Lifestyle in the Swedish capital is all about recycling and sustainability, which is reflected in the ever-growing popularity of vintage and secondhand shops.
With Stockholm Fashion Week currently taking place (6 to 12 February), Sweden’s prowess for fashion is on full display. While the city’s Nordic chic style – simple, clean, monochromatic and layered – is internationally renowned, the city’s general lifestyle is all about reuse, recycling and sustainability, which is reflected in the ever-growing popularity of vintage and secondhand shops.
Related article: Shopping a la Parisienne
Stockholm has a slew of offbeat boutiques and vintage crannies, most of which are clustered within walking distance in the bohemian neighbourhood of Södermalm. “SoFo” – an area south of Folkungagatan in Södermalm – has arguably more vintage stores per block than any other area in the city.
Throwback style
Sweden has always been open to importing fashion trends, especially from the United States. You can find 1940s and 1950s clothing and accessories at boutique Sivletto, spanning different fashion subcultures like Rockabilly, Tiki and Hot Rod. The store also sells interior decor and vintage furniture, and has a pinball machine and hair salon.
Judits Second Hand also pays homage to the 1950s, as well as the ‘60s and ‘70s, and carries selected vintage items from fashion designers like Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. It has an adjourning men’s section (Herr Judits) that caters to male vintage style. Dating back to the late 1960s, Emmaus Second Hand is a collection of three interlinked stores: a children’s store, a designer/vintage store and the original general shop.
If you are looking for more classic turn-of-the-century wear, you can find dresses, jewellery and hats inspired by the 1920s at Old Touch, with their oldest vintage item on display from the 1890s.
Rocking footwear
You do not have to be a collector of running shoes or high tops to appreciate Sneakersnstuff’s selection of colourful, funky and limited edition sneakers. The vintage shoe store carries brands such as classic Converse Chuck Taylor’s, Adidas Stan Smith’s, Puma Suedes, New Balance 577’s, Nike Air Force 1’s and Air Max 1’s, as well as its own label SNS. The store also carries sportswear and clothing to rock along with your vintage soles.
Lisa Larsson has been around for more than 15 years and remains one of the most popular secondhand boutiques in the city. In addition to carrying vintage dresses, leather jackets and couture clothing, the store is also known for its vintage shoe selection and designer shoe brands.
Home improvement
If rare antiques, exclusive ceramics, unique interior decor and unusual souvenirs are your thing, Stockholm’s antique scene will not disappoint.
Pick up expensive porcelain and Art Nouveau ceramics from Bacchus antique, where you will find traditionally-designed wares from the early 1900s. The store carries a lot of high-priced art glass, including tableware and lamps. Modernity also serves up pricey handmade jewellery, textiles, art, ceramics, lighting and glassware.
For more moderately-priced rarities, check out Wigerdals Värld which carries a selection of glass and ceramics as well as furniture like antique sofas, easy lounging chairs and coffee tables.
Retro shopping
Located in a basement that was once used by fishmongers, Beyond Retro is one of the premier spots for vintage shopping. If you like digging through rows and rows of goods, you will have fun digging through the more than 35,000 items, available across its three city stores. You can pick through Victorian-era attire, 1920s beaded flapper dresses, 1930s evening gowns, 1980s prom dresses, 1990s grunge-rock inspired denim wear, hats, wigs, accessories and much more. A two-storey sister store is located along Stockholm’s famous pedestrian street, Drottninggatan, as well as another at Brännkyrkagatan 82.
For your classic Salvation Army-type secondhand store, Myrorna has many shops all over the country, including 11 stores in Stockholm alone. You can wade through piles of clothes, shoes, books, home decor, furnishings, kitchen items, appliances and electronics all day.
The article ‘Stockholm’s vintage style’ was published in partnership with Lonely Planet.