carmen Matthysen, a girl with a passion for fashion and one who goes the extra mile to unearth out-of-the-ordinary vintage pieces.

Her online store is carefully curated and abundant with must-have pieces: quirky faux fur, leather, super luxe hand bags and the Cape Town fashionista’s favourite shoes, Doc Martins.

Vintage Swag doesn’t have a physical store right now, but Carmen keeps her loyal following up to speed with the latest scoops via video clips in which she showcases each covetable piece.

The brand is passionate about the environment and a firm believer in slow fashion, recycling, upcycling and repurposing as an alternative to the high street. The passion shows!

Image Credit Vintage Swag on Instagram

Image Credit Vintage Swag on Instagram
Handbag heaven. At Vintage Swag

Image Credit Vintage Swag on Instagram
A boudoir of sumptuous powder-puff pink. At Vintage Swag

Image Credit Vintage Swag on Instagram
Faux fur, houndstooth and a pair of Docs – perfection! At Vintage Swag

Image Credit Vintage Swag on Instagram
Seventies vibes. At Vintage Swag.

6. KAAP DIEM

92 Wale St, Cape Town

@kaapdiemthrift

This delightful little thrift store is situated in the heart of the colourful Bo-Kaap, between authentic spice, kebab and coffee shops.

The selection is curated and young at heart – here you can find funky Converse trainers but also preppy cashmere jumpers and vintage leather retro handbags.

Buy your loot and step outside for your very own fashion shoot in the vibrant streets of the Bo-Kaap. Mobile phone to the ready!

Image Credit Kaap Diem on Instagram
Arguably THE vintage shop in Cape Town with the most vibrant surrounds! At Kaap Diem

Image Credit Kaap Diem on Instagram
Young and exceedingly hip. At Kaap Diem

Image Credit Kaap Diem on Instagram
Kaap Diem kids and their grungy ensembles. Think Buffalo of the 1980s! At Kaap Diem

7. NEVERNEW

15b Lower Main Road Observatory, Cape Town

@nevernewstore

Observatory is the hood in Cape Town with arguably the largest number of thrift shops per square kilometer. There are many competitors, but the large emporium that is Nevernew and its sister shop around the corner have stood the test of time.

It is one of those old-school thrift shops that requires a lot of time and patience to navigate as it’s crammed floor to ceiling with an overwhelming amount of treasure: mountains of corduroy trousers, rails of Hawaiian shirts, festival gear of every kind, ponchos, woolens, scarves, hats, boots, jewellery, records…

Nevernew is without a doubt a student go-to, the gear is well-priced and there’s a fantastic variety and quantity at all times. Stock is rotated weekly, so one always finds something fresh with each visit.

Stock up on clobber for the weekend, then hit the super cool streets of Observatory for MORE vintage, a vegan brekkie and of course a visit to legendary Obz Books. What more can a student desire?

Image Credit Cécile Paul
The store spills out onto the sidewalk! At Nevernew

Image Credit Cécile Paul
Floor to ceiling stuff. At Nevernew

Image Instagram
Waistcoats anyone?

8. VINTAGE WITH LOVE

46a Canterbury Street District Six, Cape Town

@vwl_capetown

www.vintagewithlovecapetown

This nationwide charity shop (also online) is pretty darn special: all proceeds go to a host of children’s charities. The Cape Town branch is situated in the historic District Six, close to the oldest bakery in Cape Town, the colourful Charly’s Bakery.

The stock is beautifully curated and colour-coded, the space airy and fresh and the staff friendly and enthusiastic – all in all, it is always a pleasure to visit.

Once a year the store holds a massive sale event at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront attended by every fashionista worth their salt. Be sure to attend this year’s highly anticipated event 1-4 August 2024 if you’re visiting the Mother City.