The vintage clothing market grows as each day passes. More and more people are beginning to open their eyes to the environmental benefits of slow fashion, the pleasure of having a truly unique piece and the superior construction of the garments. It's worth mentioning that these items have all stood the test of time. How often do you buy something new from your typical mall store only to be disappointed when it starts falling apart three washes later? How tired are you of everyone and their mother (often quite literally) wearing the same exact outfits?
Orlando has a great selection of brick-and-mortar shops that you can visit on just about any given day and find something amazing. Some of these shops even have multiple vintage vendors under one roof, which is amazing because you can basically shop multiple stores in one visit.
Whether you're shopping for items for your everyday wardrobe or a piece for a special occasion, regardless of your preferred price range or personal style, there is absolutely something out there for everyone. Happy hunting!
Vintage vs. thrift
Sometimes people use thrift, secondhand, resale and vintage interchangeably. While there isn't anything fundamentally wrong with this, there is in fact a bit of a difference. Vintage clothing signifies items that are at least 20 years old. Thrift/secondhand/resale shops sell pre-loved items of any age, so while these stores absolutely sell vintage items in their mix, not all will be true vintage. In short, not all secondhand items are vintage but (almost) all vintage is secondhand.
That said, there are a couple of noteworthy resale shops in the area, Avalon and Dechoes, that should not be overlooked because while they're not necessarily known for vintage, they sometimes carry great vintage pieces as well.
WHERE
Avalon Exchange 745 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, instagram.com/avalonexchangeflorida
Dechoes Resale 2525 E. Colonial Drive and 2110 Edgewater Drive, dechoesresale.com
Déjà Vu Vintage Clothing and Accessories 1210 Michigan Ave., Winter Park
Echoes of Retro 619 Virginia Drive, facebook.com/echoesofretro
Etoile Boutique 2424 E. Robinson St., etoileboutique.com
The Lovely Boutique 2906 Corrine Drive, facebook.com/thelovelyboutiquemarket
Orlando Vintage 1500 Formosa Ave., Winter Park, orlandovintage.com
The Owl's Attic 3106 Corrine Drive, theowlsattic.com
Paris Market Vintage at Adjectives Market 460 Orlando Ave., Winter Park, facebook.com/shopparismarket
Retromended Vintage 930 N. Mills Ave., retromended.com
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This story is from the Aug. 8, 2019, print issue of Orlando Weekly's Newcomers Guide 2019. Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly Headlines newsletter.
