Our 5 Favourite Vintage Shops in Newcastle
Oddly enough, three months after I moved to the UK in 2015, I’ve since refused to be a standard clothes shopper. Never since then have I bought a piece from any of the franchised shops that you are likely to find at the Big Market (a.k.a. Eldon Square). And the reason for that is… Charity Shops.
Charity Shops are apparently a huge thing here! England is the country with the highest spread of charity shops across all the major cities. And Newcastle is one of them! If you haven’t discovered this sensation yet, then I suggest you take a walk down Shields Road- the Mecca of charity shops in Heaton/ Byker, or Clayton Street in the City Centre.
Honestly, charity shops are the best friend of all Fashion Divas, who love to highlight their own unique style with one- of- a- kind pieces in crazy colours, unimagined patterns and cuts, combining vintage styles into stunning contemporary pieces of art. Browsing through the racks, you can stumble upon garments from various era crazes from punk and grunge to mod and hippie in the ‘swinging 60s’, from 70s disco sparkle to ‘anything goes’ in the early 2000s. And the best bit for any student is the price: anything from £1 to up to £10.
So, to introduce you to the world of vintage shopping, I’ve listed my Top 5 of them and why they made it to my chart.
1. OXFAM
For those who are already familiar with this type of shopping, you would have probably assumed the first one on the list. Oxfam is probably the most popular charity shop, and their growth is stunning: recently they launched an online version of the shop. What surprises me about Oxfam is the great quality and branding of the clothes offered. I’ve never seen anything damaged or even worn out. On the contrary, it is quite likely to stumble upon pieces with their tags still on.
Every time I visit the shop (which is at least twice a week… *guilty*) they have new stock on display, which is extremely satisfying for all the addicts out there! This is probably due to the high demand of customers. Oxfam is best for new, branded clothes such as Marks & Spencer, Miss Selfridge and Zara. It is probably the most expensive one out of all the shops… if £5 for a French Connection dress is considered pricey at all.
2. Barnardo's
Moving on from the one with the highest cost to that with hysterically cheap prices- Barnardo‘s. I am still amazed by the concept of this shop. Lies aside, literally every clothing piece costs £1!!! £1 for unique vintage stuff that no one else possesses anymore! It is a bit of a dazzle digging through the piles of clothes, but, it is fashion treasure hunting at the end of the day! Also, you can find loads of decoration and random artsy objects for your student home. Great variety of funky jewellery, as well!
3. Salvation Army
Salvation Army is another big fish in the charity shops market. Whenever I enter the shop (on Clayton Street), I am impressed by the nice order of the racks, according to style, size and season. It is very good for a “quickie” shopping spree when you don’t have all day to wander. They have a mixture of both modern and vintage stuff, and, especially for the ladies – nice assortment of lingerie!
4. St. Oswald's Hospice
St Oswald’s Hospice is like a Pandora Box- you never know what treasure you will discover there. You literally have to dig amongst all the clothes, but it surely is worth the effort! The shop on Clayton Street has quite an intriguing system of operation – it’s called ‘Buy the Bag’ for £10 and you can fill it with whatever pieces you chose.
But you also have the option to pay £1 for just one item. I love this shop for the variety of shoes they have, although sometimes I get really disappointed when I discover that I can only buy one shoe from the pair because the other one is missing. That aside, definitely visit and see for yourself! And don’t get out with just one shoe! Unless it’s for fashion purposes…
5. PDSA
Finally, a charity that collects funding for pets, is PDSA. It is a very tiny, cosy shop with bits and pieces of everything- clothes, decoration and useful utensils, jewellery and accessories. It is very cheap, as well! You are unlikely to find any new clothes because most of the stock is vintage. Very useful if you’re trying to embrace your inner-Granny!
Here, I presented you with a little charity shops map, which will hopefully help you become your own stylist for cheaper + more fun guaranteed! The important thing to remember is that these shops aim to help different causes. So, not only are you entertaining you fashion cravings, but also doing good! I hope that my ‘expertise’ in charity- shopping gives you some guidance on your new activity. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun! Because fashion is happiness!
Now, if you wish to get some tips on how to style your new check out our post on Becoming Your Own Personal Stylist.
Written by: Eleonora Hristova
Photography by: Zoe Martin
