Courtesy of MiamiTwice.com
Sifting through rack after rack, crawling on your knees through bins of vinyl, and weening out magic from piles of old Dungarees — thrifting isn’t for the feint of heart. The magical appeal of scouring the city for the perfect vintage finds isn’t glamorous, but exhilarating. It’s about finding that one unique item that will be an ongoing conversation piece, an exclamation point to your everyday look. Each piece has a tale from the past that you’re amplifying. National Thrift Store Day is a celebration of vintage and an appreciation of the past; it’s a day for style storytellers.
Miami is thankfully speckled with a variety of thrift store gems. Here are my top vintage picks for your next visit:
Red White & Blue Thrift Store
Location: Hialeah, Florida
Website: www.redwhiteandbluethriftstore.com/Hialeah.html
Red White and Blue was my first experience in the thrifting world. Inputting the address into my GPS and venturing out for the foreign land of Hialeah, I was initially surprised by the gigantic crowd that gathered on a Saturday. According to others, if you look hard enough you can find hidden gems from Jimmy Choo, Chanel, and Prada. During my visit I scored a 1920s tapestry bag and some outstanding dresses. Make sure to bring cash; Red White & Blue won’t accept credit cards, but an ATM machine is on site.
Miami Twice
Location: Miami, Florida
Website: www.miamitwice.com
For more than 28 years, Miami Twice has been a port key to the past for Miami dwellers. Delivering a diorama of designer vintage, Miami Twice is a habitat for the likes of Emilio Pucci, Halston, Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Dior, Miriam Haskell, Schiaparelli, Eisenberg and more.
C. Madeleine
Location: North Miami, Florida
Website: www.cmadeleines.com/
The crème de la crop and Holy Land of vintage in Miami, C. Madeleine is a dream for vintage collectors and fashion admirers. Separated by era, the curated wonderland features the best in vintage and boasts of the most notable designers, including Emilio Pucci, Chanel, Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Christian Louboutin, Cartier and Louis Vuitton. Sophisticated utility clothing of the 40s, the floral phenomenon of the 70s, and even the anti-fashion of the 90s are delicately displayed to a captivating audience. There’s enough Chanel at C. Madeleine’s to create an entire boutique, which can indicate the sky-high prices. Less of a haul and more for looks, you’ll be astounded by the quality make of every item.
Happy thrifting!
xo Jillian
