How (& Where) To Find The Best Vintage & Secondhand Clothes In London

08 Jan, 2025

Thanks to online marketplaces such as eBay, Vinted, Depop and Vestiaire Collective, the trawl for preloved and vintage fashion is simply a click away. Saved, filtered and suggested searches help you track down the exact items you’re looking for, be it the baby blue polo in which Chloë Sevigny opened Miu Miu’s SS96 show, or some barely worn Margiela Tabi ballet flats in an EU 38.

But what about the thrill of coming across something you weren’t even looking for – that you didn’t know you wanted, that feels and looks so much better than a self-uploaded iPhone shot could ever communicate? That’s how IRL thrifting really thrives, be it in highly curated designer vintage boutiques or high street charity shops: tapping on a screen has nothing on the thrill of preloved items caught in the wild.

So where to look and how, exactly? Well, if you’re London based (or simply passing through) you’re in luck. Here, we’ve spoken to three tastemakers in the city – namely Home of Hai’s founder and creative director Tessa Vermeulen, stylist Jessica Skeete-Cross and Towpath chef Clare Cole – to learn where they find their most-treasured vintage and preloved purchases and, equally importantly, how.

Tessa Vermeulen, Home of Hai Founder & Creative Director

“In charity shops I keep an eye out for button-down shirts (they make up about half of my entire wardrobe), wool pieces and anything silk or lace. Silk is my favourite fabric and so versatile – I’ve gravitated towards it for as long as I can remember and have too many vintage silk pieces to mention. Some standouts in my collection include a 1930s bias-cut evening gown and a vibrant 1960s printed silk scarf I found at a Parisian flea market.

“I look for timeless pieces like blazers and quality accessories at thrift stores and vintage shops...[and] mix these finds with my newer clothes and Hai pieces.

“One of my favourite [vintage] pieces is a black silk jacket with gold details [and]... my most worn vintage purchase would be a blue soft cotton shirt, which I have had for over 15 years. Both were treasures from Anxi Market in Shanghai, which I visited almost daily until its closure about a decade ago. The market required patience – sifting through overflowing bags and crowded rails – but you’d have incredible finds. What made it truly special were the on-site tailors and seamstresses, allowing immediate alterations or customization of purchases.

“I’m currently on the lookout for a long leather trench, a good wool winter coat and some tall brown boots.”

Tessa Vermeulen’s Top 5 London Vintage Shopping Spots

Levisons Vintage, Shoreditch
VOUT, Hackney
House of Vintage, Broadway Market, Hackney
Pezze Vintage, Hackney Downs
Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill

Jessica Skeete-Cross, Stylist & Creative Director

*Jessica Skeete-Cross*, *photographed by Suzanne Middlemass*

“I bought a Saint Laurent AW08 Stefano Pilati-era tweed midi skirt for £70 from Royal Trinity Hospice. It’s perfect in every way. At first glance, it looks like just a grey skirt, but if you look closely, it’s got these beautiful multicoloured pink, yellow and blue flecks in the wool.

“Someone called me a pioneer of the Moto leather jacket recently and what an accolade. My dad is obsessed with Moto GP, so it was constant motorbikes in our household. I had been hunting [for one] for a while but wasn’t going to be hustled on price. I found [mine] on Depop for £70 – I wanted to make sure it was a legit motorcycling jacket and the rider on the back was decent, so I got my dad to vet it. Kevin Schwantz, world champion – good enough for me.

“The real joy comes from finding a unique piece, whether its designer vintage or not, and giving it a new life. Finding an amazing piece [among] rails of stuff is rewarding. Don’t get me wrong, I do love a well curated vintage store – but you pay for it.

“The big three designer labels I always keep an eye out for are; Comme [Des Garçons], Issey [Miyake] and Junya [Watanabe]. They’ve got me in a vintage chokehold.”

Jessica Skeete-Cross’s Top 5 London Vintage Shopping Spots

Royal Trinity Hospice, Kensington
Baraboux, Hackney
Rellik Vintage, Kensington
Serotonin Vintage, Shoreditch
Found And Vision, Notting Hill

Clare Cole, Towpath Chef & Food Stylist

“Comfort plays into what I choose to wear, especially when working. I like linens and cottons with room in the sleeves to move around, so I often go for a button-down shirt. Also, something that looks good under an apron. I’m always looking for vintage nighties and bloomers, and I love broderie anglaise.

“I’ve got to be in the mood to rummage, so sometimes it’s nice to be presented with a curated selection – although I mostly go for the piece, rather than searching for [a] label and don’t own much designer.

“My recent vintage purchases have been a red linen shirt with broderie anglaise collar [from] a shop in Amsterdam called Babylon Vintage, which is incredible, and a classic trench I got from a stall on Broadway Market [in Hackney]. My most worn [vintage item] is a frilly white shirt with puff sleeves that I have had for almost 10 years. I take it on every trip and have worn it over 100 times.

“Currently, I’m on the hunt for a brown or tan suede jacket, another pair of Levi’s (always), and a red or blue vintage sweatshirt.”