The Berlin Vintage Fashion Guide

STERLING GOLD
This is wannabe-princesses' dream: a golden store packed with vintage sundresses, ball gowns, day dresses, wedding gowns, cocktail dresses and every other kind of dress that exists, in every color and from every era from the ‘40s on to the ‘80s. But this store's asset is not only its vast fund of dresses—bought 15 years ago in the US and still not ebbed away—it's about the surroundings. The staff is incredibly patient and helpful, the dresses are cleaned (no rotten cotton smell!), fixed and ironed, and the in-house tailor will fit everything to your wishes. The interior supports the staged feeling, making it possible to turn into a ‘50s housewife, a ‘70s hippie or a ‘40s glamour lady.

Mon-Fri 12:00-20:00
Sat 12:00-18:00
Heckmann Höfe
Oranienburger Straße 32
10177 Berlin
+49 30 28096500
info@sterlinggold.de

Atmosphere: +++
Selection: +++
Pricing: Medium



LUNETTE
As a kid she used to like playing optician with her sister, but it wasn't until just four years ago that the idea of a vintage glasses store became a reality for Uta Geyer. After finishing her studies, Geyer started buying stock from optician clearance sales and vintage furnishing from the 1950’s and opened her tiny shop in the middle of Prenzlauer Berg. This cute gem sells tons of unworn (!) glasses and sunglasses variations for around 100€, as well as vintage cases. Everything is sold by patient women who give professional and personal advice. Since finding the ideal glasses for your face—Geyer says there are the perfect glasses for every face—is not done in five minutes, you should allow youself some time to peruse the stock. Up next is a bigger store on Torstraße, where reprises of old models by traditional companies like Oliver Goldsmith (remember the legendary sunglasses worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's?) will be sold.

Mon-Fri 12:00-20:00
Sat 12:00-18:00
Marienburger Straße 11
10405 Berlin
+49 30 43739465

Torstr. 172
10115 Berlin
+49 30 2021 5216
info@lunettes-brillenagentur.de

Atmosphere: +++
Selection: +++
Pricing: Medium


MADONNA
Mommsenstraße is second hand paradise for anyone interested in designer labels and vintage fur. We chose Madonna because her selection is always up to date and diverse. The messy interior may not suggest past seasons of Chloé or Matthew Williamson dresses and for a third of the prime cost with dresses from 200€, but just keep digging in between the packed racks and shelves, you’ll find something.

Mon-Fri 12:00-19:00
Sat 11:00-17:00
Mommsenstraße 57
10629 Berlin
+49 30 3247632

Atmosphere: +
Selection: ++
Pricing: high


SCHWARZE TRUHE
Treptow might not have been your first choice for a vintage hunting up until now, but this will surely change when you learn that just off the Landwehrkanal, Schwarze Truhe offers a chest full of carefully selected vintage fashion for men and women. Starting as an online shop for gothic clothing, the manager has turned her focus onto exquisite ball gowns and garments from the 1920’s through the 1980’s (dresses ca. 30€!), presenting her finds in a rather small but nice shop. Her patient and detailed advice is outstanding—if you're searching for a green cocktail dress, she will go through the racks until she’s found something just right. Though her most breathtaking treasures, like black, floor length silk gowns with expensive pleating from the ‘20s, are kept in the back of the store and are preserved for film, theater and photo shootings, you won't be disappointed by the diversified choice in this small store, which is certainly worth the trip.

Tue-Fri 12:00-19:00
Sat 12:00-18:00
Karl-Kunger-Strasse 54
12435 Berlin
+49 30 53212305
info@schwarzetruhe.de


Atmosphere: ++
Selection: ++
Pricing: Low



GARMENTS
Vintage stores do not need to be messy and smelly rummage stores in retro colors: Garments in Prenzlauer Berg offers selected second hand pieces in a neat and sleek, but warm and open atmosphere. In front of walls painted in a discreet grey hangs a selected choice of clothing by Miu Miu, Wunderkind and Chloé (dresses ca. 120€), as well as a remarkable assortment of jewelry, like exquisitely crafted sequined bags, delicate brooches (ca. 8 €) and statement necklaces. Everything offered is rarely worn, as most of the collection comes from theater and film costume stores and is still offered at a mid price range with dresses starting around 30 euro.

Mon-Sat 12:00-18:00
Stargarder Straße 12
10437 Berlin
+49 30 74779919
mail@garments-vintage.de

Atmosphere: ++
Selection: ++
Pricing: Medium





CASH
Just around the corner from Berlin's finest avant-garde fashion store, Apartment, Cash offers not only the boutique’s sale items, but also a choice of up-to-date second hand items by designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens and Undercover, all sold on commission. The tiny store is packed with funky bomber jackets, leather coats, vintage sheer dresses, shoes, accessories, jewelry of every sort and fashionistas.

Tue-Fri 12:00-19:00
Sat 12:00-18:00
Rosa-Luxemburg Straße 11
10178 Berlin

Atmosphere: ++
Selection: ++
Pricing: High


CALYPSO
That this store has millions of stories to tell is obvious to everyone who enters it. The kingdom of shoes is reigned by a queen, who might seem a little harsh at first, but deep down she's got a heart of gold. A shoe collector herself, she accumulated thousands of pumps, boots, oxfords, high heels, lace ups and so on, in every color and shape — and sells them all for a reasonable price with pumps starting at 40€. Plus, if she likes you, you may also be able to bargain.

Mon-Sat 12:00-20:00
Rosenthalerstr. 23
10119 Berlin
+49 30 28545415
calypso@calypsoshoes.com

Atmosphere: ++
Selection: ++
Pricing: Medium


SOMMERLADEN
If you sell on commission, it all depends on the suppliers: this basement store is in the perfect Mitte location in which to grab all the garments the creative class shops, wears and then abandons. Actors, designers, architects and the likes usually have a high class, but fluctuating wardrobe, and this store offers their discarded Junya Watanabe and Christian Louboutin items, all at reasonable prices (dresses ca. 150€).

Mon-Fri 14:00-20:00
Sat 12:00-17:00
Linienstraße 153
10115 Berlin
+49 177 2991789

Atmosphere: +
Selection: ++
Pricing: High


ALSO TRY THESE FLEA MARKETS:
Arkonaplatz, Fehrbelliner Platz, Rathaus Schöneberg, Mauerpark, Boxhagener Platz