Whether you a have a classic fashion sense, a penchant for the past or just seek one-of-a-kind Halloween costume components, vintage store shopping can be a jackpot of treasures. Sure, it requires a certain degree of patience, but that's truly its charm.
Anyone can raid the mall of all its mass-produced glory, but it takes a keen eye to dress yourself as a fashionable blast from the past. Here's a list of vintage clothing resources around town -- make a day of it!
Annie's Second Hand Chic
1668 N. Warren Ave., (414) 727-5586
Annie's cozy, artsy space conjures the sort of joy you experience while rummaging through grandma's attic. The shop is stocked hop with clothing, shoes, jewelry, bags and toys, some of which date back to the golden days of the '40s, '50s and '60s, and others that are contemporary, but possess a certain "chic."
Boutique Vieux et Nouveau
1217 E. Brady St., (414) 287-9049
boutiquemilwaukee.com
This tiny second floor shop is way more than just a store. Sure, there
are oodles of vintage gems for the hip woman, but owner Heidi Calaway
uses her degree in fashion merchandising for so much more, including
fashion forecasting, hosting private shopping parties and custom jewelry
design.
Dragonfly Vintage Goods & Gifts
1117 E. Brady St., (414) 271-1244
dragonflyvintagegoods.com
Upscale and affordable, classy and down-to-earth, Dragonfly is a delicate blend of the old Brady Street and the new. Aside from the clothing for men and women, ranging from 1930s to contemporary, you'll find jewelry, movie posters, lavender pillows, cool coasters, fabulous handbags, holiday gift wrap, retro linens, heavenly soaps, candles, journals, aprons, boas and vintage spectacles.
Fischberger's
2445 N. Holton St., (414) 263-1991
This Riverwest variety shop boasts a small but well-picked collection of vintage clothing in near-perfect condition. Fischberger's features a fantastic selection of wooden, retro, tin and educational toys, including a Curious George tea set, a wooden sushi play set, jack-in-the-boxes, puzzles, tin trains and space robots, wooden instruments, cute puppets, rubber jellyfish, space guns and more.
2649 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 744-2540
luvunlimted.com
Luv Unlimited is actually a trading company that buys clothing and other merchandise for cash or in-store credit. It also deals the D.I.Y. wares of about 20 local artists. Come here with a passion for fashion, good music (there is a savvy vinyl selection) and the eyes to accessorize.
ReThreads
2943 N. Humboldt Blvd., (414) 263-1690
rethreadsclothing.com
This incredibly well-designed used
clothing store for men and women buys, sells and trades
strictly in recycled fashion. And when they say fashion, they mean it. Nothing in the store is ratty, torn,
dirty or full of holes and zillions of familiar and favorite name brands
are represented. The fashion is current -- save for a small but fine
collection of wearable vintage items -- and everything is amazingly
affordable.
Tip Top Atomic Shop
2343 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 486-1951
tip-top-atomic.com
The particular style of late '40s through the early '60s is prominently defined by a kitschy-cool tiki influence and rockabilly. Tip Top's got it all, from clothing to cookware, and even the shop's owners, couple Jim and Lisa Dutcher, dress the part, down to the pompadour.
Yellow Jacket
1237 E. Brady St., (414) 372-4744
yellowjacketvintageclothing.com
Yellow Jacket is a boutique bursting with vintage vigilance, where every single item has been hand selected by co-owner Jennifer Rau, professional thrifter and passionate fashion hound. She washes every item, does minor mending and hemming when necessary, rendering perfect every item for sale in her shop. The decade-old store specializes in '60s, '70s and '80s.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
