7 Of Sydney’s Best Thrift And Vintage Clothing Stores

Hey Sydney, if you’ve not heard yet, the climate is completely rubbish and fashion has a big role to play in turning the ship around. So if you want to continue your Instagram brunch-brag about how green you are, you’re best to bypass the fast-fashion queue and jump on the pre-loved garment bandwagon—coz let’s face it, babe, your lewks need a good shakeup, and retro never really goes out of style. 

To save you the trouble of swimming through the floor stock of every vintage shop from Crows Nest to Marrickville, we’ve curated the absolute cat’s pyjamas of Sydney’s best thrift and vintage stores.

Zoo Emporium

Surry Hills

Much like no one does ice cream like Messina, no one does vintage quite like Zoo. This cult Campbell Street fave Specialises in 70s and 80s funk and retro tees with two floors devoted to their craft. Zoo’s top floor is dedicated to those more exclusive, rare items, where the entire ground floor is all about those sale items and killer bargain bins.

You won’t regret spending a solid few minutes, hours—even bloody days—scouring the shelves of retro handbags, second-hand heels, kitschy-chic accessories, and dresses that glitter with sequins (like, drag queen envy sequins). Shopping for a disco dress-up party? You’ll be sorted. After some signature vintage pieces to add to your rotation? Totally covered, sis.

Sammy & Sid

Manly

Northern Beaches boutique Sammy & Sid is all about satisfying your champagne-on-a-beer-budget lifestyle. Ya’ll want those iconic house names without having to spend the rest of the week living off 2-minute noods? Sammy & Sid is a spot where you can score big on Australian design royalty. Think Camilla, Sass & Bide and Alex Perry, Zimmerman—all in the one shopping bag!

Each piece is carefully sourced by owner Doriana herself, taking making her signature focus “on designer stuff, but pieces that are a little bit different and that you wouldn’t normally find in Australia, that’s why I feature international labels too.”

U-Turn

Newtown, Surry Hills, Bondi, Marrickville, and Rozelle

Vintage chain-stores are pretty rare, not unlike the stock they carry—but such is the popularity of U-Turn!

You’ll find outposts of this kitsch paradise in Surry Hills, Bondi, Newtown, Marrickville, and Rozelle. Here, the aim of the game is promoting sustainable shopping, so prices are reasonable for those shopping for a new wardrobe on a budget. A bloody true-blue thrift sanctuary.

Clothes and accessories are carefully sourced from local and international suppliers, so you can reliably bet on the quality of their vintage. Whether it’s something fun and fabulous (hello, ’80s windbreaker) or something more subtle and timeless on the cards, U-Turn is bound to have it.

Definitely make sure you cross U-Turn off your second-hand scavenger hunt so you can rock those bright jumpsuits, cowboy boots, a tonne of vibrant pullovers and—maybe the odd Gameboy. Because that hella fresh 90s Saved By The Bell look will never, ever die.