picked Vintage: London and Paris Edition
Not thrift. Not consignment chaos. These are organized boutiques with a point of view, designer finds, and real curation.
In This Post
Not thrift. Not consignment chaos. Think Vestiaire Collective — organized boutiques with a point of view, designer and near-designer finds, real curation. These are the stores we actually went back to.
London
Sign of the Times (Chelsea)
Your most direct Vestiaire analog in physical form. YSL, Hermes, Chanel, Rick Owens — proper designer stock, well-presented, knowledgeable staff. This is the kind of place where you walk in for one thing and leave with three.
Address: 5 Elystan St, SW3 | Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5
Loop Generation (Chelsea)
Polished luxury consignment. Gucci, Prada, Ganni. Reviewers describe it as better service than actual designer stores. Do these two back-to-back on Draycott Ave — they are walking distance from each other and worth the afternoon.
Address: 171-175 Draycott Ave, SW3 | Mon-Sat 10:30-6, Sun 12-5:30
Vault Vintage (Notting Hill)
Boutique-y with a strong editorial eye. Excellent on coats, bags, and archival pieces. 4.9 stars and loyal regulars. If you only have time for one Notting Hill stop that is not Portobello Road, make it this one.
Address: 28A Hereford Rd, W2 | Mon-Fri 12-6, Sat 10:30-6, Sun 12-5
Vintage Threads (Soho / also in Selfridges)
Runway-focused curation. More fashion-forward than pure luxury resale. Convenient if you are already in Soho, and the Selfridges location means you can hit it without a detour.
Address: 82 Berwick St, W1 | Mon-Sat 10:30-7, Sun 11-6:30
Paris
ALE Paris (2nd arr — Passage du Grand Cerf)
The standout. The owner pulls pieces for you instantly based on what he reads off your style. YSL coats, vintage Gucci, custom tailoring. Set inside a beautiful covered arcade, which makes it worth the visit even if you do not buy anything.
Address: 6 Passage du Grand Cerf, 75002 | Mon-Thu 11-7, Fri 11-5, Sat 12-7
Valois Vintage (8th arr)
If Chanel or Hermes is on your list, this is the move. Deep authenticated inventory and staff who will walk you through the detaxe process. Worth the trip to the 8th even if nothing else brings you there.
Address: 8 Rue des Saussaies, 75008 | Mon-Sat 10-6:30
SHOPTAPEPITE (Montmartre)
More accessible price point but well-organized — 80s and Y2K designer, well-spaced racks with negative space. Over a thousand five-star reviews and it is clear why when you walk in.
Address: 10 Rue Ravignan, 75018 | Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat-Sun 10:30-7:30
Comptoir Vintage + La Shoperie (Le Marais)
Both owner-operated with tight curation. Do these as a Le Marais loop — they are walking distance from each other. Comptoir is slightly more improved; La Shoperie has more eclectic range. Between the two, you will find something.
Address: Comptoir: 104 Rue de Turenne, 75003 | Daily 11-7
La Shoperie: 9 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth, 75003 | Mon-Sat 11-7, Sun 2-6
YALLA (9th arr / Pigalle)
Depot-vente model with great taste. Worth a stop if you are near Pigalle. Not a destination on its own, but if your route takes you there, do not skip it.
Address: 2 Rue Gerando, 75009 | Tue-Sat 11-7 (Closed Mon and Sun)
What to Bring
A few things that make vintage shopping days easier:
- A small crossbody bag — you need both hands free for browsing racks
- A portable phone charger — you will be on your feet all day and using Google Maps constantly
- Comfortable walking shoes — these stores are spread across neighborhoods and you will cover miles
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best vintage shops in London?
Brick Lane and Shoreditch have the highest concentration of vintage shops. Portobello Road in Notting Hill is iconic but pricier. Beyond Retro and Rokit are reliable chains with curated selections across multiple locations.
Is Paris good for vintage shopping?
Paris has excellent vintage shopping, particularly in the Marais district and along Rue de Rivoli. Kilo shops offer vintage clothing sold by weight. The Saint-Ouen flea market is the largest in Europe for vintage furniture and accessories.
What should you look for when buying vintage clothing abroad?
Check fabric content labels for natural materials like wool, silk, and cotton. Inspect seams, zippers, and buttons for quality construction. European vintage from the 1960s-80s tends to run smaller than modern sizing.
Book hotels: Search Booking.com hotels
Vintage Shopping Budget
| Category | London | Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage clothing (per piece) | $30-80 | $25-70 |
| Designer resale finds | $100-400 | $80-350 |
| Market browsing (Portobello/Clignancourt) | Free entry | Free entry |
| Transport (day pass) | $18 Oyster | $16 Navigo |
| Lunch near markets | $12-20 | $10-18 |
| Average daily total | $150-300 | $120-250 |
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Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me