Sharing the frugal love – Mapping out the best of Cape Town’s vintage stores7 comments

I’m on a brief holiday in sunny South Africa, and am trying to make my hard-earned Pounds stretch as far as the eye can see! Or at least as far as my credit card will allow me.

However, I received a serious shock when I arrived at Cavendish Shopping Centre and realised that clothes are certainly not as cheap as they used to be! I was very aware that prices would obviously have increased, but still, my little fashion heart had fooled my brain into wonderful imaginings of myself collapsing on the bed at the end of a fabulous day of shopping, gift bags overflowing around me… alas this was certainly not the case.

And so I found myself doing a little frugal shopping in iKapa, and sourcing the best vintage and second hand clothing stores, which I now present to you, my favourite Recessionistas. It’s all about sharing the frugal love…

Really, the best place to find great vintage and second hand stores is in Long Street. The smoothest way to shop is to start near the bottom end and walk towards the mountain (wear comfortable shoes)… that way you can finish your shopping extravaganza with a fabulous Mojito slushi at Lola’s.

Your first brief stop would be the open-air antique market on Church Street – although more for jewellery collectors, you may spot the odd pair of ’70s platform boots or a retro leather jacket.

Best for… pretty sparkly brooches.
Details: Monday-Saturday 8 am-3 pm. Church Street Mall.

From Church Street take a right into Long Street and head to my favouritist vintage shop of them all… tucked right at the back of the Long Street Antique Arcade is the lovely Terri Mullins and her boutique Glitterati.

From the minute you step into that Diagon Alley of musty smells and sparkly bric-a-brac you step into a time machine, and Glitterati is the Vogue magazine that you’d read on your trip through the decades.

Best for… fake fur coats that are sure to keep you warm in the winter months.
Details: 172 Long Street. Tel 082 819 5247. Open Monday – Friday from 10:00-16:30 and Saturday from 9:30-13:30.

A legend in the Cape Town vintage scene is Pandora’s Box, which is one street up and a few blocks away from the Antique Arcade. In the 12 years since it opened many a film star has passed through the doors of this electic second hand shop… just ask owner Nicky Marini. She’ll gladly tell you about the time she met Richard Gere and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Best for… never-been-worn retro ’80s blazers. Grab them while you can!
Details: 79 Loop Street. Tel 021 424 8597.

Back on Long Street, the next must-stop on your vintage tour is Second Time Around, which has been around since 1972! The current owner, Deirdre Sarnitz claims to stock some of the oldest vintage clothing in Cape Town and I can well believe it – one can easily spend hours sifting through her collection.

Best for… well… everything. Although a little pricier than most this is the real deal. And they hire out costumes.
Details: 196 Long Street. Tel 021 423 1674.

Turn right as you come out of Second Time Around and turn right again into Bloem Street where you’ll find hello again. This clothing store, owned by Lynne Groenewald, hosts a combination of young designers and vintage clothing. The second hand clothing, sourced by Wendy van Neel, is mainly ’70s and ’80s and doesn’t form a big part of the store, but it’s worth a peek.

Best for… the vintage Dutch bikes. Sure, they’re not cheap, but at least you’ll be cycling in style.
Details: 44 Bloem Street. Tel 021 4260242.  Check out their blog: helloagainshop.blogspot.com

Next up is Never on a Sunday, which is, quite literally, never open on a Sunday. Clever hey! Pop in to the newly refurbished Baobab Mall (it looks great) and you’ll find Shane Bezuidenout’s vintage store lurking in the back with retro ’70s and ’80s gear.

Best for… I spotted a lovely leather patchwork over-the-shoulder bag for R125.
Details: Baobab Mall, 210 Long Street.

At this point you can decide to break for that refreshing Mojito, or you can continue to the final two stores which sit very close together. So You is owned by Sharifa Mohamed, and, unlike some of the other more eclectic stores, offers a clean and modern décor with an organised selection of well-maintained garments. It’s also still reasonably priced.

Best for… pretty, shiny dresses to give a formal occasion a retro feel.
Details: 303 Long Street.

Finally we stumble upon seventies and ’80s, which is run by Dawie Kiakia and Justin Kaoma who moved to their new location in November last year. And yes, you guessed it, these guys have sourced a super collection of artefacts from the crazy days – prepare for bight neon puffer jackets and sparkly disco accessories.

Best for… white Wayfarer wannabe’s at R49 each.
Details: 305 Long street.

So, those are all the vintage and second hand stores I found during my exploration of Cape Town’s city centre, but I’m sure there must be a few more in the ‘burbs – if I missed any out please share the details in the comment box below. And, because sharing is caring, Stylescoop’s Green Queen has also shared some great tips on how to buy and wear vintage, so be sure to check them out before you head out on your trip.

Top Thrifty Tip: Lynne, from hello again, mentioned that an exciting new children’s secondhand boutique and fun place was opening on the 19 June at 201 Bree Street, Cape Town. Check out www.merrypoppins.co.za for more info.

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