Seeking out great quality, high-style and original second-hand clothes and accessories from Athens’ satisfying range of stores can add just the originality and pep your wardrobe needs to stand out and define your personal style. Meanwhile, with fast fashion committing one of the world’s greatest cardinal environmental sins (official sources say that it is responsible for 10% of all global pollution, coming second after aviation), vintage has an even greater appeal, and Athenians are embracing the second-hand trend more than ever today.
Vintage stores in Athens range from thrift-shop level quality and prices to luxury brand labels that can come at high prices. As with all vintage shopping, the ideal is to use your personal taste and a clear vision of your new spring look as a compass, combined with an exploratory spirit, sheer determination and all hues of creativity. Here we present you with the best Athens’ vintage stores listed by area.
© Athens Remember Fashion
Psyrri
On Athinas St is a store as classic as the second-hand vintage variety of clothes and items it sells, the Amerikaniki Agora. Be prepared to hunt for your treasure through racks and racks of everything from cheerleader skirts and 1980’s ballgowns to cowboy hats and every cut of jeans, but you’ll almost surely leave there feeling rewarded by your efforts.
Vintage aficinados will enjoy looking through the garb at NewSkin, which has a thorough collection of chic as well as quirky, but overall top quality clothes and handbags from the 1970s to 2000.
Definitely not a second hand store but definitely vintage not to forget is Athens Remember Fashion, which brought punk style to Athens in the late 1970s and continues to lure vintage lovers, including top celebs such as Lana Del Ray and entire rock bands, to its store. If you’re looking for gold lycra leggings, hand painted leather or reimagined kimonos with a rock edge, this is the place for you.
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Monastiraki
The Kilo Shop has been around for many years and appeals to vintage clothes shoppers for its easy concept and broad, ever-changing array of goods. Clothes are labelled with different colour tags, each colour corresponding to a price per kilo. Upon selecting their goods, shoppers can place them on a scale and find the exact weight to estimate the price before heading to the till (or go straight to the till and have the cashier weigh out the clothes). At this store you’ll find clothes and accessories (from swimsuits and hats to sunglasses and shoes) for men and women (mostly women). Next door is the Kilo Shop’s vintage luxe boutique with upcycled and original clothes where labels are posher and prices higher.
Omonia
Just off the Square, Mania Omonia requires a little bit of digging. Selling a variety of items including books and headphones, it sells brand-name clothes and accessories at an excellent, and often unbelievable value. As in the Kilo Shop, items are colour-coded and their price is estimated according to their weight. Please note that what’s on offer on the first floor has a different price category than what’s sold on the ground floor.
Below Omonia Square you’ll find Millesime, a well-stocked second-hand store with a plethora of cheap and cheerful clothes, including timeless classics like cashmere jumpers (at just a few euros), T-shirts and shirts, hats and stylish anoraks. The stock is regularly updated, giving you all the more reason to keep returning for more.
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Exarcheia
At Reset Thrift Shop you’ll find super-sporty gear – from vintage Nikes to sweatshirts and hats, as well as Americana style clothing including Harley Davidson sweatshirts with rare emblems, Levis, Wrangler & Closed jeans.
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On Ippokratous St step into Hotsy Totsy for a cheerful range of good quality second hand clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories including floral dresses, Hawaiian shirts and crochet tops.
One of Exarcheia’s most popular vintage stores is Yesterday’s Bread, where there is no shortage of retro clothes hand-picked by its style-savvy owners. The clothes are original and mostly in excellent condition, which makes the shop’s great sales all the more of a joyful occasion.
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Kolonaki
Beloved to personal stylists, IT girls and fashion personalities is Second Hand Lux, where prices are high but mostly worth it for clothes, bags and shoes by brands such as DKNY, Prada, Celine, Burberry, Issa London and Alexander McQueen.
You’re sure to find bags of style and shoes you won’t want to walk away without at Mint Vintage Boutique, which sells second hand Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Chanel accessories, footwear and clothes.
