The UK's best vintage menswear shops
When it comes to shopping vintage it always helps knowing where to go. The UK boasts some of the greatest shops in the world, so we've rounded up the best stores you need to visit now.
If you're looking for unique items of clothing, sometimes buying new isn't always the way forward and vintage menswear shops are the way forward. Vintage shopping may be tricky to master and a little time-consuming, but if you're looking for more ways to own a sustainable and unique wardrobe, shopping vintage is one of the easiest ways to not only lower your carbon footprint but to also find one-off pieces.
Whether you are a sucker for ‘70s flares, live in '80s sportswear or love a '90s shell suit jacket, we have hit the streets of cities around the UK and rounded up the best vintage stores that will leave you wanting more.
Below are the vintage menswear shops in the UK right now.
Peter Bagi1/9Nordic Poetry
Address: 141 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 7DG
Visit for: Founded by self-proclaimed fashion devotee Ameli Lindgren, Nordic Poetry started as a humble market stall and has grown into one of the best vintage stores in London. Famous for stocking pre-loved Moschino, Iceberg and Jean Paul Gaultier, you can be certain to find rare, one-of-a-kind pieces. Their newly refurbed online platform is also a great go-to for online vintage shopping and it would be hard not to mention the millennial pink painted store that makes it a great spot for instagram snaps. For all these reasons, Nordic Poetry has to be a GQ favourite. nordicpoetry.co.uk
2/9Beatnik Emporium
Address: 202 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DW
Visit for: Southampton might be best known for cruise ships ancient and modern (the Titanic even set off from there), but for us, it's home to one of the best vintage stores out there. Beatnik has been selling vintage clothing since 1992, and its history is colourful. It began as a festival stall in 1990 and opened up the first shop in '92 on the waterfront at Ocean Village. A few years later Beatnik moved to Old Northam Road, by Saint Mary's Stadium. Today it's situated in the city centre and is the place to head for retro flares, quirky shirts and loads of denim.
3/9Hunky Dory
Address: 226 Brick Lane, E1 6SA
Visit for: Hunky Dory is renowned for its smarter clothing. Pop in if you're after an original 70s suit, dagger collar shirts or even bold patterned ties. The main thing that splits Hunky Dory from other vintage stores in Brick Lane is the amount of dead stock they sell. For those who don't know, dead stock means vintage clothing but brand new with tags and in its original packaging. Top tip: once you've visited, why not drop into Beigel Bake just across the road? They are famous for their rainbow bagels. hunkydoryvintage.com
4/9Breuer & Dawson
Address: King Street, Margate CT9 1DD
Visit for: The one-time Portobello market traders, Paul Breuer and Matt Dawson, relocated to the seaside town of Margate. Here they look after their store-cum-warehouse-cum-studio space, which is a mecca for vintage finds. But as well as pieces you can buy (lots of mod finds here), there's an extensive archive that holds a comprehensive selection of unique fashion items spanning several centuries, all available for hire.
5/9The Vintage Showroom
Address: 14 Earlham St, WC2H 9LN
Visit for: If you are after original and rare T-shirts, then look no further than the Vintage Showroom; excelling in offering the best varsity, band and sports tees from all over the globe. Everything in store has been carefully curated, and the mood is preppy in the extreme. Varsity jackets, raglan T-shirts and letterman sweaters are folded and hung all around this museum-like store. You can also be sure to find striped club ties, madras trousers and the all-important horn-rimmed glasses. thevintageshowroom.com
6/9House Of Vintage
Address: 4 Cheshire St, E2 6EH
Visit for: If you are after a one-stop vintage store for not only yourself but for the special lady in your life, House Of Vintage has you covered. Boasting two floors of hand-selected vintage clothing, you can rest assured that the edit has been perfectly refined. Rayon T-shirts, suede jackets and Princess Di oversized varsity jumpers are highlights within the store and you won't be beaten on the quality or price. houseofvintageuk.com
7/9Atika
Address: 55-59 Hanbury St, Spitalfields, E1 5JP
Visit for: Defining itself as a vintage department store, Atika really does stock everything from the 60s onwards but if retro 80s and 90s sportswear whets your appetite, then look no further. Vintage Fila ski wear, bold Nike shell suit tracksuits and block colour Adidas track tops are the creme da le creme of the store that spans over two huge floors. For the added bonus, Atika also offer 20% off all year round for students, so you can save those pennies and invest in more. atikalondon.co.uk
8/9Hornets
Address: 2 & 4 Kensington Church Walk, W8 4NB
Visit for: Hornets lives by the motto “Not fashion. Style.” Their three stores are situated near the Palace in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and have been standing for 20 years. They pride themselves in offering the quintessential English gentleman look. Expect to find country tweeds, Savile Row suits and handmade leather shoes. hornetskensington.co.uk
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9/9Flip vintage
Address: 104 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4AF
Visit for: Newcastle's best vintage store has been around since 1978, outfitting the Geordies in proper retro sportswear, bomber jackets and Americana-style gear.
