Barcelona is a fashionable city that's full of history. It has a distinct sense of style that was cultivated through decades of evolving fashion and a myriad of trends. Of course, there's also the quirky fashionista locals who confidently show off their style regardless of whether they're wearing designer clothing or not. Or if they're sporting the latest collections or not. In that regard, it's no surprise that some of Barcelona's vintage clothing stores are just as popular as the luxury shops, famous districts, and the like. Some offer the best of the best of vintage and retro style. Here are some of the chicest worth checking out.
Holala Vintage
With clothes that go all the way back to 1950, Holala Vintage's pieces have a lot of history to them. But don't expect haute couture gowns and classic suits in the mix. This place is all about retro casual style, a streetwear fave among many hip fashionistas in Barcelona. Think tie-dye tees that evoke the bohemian spirit of the 70s. Denim jackets that reek of either 1950s gang culture or harken back to 80s and 90s urban wear. Not to mention a whole host of sportswear to boot! Get your streetwear fix on this cool vintage shop on Carrer dels Tallers.
Source: Holala Vintage
Le Swing Vintage
A more upscale option is definitely Le Swing Vintage, a one-off shop located in the El Born
neighborhood of Barcelona. Now here is where you can get your retro designer fix and treasured luxury goodies! Every designer brand you can think of, from
French fashion houses to
Italian luxury labels, all have a little piece here and more. If you're lucky, you might even get a rare item that not even the stores themselves have any stock left! And don't worry! Though many of these go all the way back to the 1950s and 60s, they're all in mint condition.
Source: Le Swing Vintage
Flamingo Market Kilo
Yes, the famous Flamingo Market Kilo vintage store, which has shops in various places throughout the country like Madrid,
Málaga, and more, has also set up shop in Barcelona. Their store here is on Carrer de Ferlandina, right at the heart of the El Raval district. Because of its narrow exterior, you might mistake it to be a small boutique that's not worth your time. But if you actually go inside, it's a treasure trove of vintage pieces as far as your eye can see! And that's better? The price depends on the weight of your total purchases. Not a bad deal, right?
Source: Flamingo Market Kilo Facebook Page
Camden
What's so great about vintage stores is that they offer showstopping pieces that people rarely wear these days. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. In a stylish city like Barcelona, you can go all out and let your outfit do all the talking! Especially if your clothes came from Camden. Also referred to as 'Camden Garage,' it's an eclectic vintage clothing store on Calle Tallers. Now, if you want retro glamour and bygone opulence, this is the place! They've got everything for every style, such as black leather jackets for grunge of
London-style punks, awesome tees for rock fans, and more!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Paella Showroom
Nope! Despite its name, Paella Showroom isn't a
paella place in Barcelona. You can't order delicious seafood rice in this store! What you will get, however, is fabulous vintage
Spanish fashion at its finest. More than just a clothing boutique, Paella Showroom is more like a specialty shop, spearheaded by local artists who show off their amazing works. And by amazing works, that also means their fashion creations too. Many of the pieces you can buy here are actually retouched, reimagined, and revitalized by the same creatives who run the establishment. Not only will you get vintage fashion, but also one that has a unique Catalan touch that you won't find anywhere else!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Humana
What's better than shopping? Shopping for great pieces? Sure! Shopping for vintage fashions that you can make new again? Close! Shopping vintage clothes for the sake of charity? Bingo! If you're the kind of customer who likes to have help people in need, look no further than Humana on Carrer de Roger de Llúria. Fortunately, the area is in Central Barcelona so it's easy to get to via
public transport. Once you get here, you'll get treated to a treasure trove of secondhand fashions, many of which you can still rock today. A lot of them are also affordable and a portion of their earnings helps support various communities all over the world. What's not to love?
Source: Humana Spain Facebook Page
El Flea
If you're thinking of vintage shopping, what better place to do it than in a flea market? Enter El Flea, one of the finest in the Catalonian capital. The beautiful El Poble-sec district plays host to this popular flea market every first Sunday of the month, inviting locals, tourists, and more to shop till they drop. Secondhand styles, retro pieces, and rare goodies reign supreme here, all at cheap prices that make for awesome bargains. Though the place can get quite hectic, that's simply part of the fun! Not only will you get amazing finds in El Flea, but shopping here is also a local Bacerlonian experience you won't ever forget!
Source: Flickr.com/ Oh Barcelona
Mercat dels Encants
Another vintage market worth going to is Mercat dels Encants, the most popular of its kind. Open four days a week, this is a vintage lover's paradise. From secondhand designer pieces to old but quality
high street goodies—all at amazing bargain prices, no less!—you can get your fill of awesome fashions and still afford more! It's easy to compare this to El Flea since both feature many of the same styles, brands, and the like, but since Mercat dels Encants is more available, it's become a staple among fashionistas in the city. It's definitely worth any shopaholic's time, that's for sure!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Thomas Ledl
Here in Barcelona, shopping for vintage clothes is just as common as going to luxury stores. Especially since many only of the chicest vintage shops here offer high-quality, retro pieces that are as covetable now as they were in the past!
Let's hope your
luxury home in Barcelona has a closet big enough to store all of what you bought from these shops!
