A Vintage Shopper’s Guide to BC

There are a lot of upsides to shopping secondhand: it’s more environmentally friendly, the finds are one-of-a-kind, and, of course, your wallet will thank you. Thankfully, there are plenty of vintage, consignment and resale shops around BC to satisfy cravings for designer-for-less, offbeat pre-owned, and everything in between. Have a hankering for animal print or tie-dye? Need a new Edwardian-style blouse? Some of the province’s best vintage and resale shops can be found below.

Frock and Fellow 

There is something for every kind of secondhand shopper at this fun Kelowna-based consignment shop. Graphic tees? Got ’em. Vintage Levi’s? Check. High-end brands—like Chanel, Prada, and Louis Vuitton—looking for their forever home? Check and check. Not to mention a generous selection of shoes, plus purses, sunglasses and other must-have accessories. When it comes to vintage, there’s something to be said about the thrill of the hunt. But for those who just want to get right to the good stuff, this place is for you.

Front and Company

Main Street in Vancouver is packed with thrift and consignment stores, and Front and Company is the grandaddy of them all. This cavernous consignment store is famous for its window displays, featuring eclectically (and impeccably) dressed mannequins. Hot tip: if a mannequin’s outfit catches your eye, they will disrobe it, lickety split. Inside, find a little of everything: secondhand designer brands, secondhand regular brands, brand-new pieces, and even a rack of sample clothing. Jewellery and accessories—again, new, secondhand and designer—and funky trinkets round out the offerings. Thank goodness Main Street is also known for coffee: You’ll need it to fuel all the shopping. 

Vintage After Death

Looking to stand out from the crowd? This red-bricked storefront in downtown Victoria specializes in real vintage clothing—that is, anything 20 years old and older. (Fun fact: an item older than 99 years is no longer considered vintage, but antique.) The resulting collection is fun, irreverent, and chock full of true-blue vintage gems. Think ’90s crop tops, groovy dresses from the ’60s, and plenty of tie-dye, animal print, and flowy dresses (or nightgowns?). All that and more is just waiting to add a little funk to wardrobes. 

Bohemia Consignment

Secondhand shopping and Salt Spring Island go together like leopard and a red lip, or denim and white shirt. After all, the locals’ feelings on consumerism (not good) and environmentalism (very good) define the bohemian, hippie culture here. That’s where Bohemia Consignment comes in. Inside find racks of consigned items in need of a new home, with many of the pieces embodying the island vibe, including everything from shoes and boots, racks of denim, cozy knits, coats, hats and scarves, and jewellery. Plus, they have their own line of branded hoodies and shirts, created in collaboration with artist Bob Masse, famed for his legendary band posters.

Horse and Snake Vintage

Patterns and tie-dye and fringe, oh my! This slightly chaotic shop is for vintage seekers who embrace the eccentricities of pre-loved clothing—with the occasional tea set, trucker hat or ashtray thrown in for good measure. The shop champions inclusivity, which we interpret as the collective right to a downright fun and frivolous wardrobe. Trust us when we say there’s no belt buckle too big, no boot too high, no fringe too… um, fringy in this shop. And while vintage stores like these can lean into needle-in-a-haystack territory, the items that line the racks here have been lovingly collected and curated—and cleaned, they assure customers.   

Lys’s Thrift and Vintage

For those who prefer their secondhand stores bright and airy, with racks meticulously arranged by colour, Lys’s Thrift and Vintage in Kamloops is a true oasis. This tranquil shop—as far as thrift stores are concerned—has everything a shopper needs for their thrifted wardrobe. There are racks of denim (arranged by wash, in an eye-catching gradient) graphic tees and sweatshirts, and a generous sprinkle of finds that lean feminine, ranging from flowy skirts to hot pink handbags. There’s even a small, tidy selection of homewares alongside brand new, locally made goods, like handmade mugs and incredibly cute crocheted bags.