In the bright year of 2025 with greedy brands, sellout influencers and out-of-touch corporations trying to continuously push consumerist mindset onto us either through marketing, FOMO product or viral, stupid trends (looking at you Labubus), it is important to take a step back and reflect. Do you really need to order five paper-thin crop tops from Taobao just because you know they will disintegrate after two machine washes? Or get that trendy polyester sweater from H&M and then be surprised that after three wears it lost about 50 percent of its volume due to shedding?

Well, if there is one positive trend that people are bringing back, it's the appreciation for vintage and second-hand stores. To be fair, amongst the fashionable folk, vintage has always been appreciated. It is a fact that the quality of clothes has been going downhill for a couple of decades due to corporations' cost cuttings and profit-first, consumer-second mindset. Not to mention the designs and history that vintage pieces can hold, it all can be very inspiring.

Before we dive in, I'm gonna make it clear for people who are first-timers to vintage and second-hand thrifting. Why do it? Two reasons:

1. Snag high-quality fits for way less. Why drop full coin just to fund some soulless brand? Be cute and anti-capitalist.

2. Serve looks from the past, present and future. Trends are a loop – why stay stuck in now when you could be rocking Y2K, 1970s disco, or 1990s grunge before it's cool again?

And okay one more reason, real talk? That "old-soft" magic. You know when a shirt gets that perfect worn-in, lived-in feel? Vintage starts there. Like wrapping yourself in nostalgia. Have a whole wardrobe of worn-soft shirts.

So, where can you start your vintage shopping journey in Shanghai?

It is true, there is no lack of such places in this city. Actually, there are a TON of them. However, there are a lot of things to watch out for, like fakes, poor condition of the pieces or that some items can be too overpriced (a common thing in Shanghai). So in this guide, we curated five stores for you, each with a unique selection of goods. Their are all different from one another; some are iconic, fashionable selections, others are jewelry-focused, another feature amazing menswear. And, as a bonus, we asked one of the owners to give us a quick guide on how to make your vintage shopping experience the best it can be.

1. Odd Vintage – starting exclusive... second-hand luxury...

Brandon McGhee

I stumbled upon this store by accident – just walking by. And with a name like Odd Vintage, I had to check it out. You know, to evaluate the oddness, if you will. To be honest, a lot of vintage stores in Shanghai tend to blur together. They all sell the same tired Carhartt jackets and overpriced band tees with some half-faded logo. But Odd Vintage is what you'd call an archival vintage store. These types of vintage stores focus on carefully curated, often rare or historically significant pieces, typically sourced and selected based on the owner's specific aesthetic or vision. These places are usually run by individuals or small teams – not backed by big businesses – which makes the whole experience feel more personal, more deliberate, and, frankly, a lot more interesting.

Odd Vintage has a big variety, considering the owner, Xiao Er, runs and collects most of the things just by himself. There are jeans, tops, blazers, some bags and accessories too. Nearly every piece is something that you won't encounter at Shanghai's boutiques. My favorite thing about Xiao Er's store are his little decorations and hangers with the faces of the famous designers that made the specific garment, like Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and Rick Owens. Prices here range from 500 yuan (US$69.6) to 3,000 yuan. And while this seems steep, remember, you're getting rare selections from top designers.

Xiao Er on his vision for the store:

"The store mainly sells second-hand clothing, but my hope is for it to be creative, not just old or outdated vintage. I want it to have a sense of originality and innovation. So, they get caught up in certain 'styles' – things like 'big style,' 'last style,' whatever the current trend is. When you walk into a vintage shop, the most important thing is: Can you find something special? Something that moves you? Whether it's in the design, the print, the structure or a specific detail – does it resonate with you? Does the craftsmanship speak to you?

I think it's important to value pieces that really move you. It doesn't have to be from a big-name brand or even be considered iconic or sought-after in vintage circles. That's not the point."

So, do you have any advice on how to shop for vintage pieces?

"People scroll and look at the things on the Internet too quickly. But I hope that when people come to my store, they'll be willing to slow down and look at each piece carefully, without rushing. Some pieces are waiting for you to carefully pick them up and take a closer look. And you actually should try more things on, even if you won't buy them. Most of the store owners would actually prefer you to try things on, that's how you can fall in love with the piece. You can't fully understand the vibe of the garment by just glancing at it. Really, try it on!"

Tima's note:

It is true, don't be shy to examine a piece in your hands. Feel the material, check out the stitching, look at the composition label. It is all very important. Also, many vintage stores don't accept returns, so to avoid sizing mistakes, try on the clothes.

Look for any tears, stains or loose threads. High-quality garments usually don't have many issues with them, besides occasional staining. And if you find something like that, it can always become a point of bargaining, though many places in Shanghai don't accept that... never hurts to try though.

If you go...

Opening hours: 1pm-10pm

Address: No. 2, Lane 116 Changshu Rd, Xuhui District

徐汇区常熟路116弄2号

2. Deja Vu Select – vintage clothes & English bookstore!

Brandon McGhee

Deja Vu Select is what I would call a vintage retail store. It is in one of the hottest Shanghai spots, Anfu Road. These stores are characterized being more commercial, trend-driven that stocks vintage-inspired or second-hand items selected for broad appeal – think mainstream styles, seasonal relevance, or what's currently fashionable on Instagram. It is clean, well-organized and the pricing is displayed with a QR code.

When you enter the first floor, you will see the remains of what used to be a photography gallery, plus some cute vending machines with the adorable mascot of the place, a clueless cat. The second floor has an interesting selection of pre-owned books, fiction and nonfiction. And hey! Most of them are in English too! And if you go further, a huge selection of new books in Chinese as well.

Now, moving to the main event, the third floor. As previously mentioned, a very nicely organized space, menswear, women's wear, bags and sunglasses, even shoes. I would say this place is ideal for the beginners, because each item has a QR code that says a little about the brand you're looking at, and the most importantly, the initial price of the piece and its current price. Great for seeing if you're getting a good deal.

Worth mentioning, this is not a thrift store, it's a vintage, second-hand premium brands store. The prices and the quality can be high, so be prepared. There was an amazing shirt from Hermes that cost 3,000 yuan, however, considering the original price used to be 22,000 yuan, quite a good deal, right?

But no worries, besides 3K silk shirts, the selection at Deja Vu is vast. I saw Guess tank tops (65 yuan), Balmain T-shirts (500 yuan), Nike jackets (75 yuan) and etc. Their in-person boutique is for sure highly curated and seem more high-end. However, their online store, where you can not only buy but also sell, offer stuff for any budget. The prices really vary from 50 yuan all the way to 5,000 yuan, if you're looking at some couture piece.

So what are they offering?

• Menswear is not as big as women's. If you abide by those rules, however, it is very well curated. A big assortment of shits, jackets and T-shirts. Ralph Lauren, Maison Kitsune and Acne Studios are some of the highlights for me.

• Womenswear is where all the buzz at. There is a big selection of casual wear, as well as more formal attire. A lottt of dresses, shirts and jackets. Moreover, there are some sections for a selected number of brands. Issey Miyake, Isabel Marant, Gucci... the list goes on. If you know what you're looking for, it is very easy to navigate the place.

• There is also an online store that can be accessed through the QR code below.

If you go...

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Address: 300 Anfu Rd, Xuhui District

徐汇区安福路300号

3. AKI Vintage – not clothes, but vintage STUFF

Brandon McGhee

Another spot is AKI Vintage. Unlike the previous places, this boutique almost entirely focuses on curating vintage bags, accessories, watches and even limited-edition trinkets. When you enter this place, it feels like you're transformed to an authentic antique store somewhere in the middle of Paris. Weird-looking toys, too many bags displayed neatly on the walls and a random kitchen room at the back of it. Wacky, but in a good way. AKI vintage sources most of their things from Japan and online auctions, and it shows. There are the most random things in there, a Louis Vuitton helmet, Hermes playing cards, a whole rack of designer umbrellas, very unique.

Their most prominent collection is their bags. Specifically, Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags. If you're a fan of chic designer watches, they have a lot of those too. The prices are not too bad either, a Gucci watch that I had my eyes on was about 1,800 yuan. Funnily, they have signs of "No bargaining please." Well, at lest they are upfront about it.

Tima's note:

We live in the age of the Internet. It is very easy to find something that you like at the store and compare its price to something online. Never forget to image search before buying something, especially if you're not confident in bargaining. Check places like 闲鱼 (Xianyu) that's a popular second-hand retail platform in China. However, they sell a lot of fakes there too, so be careful. And if you find that exact item and maybe its 100-200 yuan cheaper, don't be afraid to offer the store seller this price, it never hurts to ask.

If you go...

Opening hours: 12pm-8pm

Address: No. 1, Lane 401 Julu Rd, Huangpu District

黄浦区巨鹿路401弄1号

4. NNN2097 – upper mid-range heritage Ivy League fashion

4. NNN2097 – upper mid-range heritage Ivy League fashion

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  Tima Fei
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  Tima Fei

It is no secret that shopping for menswear is usually much trickier. Well, not to worry fellas, I've got you covered with this one. NNN2097 vintage is what you will call "the guy store," and I don't mean it in a derogatory way. Let's start at the location. If you're a foreigner in Shanghai you're probably familiar with the "expat corner," that is where you have your Alimentari, Chicken&Egg and others. This store is located right before all those restaurants.

Now let's get into the assortments. The most featured brands are Stussy, adidas, Ralph Laurent and even Burberry. I have to say, if you're a fan of 1990s and early 2000s fashion, you would have a blast. They have one of the biggest collections of zip-ups, long ass T-shirts and sweatshirts that I've seen in a while.

Worth noting, they also have a women's clothes selection. Mostly, comprised of Ralph Laurent knitwear, Burberry shirts and skirts and some other things. But the focus is still on "men's" street-style wear.

And what is important, most of them are fairly priced (in comparison to many other Shanghai stores). Like yes, they still have a 3,000 yuan Carhartt jackets, but don't look at those. A big chunk of their other stuff is priced around 300-600 yuan, and the condition of the pieces are quite nice. They also sell backpacks (*coughs* straight), a whole bunch of Levi's jeans, watches, shoes and sunglasses. Overall a very nice store.

Comparative damage: You're look at paying half the original price for these brands. A long-sleeve Ralph Lauren shirt normally runs you 820 yuan. Here, they go for around 350 yuan to compare.

If you go...

Opening hours: 12pm-9pm

Address: 144 Xinle Rd, Xuhui District

徐汇区新乐路144号

5. 78 Yanqing Road store – the DIRT CHEAP option for foreign brands

Tima Fei

If the absence of an official name didn't give you an idea on how inexpensive the clothes are at this store, well, no comment. Anyways, this was another random find of mine just by walking around. This store does have some buzz on Xiaohongshu, due to its prices starting at 15 yuan, not having a name and just overall feeling a bit like a storage room, rather than a chic vintage store on a popular street in Shanghai. The location of the store is really great, not too far from the previously mentioned NNN2097 and the "expat corner." If you're having troubles finding it on the maps, try to look for a GOODBAI store, a popular Chinese clothing brand.

So, what are they offering? This is what I would call our first "thrift store," so nothing too fancy. But still good brands. We saw: Hugo Boss, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Nautica, Ralph Lauren, Carhartt (hmm a trend?) and Acne Studios.

They have a lot of regular second-hand shirts, T-shirts, pants, most not going over 100 yuan. A friend of mine snagged a gorgeous black dress shirt by Ermenegildo Zegna for 90 yuan. Damn. Besides that, this store has a corner with more high fashion and even niche brands offerings.

• Second-hand/thrift offerings: 20-150 yuan

• Designer T-shirts: 200-250 yuan

• Designer shirts: 150-300 yuan

• Designer sweatshirts/jackets: 300-450 yuan

• Underwear/hats/socks: 20-70 yuan

I've been to this store at least five times. But only bought some things once, because I've noticed, they don't really update their assortments that much. Besides switching beanies to caps during summer time. But well, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If you go...

Some days they are randomly closed, so be ware.

Address: 78 Yanqing Road, Xuhui District

徐汇区延庆路78号

Final tips and tricks:

• Take your time browsing. It is hard to evaluate a vintage item with a two-second glance.

• Don't be afraid to ask questions. In smaller stores, the staff is usually very familiar with their stock. Ask about a piece you're interested.

• Check the material label if it's still there. An important detail to know what the garment is made of.

• Don't be afraid to try on anything you like, if the store allows it. It is important to feel the piece on your body. (Personal note: If you do buy something, do a little cleansing ritual to remove any previous energy. Salt is the easiest way to cleanse something.)

• Check the prices online. Image search your garment.

• Don't be afraid to bargain.

• Look for truly unique pieces. They don't have to be from a big-name brand. That's the fun of vintage shopping!