Second-hand stores across Canada are serving up first-rate shopping, from vintage fashion to sustainable chic luxury. Here, our favourite shops across the country.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

MINE & YOURS- This luxury consignment chain’s Vancouver boutiques (as well as one that opened in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood last summer) are so sleekly designed, you’d think you were shopping for new (with deep discounts). Around 250 items are added every week—in-store and online—and they’re included in a shoppable digital lookbook called The Report. Spy everything from trendy Acne sweaters and Ganni dresses to ultra-luxe Delvaux leather purses and Philip Treacy wool hats.
WHAT WE LOVE- The brand’s Influencer Program is open to anyone who loves second-hand clothing (not just fashion bloggers and big names), and members can earn store credit through referrals. “Rather than focusing on the number of followers, we wanted to work with people who share our values,” says owner Courtney Watkins. “Clients who engage with [Influencer Program members] feel as though they are getting shopping advice from a close friend or family member, which is on-brand for us.”

 

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TURNABOUT– In business since 1978, this designer-second-hand empire has seven Vancouver locations (and one in Victoria), all with generous men’s sections and a veritable who’s who of history’s hottest handbags, with regular appearances by icons like the Christian Dior Saddle Bag, the Hermès Birkin and the Gucci Hobo (to name a few).
WHAT WE LOVE- Founder Joy Mauro routinely works with charities like Dress for Success and Big Sisters, and she even has a dedicated concept shop (Turnabout Community) on Fraser Street that donates all its profits to charity.

ALBERTA

VESPUCCI- Back in 1986, long before online shopping was a thing, Dianne Rawlinson opened a second-hand shop in a strip mall near her house, and it’s now Calgary’s largest bricks-and-mortar luxury-consignment store. Head there for big names and heirloom-worthy accessories, like Chanel sunglasses and Louis Vuitton “pochettes.”
WHAT WE LOVE- Sustainable shopping is a family affair! Rawlinson’s daughter Britt opened her own store, VSP Consignment, in Toronto in 2013.

SASKATCHEWAN

LOOM & MAGPIE- This Regina-based luxury-consignment shop has been doing double duty since 2017. Founded on “the belief that fashion and sustainability can coexist,” it sells designer clothes and accessories and helps keep them looking new longer by servicing and repairing luxury timepieces, fine jewellery and leather goods.
WHAT WE LOVE – This boutique does not do dupes! The team’s exhaustive analysis of second-hand goods includes examination with a loupe, an X-ray fluorescence analyzer and the skills of an in-house jewellery expert who’s a member of the Canadian Gemmological Association. It also offers authentication services and certificates for goods by select designer labels (for a fee).

 

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MANITOBA

NUAGE VINTAGE– Spot this second-hand store roaming around Manitoba. Located inside “Pearl,” a 1968 Boler RV that was made in Winnipeg, it can be found at select markets and festivals across the province (as well as online) and offers a curation of second-hand pieces inspired by the Prairies and French fashion. Think tan trench coats, floral blouses and leather jackets. Owner Natasha Rey says she founded the company to “encourage Canadians to shop vintage in an effort to help heal the planet.”
WHAT WE LOVE- A line of one-of-a-kind upcycled jeans is available in Nuage’s online store.

ONTARIO

COMMON SORT– Toronto cool girls regularly hit this consignment shop to both sell last season’s outfits and choose new ones from its broad mix of styles, brands and price ranges (shoppers come more for the up-to-the-minute trends than the labels)—not to mention comb through the generous sales rack. There are three locations in the city as well as a new spot in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood.

WHAT WE LOVE- Hour-long complimentary personal-shopping sessions are on offer, which are so helpful whether you want an outfit for a special occasion or a total wardrobe refresh.

 

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NOUVEAU RICHE– This “true vintage” spot in Toronto’s Junction Triangle bills itself as “gender- and size-inclusive”—it even has an online section dedicated to larger pieces (which can be impossible to find at many second-hand stores)—and has a by-appointment studio. Not everything it carries is designer, but the luxury items it does have—pieces like ’70s Courrèges knitwear and ’80s Saint Laurent power suits—are arranged by decade and are sure to catch any fashion historian’s eye.
WHAT WE LOVE- It also has a housewares section where you can unearth standouts like Murano-glass bowls and mid-century-modern picnic blankets.

THE RECOLLECTIVE- One of the best consignment shops in Canada’s capital is owned by sisters Carla and Kelly Bourada, both of whom have years of experience in traditional fashion retail. The daily drops on their Instagram Stories showcase trendy faves (think Tiffany pendants, Babaton coats and Smash + Tess rompers), which are viewable both on a hanger and on a model or mannequin. It’s the next best thing to browsing the racks if you like the thrill of the hunt that only second-hand shopping can offer.
WHAT WE LOVE- Sign up for the store’s newsletter and automatically get 10 percent off select items.

QUEBEC

CITIZEN VINTAGE- “When we opened in 2011, vintage was definitely more niche,” says co-owner Lara Kaluza, who notes that good-quality used clothing has gotten harder to find as fast fashion has flooded the market. So, her team got creative. “We now also have our own line of clothing, Studio Citizen, that we make in our Mile-Ex studio using deadstock [unused vintage] fabric. And we have a small collection of upcycled pieces that we make in the back of our Plateau shop.”
WHAT WE LOVE- The two stores on Saint-Laurent Boulevard always have Insta-worthy window displays featuring rotating artist collabs as well as matching limited-edition art prints and tees in-store.

 

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RUSE- This hyper-cool consignment shop is for those who want Ssense-approved luxury brands for less. (Think Off-White bucket hats, Jacquemus blazers and Paloma Wool sweaters.) Online drops come with FOMO-inducing countdowns and cheeky white-glove videos, and Quebec celebs and stylists love stopping by the boutique for show-stopping pieces.
WHAT WE LOVE- The shop is located on a strip in Mile End alongside some of Montreal’s best indie stores, including Jennifer Glasgow and Unicorn (for local fashion) and Jamais Assez (for chic housewares).

 

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NOVA SCOTIA

BRILLIANT CLOTHING- High-end clothing like Smythe blazers and Stuart Weitzman boots have a home in Halifax thanks to this consignment bou- tique. While owner Stacey Thompson says designer bags and trench coats always sell out within minutes, she’s also noticing a recent shift in customers’ tastes. “While we still have a ton of logo and label lovers, we are seeing a trend toward well- tailored timeless pieces, especially blazers and coats,” she says. “People are embracing the ‘quiet luxury’ trend—where more isn’t always better—and working on their capsule wardrobes.”
WHAT WE LOVE- This shop’s a great example of how the resale market, both offline and online, can put even small-town fashionistas on the map.

THRIFTY TIPS

Second-hand shopping is definitely having a moment, but sorting through everything on offer can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips for getting the best out of it.

+ Know your store. There are luxury consignment shops, thrift stores, charity stores, vintage shops and rental services. Figure out what you want—say, an iconic designer bag, a one-season-old skirt or an affordable swinging-’60s dress—and shop accordingly.
+ Inspect every inch. Look closely at the seams, zippers and underarms, especially in cheaper second-
hand stores. And if the tag says “as is,” find the flaw (sometimes it’s just a missing button) and factor in the cost of repairs.
+ Size things up. Between vintage pieces and international labels, sizing can be all over the place. Make sure you try things on or, if you’re shopping online, get exact measurements and check labels for materials like Lycra to gauge stretchiness.
+ Adjust your expectations. Sometimes getting a rare vintage piece or designer clothing at 90 percent off means it comes with something like a loose thread or a small stain (and a no-returns policy). Accept a little risk for a lot of potential reward! Plus, if you buy from a charity shop, anything you don’t wear can basically be written off as a charitable donation, right?
+ Make a trade. If you’ve got clothing to consign, many shops will offer more in credit than they’ll pay out in cash, which is perfect if you’re also looking to buy.
+ Know your neighbourhood. When it comes to boutique consignment or charity shops, trying the ones in select neighbourhoods—including those with high-end first- hand boutiques—can definitely help with your hunt.
+ Ask about inventory. Some stores have a regular schedule for new items and will even keep an eye out for designers or styles you like and alert you when they come in.
+ Stay in touch. Most shops that do e-commerce offer a discount code for your first purchase when you sign up for their newsletter.
+ Trust but verify. If you’re looking for an investment piece in pristine condition, find out how a shop authenticates. (Some designers even have their own certification programs.) If you find designer vintage in a bargain bin, it may be a fake or damaged…or your lucky day!

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