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90s Outfits: How To Get The Vintage Look
The resurgence of vintage fashion has brought a wave of nostalgia with girls seeking to recreate 90s outfits. From distressed denim and flannel shirts to iconic sportswear brands like Adidas, Fila and Tommy Hilfiger, 90s outfits offer a distinct aesthetic.
Understanding the elements of vintage shopping ensures that buyers make informed choices while avoiding overpriced or poorly preserved items at thrift, second-hand or vintage boutiques. If you’ve watched “Girlboss”, you might have an idea of what can and can’t constitute vintage fashion. Moreover, seasoned vintage shoppers might tell you that in order to get a good deal, you’ll have to explore brick-and-mortar vintage stores. Because, you need to touch, feel, and most importantly, try on the iconic 90s outfit before purchasing it.
Besides, shopping from vintage stores is a responsible approach to retail as it reduces our environmental footprint. As the fashion industry increasingly focuses on ethical shopping, vintage pieces provide an eco-friendly alternative through reuse of quality garments. Whether shopping at thrift stores, online marketplaces or vintage boutiques, it is essential to research sizing differences, fabric care requirements, and authentication methods to secure genuine 90s outfits. Ebay and Depop aside, check out our comprehensive guide to the best vintage stores to buy authentic 90s outfits, essential tips and mistakes to avoid.
Beyond Retro
It’s June of 2002, a 1940's inspired tattoo anchor gets put up outside an old dairy shed in Cheshire Street, Beyond Retro is officially born! As the largest vintage retailer in the UK, Sweden and most recently, Finland, as well as its own website, Beyond Retro has handpicked the best vintage fashion since 2002, earning it the reputation as the go-to for nostalgic styles, without the carbon footprint! The store offers a vast selection of 1990s apparel, including iconic sportswear brands like Adidas, Nike, Kappa, Champion and Tommy Hilfiger. Shoppers can also find floral skater dresses, leather biker jackets, and 90s band tees.
Tab Vintage
Founded in 2019 by Alexis Novak, Tab Vintage is a Los Angeles based archival vintage studio with a chic curation of one-of-a-kind pieces that stands out due to their quality, freshness and focus on elevated beauty. The online platform specialises in high-quality vintage apparel that celebrates timeless style and sustainability. Each piece is hand-selected and meticulously restored, ensuring that 90s fashion fans can find authentic items that have been preserved with care. The collection emphasises enduring beauty and promotes sustainable wearability over fast fashion.
Vestiaire
Kering-owned French resale site Vestiaire describes itself as a collective partly because the inventory is user generated, but also, there were six founders. What sets Vestiaire apart from a traditional resale platform is that Vestiaire acts as an authenticated middleman for one of the world’s largest collection of pre-loved luxury fashion, with over 12,000 brands on sale, 5 million listings live, and more than 35,000 new items added every single day. The best bit? They’re committed to offering high-quality, long-lasting styles that are good for the planet. You can also get the most from your wardrobe with listings, direct negotiations, and fast payouts. Plus, you’ll get easy-to-understand price recommendations and pre-paid shipping labels for when you make that final sale!
James Veloria
Looking for that ’90s Comme des Garçons iconic look? Head over to James Veloria. The vintage store, located in Manhattan’s Chinatown, was founded by Collin James and Brandon Veloria, to retail pre-owned apparel and accessories, stemming from their love of avant-garde and experimental fashion design from the 90s. After starting exclusively as an online retailer in 2014, the owners opened their first store in Chinatown NYC in July 2017. Inspired by innovative design and the use of bold colours and patterns, the store is packed with unique, exciting and iconic pieces, with an emphasis on Japanese and European designers.
Trash and Vaudeville
Established in 1975 in New York by Ray Goodman, Trash and Vaudeville has been a staple for punk rock and counter-culture fashion. Ray discovered St. Marks Place at the age of thirteen. He was attracted to the energy of the Electric Circus, the Fillmore East, and CBGBs. Some of the greatest Rock n’ Roll Meccas all right there. Ray’s love for Rock music inspired him to open a clothing store that would be entirely influenced by Rock n’ Roll.
Right away Trash and Vaudeville attracted musicians and bands looking to dress in a style that embraced their individuality and creativity. St. Marks Place has always been a gathering place for the ‘cool’, with an energy that still flows today. The store offers 90s leather motorcycle jackets, studded belts, and band T-shirts, and continues to be an institution for all things punk, goth, glam, grunge, metal, streetwear, and skate.
Buffalo Exchange
In 1974, when Kerstin Block first had the idea for a different sort of secondhand shop, she never expected it to grow into what it is today – she just followed her love of thrift store shopping. Kerstin and her husband, Spencer, rented out a small space in Tucson, AZ and filled the store with pieces from Kerstin’s own closet. Soon enough, they had a bustling business buying, selling and trading the likes of denim skirts handmade by Kerstin, Hawaiian shirts and Kork-Ease sandals for an average price of $3.50. With over forty stores across the United States, the store continues to offer a curated selection of 90s outfits, including vintage denim, graphic tees and accessories.
Her-Age
Launched in September 2021, Her-Age is a global online platform for buying and selling authenticated second-hand luxury items. Their hybrid team of experts, both in-house and external, are thorough and work tirelessly to make sure that no counterfeit item makes it onto the website. Whether a handbag, an accessory item, a piece of jewellery, or a watch, the authenticity of every piece is reviewed and inspected to ensure that their details meet the manufacturers’ standards of quality in stamping, stitching, hardware, authenticity stamps, date codes, serial number, materials and craftsmanship.
Ruby Lane
Founded in 1998, Ruby Lane is an online, vintage retail store dependant on independent member traders. Specialising in antiques, collectibles, art, and jewellery, the platform also offers a selection of vintage apparel and accessories. Each shop is pre-screened to meet specific standards, ensuring that buyers have access to genuine and accurately represented items.
Atijo
atijọ, meaning ‘in the past’ in Yoruba, was founded in May 2019 by friends and London-based stylists Anu Odugbesan, Londiwe Ncube and Safiya Yekwai. It was created to provide a more curated and luxury experience to vintage shopping. Today, London-based Atijo offers artisanal accessories and classic tailoring, with a focus on vintage pieces from different eras, including the 1990s. Their curated collection appeals to those seeking unique and high-quality vintage fashion items that stand the test of time. The atijọ mission is to bring new light to the landscape of pre-loved clothing and encourage slow and conscious buying while celebrating timeless style, diversity and culture.
Mies
Located in Paris, Mies is committed to vintage fashion, particularly focusing on Martin Margiela’s Hermès collections from the 1990s. The store offers a selection of carefully curated pieces that reflect the minimalist and avant-garde aesthetics of the era, making it a haven for fashion connoisseurs.
