THE RENOWNED DESIGNER Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashion fades, style is eternal.”
When we look at trends in fashion and homewares, we see how design moves in cycles of 20 or 30 years. However, the quality of materials used in the garments or furniture pieces was made to a much higher standard. Which ultimately leads to those items having a much longer lifespan than those mass-produced, today.
Choosing to shop vintage and second-hand is not only more sustainable – and sometimes cheaper – but more of than not, you can find pieces that have more character than mass-produced items available on the high street. Thus, whether it’s in your wardrobe or in the details of how you decorate your home, by choosing these more unique items, you can incorporate more of your own individual style and personality into your overall aesthetic.
As well as being a more ethical way of spending money, typically vintage and antique shops are independently owned. Therefore, you will be supporting businesses which are integral to maintaining a sense of community across Ireland’s towns and villages. Another enjoyable way to find excellent antique furnishing and vintage clothes are at flea markets. This is where you’ll find all sorts of treasures and meet the traders.
For vintage novices or dedicated followers of second-hand fashion, we’ve compiled some of Ireland’s finest shops to find special (and storied) pieces to treasure forever.
What: Finders Keepers is a splendid vintage and lifestyle shop where you can come away with cosy 90s fleeces, the perfect pair of denim jeans or a covetable leather jacket to complete outfits all year round. Finders Keepers has quickly become a highly revered destination for vintage clothing. Behind its success is owner Ruth Dempsey, who has run the small business (going from online to a bricks-and-mortar premise) for over a decade and has an excellent eye for vintage clothing which has shaped the high standards of the overall curation of the store – you can also pick up lots of cute accessories and homeware items - and quality of the garments on offer.
Be sure to make a trip to Bray soon to sustainably spruce up your Spring wardrobe with some one-off wonders. Do it quickly, though, because as the saying goes, “finders keepers, losers weepers.”
Where: 4 Quinsborough Rd, Bray, Co. Wicklow
What: It can be stressful finding the perfect furniture and interior items for your home. These days, under one roof, you can pick up anything from shelves to sugar bowls and coffee tables to cushion covers but there’s something rewarding about having something you know is truly special to your home and not something you’ll come across in the majority of homes you visit. Incorporating vintage homewares is a great way to inject personality into a room whilst also investing in pieces that will stand the test of time as, generally, the quality of design and materials used were of a much higher quality in days gone by. Joy Thorpe’s Decorative Antique shop in Kilkenny is a must-visit to source beautiful pieces for your home. There you’ll find an incredible selection of vintage accessories for the home and larger items such as stunning wooden cabinets and benches.
Where: 84 Kilkenny St, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
What: Located in Limerick’s Milk Market by Caroline McBrearty, Vito Vintage has a gorgeous selection of vintage dresses, kimonos, knitwear and everything in between. There’s a touch of luxury to these beautiful pieces curated by McBrearty. Sustainable fashion, and upcycling clothes, have been a passion of McBrearty’s since she was a teenager. Vito’s vintage selection ranges from affordable blouses for everyday wear and remarkable designer garments by Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano.
Where: Unit I, Mungret St, The Milk Market, Limerick
What: One of Ireland’s most beloved vintage shops, Lucy’s Lounge is an extraordinary treasure trove of colourful dresses from the 1960s through to the 1990s, bright accessories that will elevate an otherwise simple ensemble. Nestled in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar, Lucy’s Lounge is something of an institute for lovers of vintage fashion. With rails packed with unique items of clothing, you could easily spend an entire afternoon picking out pre-loved pieces to give new ease of life.
Where: 11 Fownes Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
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