Six cool vintage stores

In Chanel & Co with a clear conscience

Vintage stores have always been a playground for fashion maniacs. Today, when the circular economy is the order of the day, they are more fashionable than ever. Anyone who values their style and has made environmental awareness a way of life buys the 'new' looks here. Are you looking for a Gucci ski overall from the 90s? Or would you prefer a 70s Adidas tracksuit like Gerd Müller once wore? Whether you go on a targeted hunt or let yourself be surprised as you browse through the decades - second-hand has it all. And something new every day. In fact, the selection here changes even faster than in fast fashion.

Strike Wardrobe

The name says it all. Nils Peter, Daniel Bayen and Michael Fabritius have achieved a great success during the coronavirus pandemic. Strike is the name of the vintage store that the three school friends launched within just a few months. The young shooting stars obviously hit a nerve with their well-curated selection of sporty basics. The bestsellers on Bilker Brunnenstraße are: Levi's jeans, sweaters from Nike and Adidas and T-shirts. The fact that their clothes are not only cheaper, but that their business model is also sustainable, is particularly important to the trio. Absolutely fitting: after shopping, it's time for an old-school coffee and cake at Café Süße Erinnerung.

Not-A-Shop

In recent years, Stresemannstraße has developed into an axis of good things. Unusual bridal fashion, Korean cuisine, young street art and three trendy hairdressers can be found on the stretch between Charlottenstrasse and Oststrasse alone. The Not-A-Shop is therefore in good company. The two Italian-born brothers Lucio and Massimo Lupacchini, who moved to the Rhine from South Africa, have put together a small but fine selection of colorful vintage fashion here. Vibrant yellow, grass green and fiery red - these are the clear colors from the 70s, as worn in Lucio and Massimo's native Cape Town, which now enrich the Düsseldorf street scene. Let the sunshine in!     

The Vintage Store

Sometimes it's a comprehensive selection of ski sweaters from the 50s, sometimes a whole range of futuristic Pierre Cardin dresses, sometimes a dozen of the typical Chanel tweed jackets. The shop windows of The Vintage Store on Bilker Allee, styled down to the smallest detail, bear eloquent witness to what lies dormant in the warehouses. A lot, in fact. That's what makes browsing in The Vintage Store so rewarding. If you have a particular piece or look in mind, there's a good chance you'll find it here. And in a size that fits and a color that suits you. Take your time!

Mae's Second Hand de Luxe

Jil Sander, Armani, Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent - Mae Würth has been a luxury vintage pioneer from the very beginning. She has been selling second-hand luxury fashion for 40 years, an idea she brought with her from New York to Düsseldorf. Mae's enthusiasm for big designer names is no coincidence. In her previous life, she managed the Jil Sander boutique on Sylt and worked in Berlin and Hamburg for brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Thanks to her long-standing relationships with friends of high-quality designer fashion, the flow of well-preserved fashion treasures never stops. You couldn't wish for a more elegant selection and more competent advice. 

Couture 2nd

Have you been dreaming of a Chanel handbag for a long time? Then maybe now is the time to make this dream come true. And without you having to make a small inheritance. At Couture 2nd in Düsseldorf's Carlstadt district, one worn designer dream follows the next. In addition to the creations from Chanel, including, of course, some from the pen of maestro Karl Lagerfeld, there are also many Hermès designs waiting for new lovers. The look is classically elegant: tweed jackets, skirts, suits, belts, pumps and scarves - and, of course, a large selection of the 'little black dress', the timeless, deadly chic sheath dress for which Coco Chanel became famous in her day. Once the designer dream has come true, pure joy is the order of the day. The patisserie of the same name opposite has the best cakes in town. The crowning glory, so to speak!  

The Mintage

Completely renewed! A breath of fresh air is blowing through one of the city's oldest second-hand stores, the former Vintage Paradise. Janice Geelen, who is half Japanese, has taken over the store on Wallstraße and presents a very personal mix of classics, kitsch and kimonos. The latter in particular are extremely popular at Mintage, as they are beautiful old pieces from Japan. There is an almost all-encompassing selection - from hair clips to men's suits - carefully selected by Janice. She sources classic vintage items from the 60s to 80s from the USA, but many items also come from private individuals. A hundred meters down the street, Rolf Buck awaits lovers of second-hand furniture and furnishings in his store Vaseline.

Cover picture: Düsseldorf Tourismus