Vintage Shops in Portland

What fashion statement do “True Blood” actress Kristin Bauer and Grammy-winner Adele have in common? Both are big fans of the stunning dresses that are up for grabs in Portland’s vintage shopping scene.

And why not? Portland boasts nearly 50 vintage shops (not to mention a slew of antique and thrift stores). They offer up meticulously curated — and constantly updated — collections of costume jewelry, traditionally tailored suits and, of course, racks upon racks of dresses that span decades. The city’s vintage bounty has fashion-savvy visitors stuffing their suitcases to the limit with secondhand goodies.

“The Portland vintage scene is thriving,” says Liz Gross, owner of Xtabay Vintage Clothing Boutique, one of the town’s hottest resale boutiques. “And people from all over the world seem to know about it.” (In fact, Xtabay has outfitted celebrities, including Bauer and Carrie Brownstein from “Portlandia.”) Gross, who started her fancy frock shop in 2001, credits Portland’s reasonable rents and abundance of estate sales and thrift shops for creating the buzz. So what’s the key to scoring big on your own time-travel shopping trip? Gross advises going slowly and enjoying the thrill of the hunt — and having “a hell of a lot of tenacity.”

And the second-hand scores don’t stop with the city’s many vintage shops and consignment stores. If your tastes skew toward furniture, home decor, housewares and the like, Portland’s abundant antique stores have you covered (including top antique malls, many of which host more than 100 vendors). For even more thrifting and vintage shopping, the city’s thrift stores are sure to have just what you’re looking for — or that perfect find you didn’t even know you needed.

Find Vintage Shops in Portland

Knowing where to go helps. You can find great vintage shops all over town, but some areas are especially good to explore: Southeast Portland, especially in the Hawthorne, Sellwood-Moreland and Milwaukee neighborhoods, offers a high concentration of second-hand shops. The lower stretch of inner Northeast Portland, including the Kerns and Hollywood neighborhoods, is another hot spot.

At Kissing Booth, you’ll come across a great selection of vintage tees, sweatshirts and denim, helping you perfect your Portland look. They specialize in pre-1980s, high-end apparel, but everything in the shop has a timeless, stylish feel. No trip through Portland’s style hall of fame is complete without a stop at Magpie, another Hawthorne spot. Unlike most secondhand stores, they also carries children’s pieces — if you think full-size vintage is cool, wait till you see it miniaturized.

In the nearby Kerns neighborhood, sister-owned Hello Sunshine consists of ten different vendors selling anything from customized tea towels to glitzy accessories to mod dresses. Other treasures on offer include artwork, ceramics, glassware and more.

With dozens of unique vintage diamond rings, costume jewelry and Bakelite bangles, Gem Set Love is a go-to spot for the about-to-be-engaged or anyone desiring the title of “Best Gift-Giver Ever.” They carry one-of-a-kind jewelry at every price point, in a wide variety of styles.

Scope out the ultimate geek-chic accessory — eyeglasses —among more than 1,000 pieces of clothes and accessories from the 1920s to now at Hollywood Vintage. Other offerings include costumes, footwear, jackets and hats — and even a selection of non-apparel items like furniture and housewares.

From kitsch to cute, Wink Vintage has dresses, sweatshirts, accessories and more, with a focus on apparel from the 1930s through the ’90s. You can also peruse their collection of rarities, or scope out their assortment of hard-to-find vintage band shirts.

Since 2021, Vein of Gold has offered a curated consignment shopping experience in North Portland. You’ll find timeless vintage clothes along with shoes, jewelry, purses, curios and more. They proudly celebrate slow fashion and independent designers (and 5% of profits from their popular “Classic T” shirt are donated to a local non-profit).

If you want to continue the hunt for vintage fashion while expanding your options to include finds like furniture and housewares, head to Southeast Portland for the highest concentration of antique stores. The abundance of antiquing and thrifting options here — including some awesome antique malls where you can shop 100+ vendors under a single roof — will get you started on the right foot.

Founded by three friends in 1990, Stars & Splendid Antiques Mall in Sellwood-Moreland has grown to represent more than 100 antique dealers, making it one of Portland’s largest vintage hot spots. Venture to the Montavilla district to find an expansive selection of goods proffered by 100 dedicated dealers at the Monticello Antique Marketplace. Patrons can spend an afternoon sipping espresso from the in-house café while perusing the shop’s aisles of budget-friendly items.

Second-hand shopping mecca Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard shouldn’t be missed if you’re on the hunt for retro fits and cheap second-hand scores: Roughly 7,000 square feet (650 sq m) of mid-century wares await antiquing addicts at Hawthorne Vintage, which sells unique pieces worthy of window-shopping; lighting fixtures, floral couches and cabinets in superb condition are among the treasures waiting to be taken to a new home. Lounge Lizard has been collecting colorful furniture and lighting since 2002. Funky, mid-century furnishings find their way to this specialty shop, which offers plenty of chic, just-for-fun antiques and other purchases.

Revamp your record collection (or create a new one) with a visit to Crossroads Music, a Southeast Portland institution. The long-running shop boasts over 40 vendors selling every musical genre under the sun (think a record store built on the antique mall model). Sure, that means the stacks are a little disorganized, but when it comes to record stores, digging and discovery is part of the fun.

On the north side of town, don’t miss Antique Alley, where 100 dealers offer goods to suit every antique desire, including jewelry, kitchenware, clothing, art and more. Get lost browsing displays of rare Hawaiian shirts, imaginative salt and pepper shakers, and animal skulls. For decades Kenton Antiques has served the vintage needs of North Portland. Stop by this collector’s paradise to add rocking vinyl, retro home goods and cool photography equipment to your personal collection.

Portland Streetwear Shops

Portland’s laidback-yet-chic aesthetic makes it an ideal home for streetwear shops — browse small boutiques, world-famous brands, online stores and more.

Portland Record Stores

From vintage wax to new European imports, those rare releases you’ve been searching for are surely waiting at one of these rockin’ local vinyl stores.