Vintage fashion shopping – Amsterdam is the best place in the Netherlands for retro and vintage shopping! The city brims with quirky fashion boutiques. The 9 Little Streets neighbourhood is packed with shops chock-full yesterday’s fashion and now hip again.

What is vintage? Vintage is not the same as second-hand. So that old woolen pleated skirt your mother wore ages ago, Rodier twinset or the Coco Chanel 2.55 bag – are these vintage or second hand? Vintage stands for fashion and accessories from 1920 to 1980. Everything after 1980 is retro or simply second-hand, everything from before 1920 is antique.

Vintage Fashion: How to Recognize?

* Vintage fashion dresses from the 1930s – 1940s have a zipper on the side.
* Vintage clothing has no washing instruction label, because this was only introduced in the 1960s.
* Vintage clothing does not have a plastic zipper, because those too were introduced in the 1960s.
* Winged sunglasses, a nylon baby doll, an ocher trouser suit or a blouse with buttons at the back – so awkward – but so vintage!

Vintage Fashion Boutiques in Amsterdam

Vintage fashion shops are numerous and scattered all over Amsterdam. Here is a list to help you find the best fashion boutiques.

Laura Dols, Wolvenstraat 7
Probably the best vintage store in Amsterdam, specializing in clothing from 1940 to 1980, but also stocks a large selection of accessories such as lacquer bags, evening bags and jewelry.

Episodes, Berenstraat 1
Second-hand and vintage collection mainly from 1970 and 1980, also many shoes, hats, belts, jewelry and bags. One of the few vintage shops that also has men’s and children’s vintage fashion.

1953 – Retro and Chic, Staalstraat 2
Specialized in vintage top designers such as Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Lanvin. You may find Christian Dior’s New Look from 1948 with a skirt length to halfway the calves. A length that also became fashionable again around the 1970s.

Zipper, Huidenstraat 7
Second-hand and vintage collection from 1950 to 1980, but also modern labels – Criminal Damage and Cheap Monday. Their home label Ultra Zipper is second-hand clothing refashioned. They also design their own T-shirts. What’s more, lots of vintage shoes.

Spiegelbeeld, Huidenstraat 24
Second-hand and vintage. Many famous labels such as Calvin Klein, Burburry, Dolce & Gabbana, but also Laundry Industry and Dries van Noten.

photo courtesy Laura Dols