5 of the Best Vintage Stores in Chicago

The Windy City is no slouch when it comes to vintage. With each neighborhood offering its own style and vibe, these boutiques are one-of-a-kind and offer the full range of retro resale. Head to the heart of Wicker Park for neon 90s apparel or ride the El north to browse a shop loaded with premier pieces. Peruse a pop-up at the next street fest or head south where the vintage shops are a-plenty. Either way, combing the racks for a piece unlike any other is refreshingly easy with these great shops to choose from.

Check out our top five Chicago vintage shops below for some thrifting inspiration.

1. Market Supply Co.

Photo via Photo via Market Supply Co.

The Pilsen neighborhood, especially on 18th street, is rife with vintage boutiques. One such shop is Market Supply Co. A collaboration between owners Karyn Dethrow of Dethrose Vintage and Michael Ader of MidNorth Mercantile, this shop has it all: men’s and women’s attire spanning from the 1900s to the1990s as well as housewares and even an old timey barbershop inside. Dethrow and Ader buy and sell extremely high quality items and a quick scroll through either’s Etsy shop is sure to inspire a trip to the Lower West Side to dig through their racks item by item.

2. Lost Girls Vintage

Photo via John Towner/Lost Girls Vintage

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Who says brick and mortar shops get to have all the fun? Traveling in their RV named Winnie, Sarah Azzouzi and Kyla Embrey of Lost Girls Vintage have put the pedal to the medal when it comes to slinging all things retro. With plenty of space for clothing racks and changing rooms, the orange van is always a pleasant sight at local street festivals, Renegade Craft Fairs and coffee shops alike. Not beholden to Chicago, the Mini Winnie takes Lost Girls across the country, collecting new garb and slinging vintage finds wherever Azzouzi and Embrey choose to park. Be sure to check their website for details on where they are headed next.

3. Tilly

Photo via Tilly

What sets the boutique Tilly apart from the rest is how owner Susan Lynch is able to source such high quality vintage. Her “upcycled” fashions are truly one of a kind and typically come from private estates. The small shop, located in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, is packed to the gills with clutches, chiffon gowns and jewelry spanning all decades. Old Hollywood glitz and glamour meet you at every turn inside the shop and during the warmer months racks of clothes greet you on the sidewalk. Truly, any piece from Tilly is sure to turn heads.

4. Kokorokoko

Photo via Kokorokoko

For those inspired by all things 80s and 90s look no further than Wicker Park’s Kokorokoko. With an assortment of Day-Glo bright duds, florescent accessories and fanny packs galore, owners Ross Kelly and Sasha Hodges have amassed quite the collection of vintage finds including hip housewares and geometric sweaters. Take a stroll down the block in your new gear and be sure to check out Saved by the Max: a Saved by the Bell themed pop-up restaurant where 90s attire is the preferred dress code!

5. Savvy Seconds and 1sts

Photo Savvy Seconds and 1sts

The front window displays at Savvy Seconds and 1sts are always, without fail, inspired when it comes to streetstyle ready looks. Owner and lead stylist, Christin Rose, has a knack for putting together complete ensembles using retro finds alongside current trends and classic go-tos. This comfy and cozy resale boutique offers personal styling lessons as well as a closet cleanout service—quite possibly your best bet to be able to fit all the standout pieces you find among Rose’s racks at the shop.