Vintage Finds in Vancouver

Ever since I was no longer considered a girl but a teen girl – young woman, finding elegant dresses and skirts to wear became a challenging task. Where once every dress was made for a princess, suddenly, dresses were shortened, made of uncomfortable, cheap fabric and designs were too trendy. Whatever I managed to find at Marks & Spencer would only fit me for a year before I grew a little taller. It certainly didn’t help that I was the only girl in my class who preferred dresses and skirts over jeans and shorts. Nor did it help that I was terribly old-fashioned and dreamed of wearing clothes from centuries ago. When I made enough money to buy my own clothes, there were times when I found styles that were age-appropriate and long enough. I’m not ashamed of my thighs but I think my legs are long enough that I don’t need to elongate it with a short covering. Furthermore, as I walk and run a lot, short dresses and mini-skirts are just not practical for me. Yes, ironic, I know – but I can run better in dresses and skirts that are hopefully around knee-length!

Nowadays, however, I’m tired of waiting for stores to come out with something that I’ve been waiting for. I’ve tried taking some sewing lessons but I’ve only just learned how to make a skirt. Of course it would be my dream to learn how to make a dress – then I’d end up with a closet of 100 dresses! In the meantime, I’ve turned to vintage stores and thankfully, there are plenty in Vancouver.

Black crepe skirt (90’s?) – $35
Jonathan Logan dress (70’s) – $45
Long white wool skirt (pre-1964) -$40
Camel wool skirt (?) – $20?
Gloves (from L-R, top-bottom):
- White ruched gloves – $5
- White gloves with mini bow – $6.5
- Nude-toned Elbow length gloves – $6.5
- Sheer white frilly gloves – $6.5
- Elbow length opera/ball gloves – $6.5

Vintage Stores I’ve been to:

Bohemia Gallery – Great selection, great deals. Pay with cash and save more money! I spent $50 on a dress & skirt.
C’est La Vie – Decent to pricey and nothing too old for me.
Community Thrift – There are some nice vintage dresses though not necessarily cheap.
DeLuxe Junk Company – Fantastic selection but you’ll need lots of $$$!
Duchesse – This is one of my favourites and I get my nice vintage skirts from here!
F for Frank Vintage – More 80’s-90’s.
Lines Clothing – Small little store with a nice selection, a bit pricey for me.
Mintage Vintage – A lot of ‘new’ vintage clothes (i.e. never been worn or sold before)!
True Value Vintage – Good value but sadly, nothing nice my size. 😦
Value Village – You might be lucky if you find something fancy for really cheap!
Vancouver Flea Market – I come here on Antique Days for my fine china, vintage hats and gloves, and stamps!
Woo Vintage – Clothing is arranged according to decade and type. A bit on the pricier side.