What sets vintage stores apart in the Magic City is a lot more than just how often they restock their wares, where they get them from ("This came from a shopping trip to India," we were told at one of the shops), and when they're open. We've handpicked the ten best vintage stores in Miami. No thrift, no attitudes, but plenty of great customer service at these fine establishments.
10. Twice Growing up in New York, Carmen Franchi de Alfaro knew that consignment, vintage, thrift, and secondhand shopping were the only ways to build a serious wardrobe. She wasn't up for fast fashion. She wanted statement pieces that would eventually be collectibles.Walking into her consignment store feels a bit like stepping out of a time machine. Vintage knickknacks such as 50-year-old razors, antique armoires, and fine china are juxtaposed with hanging art, Jimmy Choo shoes, and airy outfits that fit right in with Miami's scorching temps. "I felt it was time to open a consignment shop that had an old-world feel to it," Franchi de Alfaro says. "Imagine Indiana Jones in charge of merchandising Saks. That's Twice."
4040 Red Rd., 305-665-7620. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-4 p.m. twiceconsign.com
9. Las Tias Window displays at Las Tias look more like they were plucked from Fifth Avenue in New York City than that of a consignment shop. They have flair and draw you into the consignment shop on the corner of North Miami Avenue and NE 29th Street. But don't let the seemingly endless rows of one-of-a-kind furniture fool you. In the back, beyond the Le Corbusier L2 chaise lounges, Arne Jacobsen egg chairs, and chandeliers, is a well-curated selection of handbags, clothing (for men and women), hats, and shoes. If you're a jewelry nut, there's plenty of that too (both vintage and newish) at fairly decent prices. During one of Las Tias' infamous sales, you can expect to find $18 bracelets and $10 earrings.2834 N. Miami Ave., 305-573-4198. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. lastias.com
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com. 8. C. Madeleine's Walking into C. Madeleine's is like walking into a museum dedicated to fashion. Each area of the store is heavily curated and separated into eras. If you can't find what you're looking for, one of their buyers/stylists/personal shoppers will find it for you. They'll reach out to their roster of on-call consignment sellers. It's that simple. Chanel, Hermès, and any other high-end, in-demand designers are commonplace here. Owner Madeleine Kirsh has even written a collection of stories inspired by her worldwide quest for vintage treasures: The Truth of Time. C. Madeleine's sidewalk sales are often a who's who of Miami's finest fashionistas, and it's then that you'll be able to find a lot of tags-removed-pieces marked down 50 to 90 percent off.13702 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami Beach, 305-945-7770. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m. cmadeleines.com
7. Consign of the Times Owner and founder of Consign of the Times, Carin Kirby, opened her flagship store in 2001. "It was a no-brainer," she says. "Fabulous Miami Beach needed a go-to for budget-friendly designer-label lovers." Now with three locations (one out of state in Washington, D.C.), as well as a showroom in the Design District, Kirby and company have gone digital, offering plenty of pieces available online only. The consignment shops and self-dubbed women's luxury resale specialists offer deep discounts on designer duds.1635 Jefferson Ave., Miami Beach, and 5900 SW 73rd St., Suite 102, South Miami. Various hours of operation. Check site for details. consignofthetimes.com.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com. 6. Second Time Around Don't discount the appeal of a consignment chain store. This freshly opened third Florida location of Second Time Around (and the second in Miami) offers merchandise newly off the department stores racks -- and a lot of it in near-mint condition. Lovers of Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus will feel at home here, with plenty of streamlined, on-trend clothing, shoes, and jewelry to whet even the hungriest of fashion appetites. You'll be less likely to find pieces more than five years old here, so it's a great gateway store to frequent if you're a vintage newbie.5770 Sunset Dr., South Miami, 305-668-9335, Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday: noon-5 p.m. secondtimearound.net.
5. Vintage Revenge and Couture If you're looking for era-specific pieces, Vintage Revenge and Couture is the place. The store is separated into sections from the 1920s to the '80s, and you'll find everything from vintage swimwear and 1950s A-line dresses to vintage couture. Every piece is organically dry cleaned too. Boston-born owner Denise Goldhagen has been in the vintage business for 17 years, and it shows. Each piece she sells has a tag that also mentions the era. If prompted, she'll tell the story of where she found the piece. And that's what vintage is really all about, isn't it? Besides the stories lining the walls, the vintage shop carries a curated selection of menswear. We spotted Christian Dior silk robes and linen shorts during our last visit.6231 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 786-953-6046. Hours: Monday-Sunday, noon-7 p.m. thevintagerevenge.com.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com. 4. Second Showing Open since 1975, Second Showing is unassuming upon first glance. Located in an off-the-beaten path shopping center next to a real-estate company, it's easy to miss. (We passed by it twice.) But once you walk in, you're in for a treat. Most pieces are priced to sell -- and highly curated too. We overheard the sales attendant on the phone several times saying the place just didn't have room for any more consignment pieces unless they were by big-name designers. And we can see why. There's plenty to browse through, whether accessories (shoes, bags, sunglasses) or clothing strikes your fancy. We noticed a heavy stock of St. John pieces, but after a little sifting, we came across great on-trend dresses and earrings. They don't have a website or a Facebook page, so joining their mailing list is the best way to keep up-to-date with what's newly in stock.8191 SW 117th St., Kendall, 305-971-0747. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
3. L.A. Boudoir Miami Walk along the side of Uva 69 and discover a pleasant surprise: a mannequin dressed in vintage with a sign that reads, "More than just vintage, 2nd floor." As you walk up a narrow staircase and through a door, you come across two of more mannequins standing by an antique vanity table and dressed for a night on the town. But L.A. Boudoir Miami is more than its moniker suggests. Sure, you'll find lots of vintage lingerie, gloves, tassels, and various underthings. But the store also carries plenty of fairly priced dresses, accessories, and tchotchkes. An antique traveling typewriter, Brownie cameras, and antique coin purses were just a few gems we came across on our visit. The décor screams sexy, inviting nostalgia. And isn't that what getting dressed is all about?6900 Biscayne Blvd., Unit 4, Miami. 305-775-8127. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with additional hours by appointment. laboudoirmiami.com
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com. 2. The Rabbit Hole A land of fairytales and furry friends awaits you at The Rabbit Hole. No, it's not a pet store. And you'll only spot the store off of West Dixie Highway because of it's large VINTAGE signage. But once you walk in, you'll see shabby chic shelves filled with antique children's books, stacks of vinyl records, and whimsical decor. (Think: Tree branches hanging from the ceiling and leaf motif chandeliers.) You'll find plenty of fairly priced vintage here: dresses, accessories, collars, jewelry. But if you're in the market for some indie designers, they mix those in sporadically as well. Upon our last visit we spotted some kitschy wallets and jewelry, and one rack with newish one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world.17032 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach. 305-705-2343. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.-6 p.m. shoprabbithole.com.
1. Sale Rack Imagine being able to actually walk into your favorite Pinterest board; you're surrounded by DIY ideas, yet you're able to shop, too. That's what a visit to the Sale Rack is like. Located in the Grove, this quaint vintage boutique has loads of jewelry hung on oversized frames, plenty of last season's wares for the taking, and even -- our favorite part -- a credenza stocked with books. A sign reads: "Take a book, leave a book, or leave a donation for charity at the register." The store doesn't work based on consignment, but rather buys your items outright (by appointment). It's all priced to sell, so what's there today is gone tomorrow.3444 Main Highway, Suite 20, Coconut Grove, 305-537-6078. Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. shopthesalerack.com.
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don't forget to check out the full Best of Miami® online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.Follow Cultist on Facebook and Twitter @CultistMiami.
