If there's one thing to know about
Venice, it's that the old world is alive and well in this beautiful city. From its well-preserved palaces and other landmarks to its centuries-old traditions, Venice knows a thing or two about giving reverence to the past. And wouldn't you know it, this applies to fashion too! While Venice may not be the most fashionable city in Italy, this isn't to say that you can't expect a couple of great finds here. On the contrary, there are many chic vintage shops in Venice like Bisnonni, L’Armadio di Coco, Carpe Diem, and La Maison de la Sireneuse to name a few.
Bisnonni
Bisnonni is perhaps the most well-curated vintage shop in Venice. Located on Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini, fairly near the iconic Rialto Bridge, it's not that difficult to spot it. And when you do get there, you'll discover an entire treasure trove of groovy retro finds. It's the quintessential vintage shop, filled with fashions from the 20th century. But while these are vintage, they're in no way inferior to new clothes. Bisnonni is particularly popular for its tailored pieces. They're so well-made, you'd think they were
haute couture. And that's enough to let you know just how worth your time (and money) this store is!
L'Armadio di Coco
L'Armadio di Coco is a vintage-lover's haven. An authentic Venetian family-run business, the place is filled with fabulous fashion artifacts. And yes, you can practically consider these pieces as artifacts. Some are items from the world's most famous and long-lasting luxury labels. While others come from designers who have long gone out of business but have never been forgotten by fashion lovers and industry insiders alike. With so many quality clothes to offer, it's no surprise that the shop has opened two locations in various
neighborhoods in Venice. There’s one in Campo Santa Maria Nova and another one in Campo Santa Maria del Giglio.
La Maison de la Sireneuse
Imagine a vintage clothing shop in Venice. Does it have fabulous colorful clothes from different past eras? Does it sparkle with all the exquisite jewelry on display? And does it look more like a costume shop than a typical boutique? Then you get La Maison de la Sireneuse. To say that it's fabulous is an understatement! La Maison de la Sireneuse is the perfect shop for quirky vintage lovers who have their own flamboyant style. In a way, it's the
Venice Carnival embodied in a shop. Doesn't that sound utterly fabulous?
Carpe Diem
Located in the central San Marco district, Carpe Diem is another vintage shop in Venice that's not hard to find. It's one of the most sophisticated stores of its kind, filled with high-quality, well-preserved pieces from the early 20th century. Think the 1920s, the 30s, the 40s, and a little bit of the 50s too. And though it has pieces from other decades too, these are the ones that people mostly go for. Beautiful day suits to look refined as you walk along the serene canals of Venice. Diaphonus cocktail dresses to let out your inner goddess for your romantic date. And fabulous accessories to complete your look too.
Laura Crovato
If you're the type to want to get your hands on designer items at affordable prices, Laura Crovato is your kind of shop. Also located in the San Marco district, right along the famous Piazza San Marco, it's a fairly small boutique of second-hand luxury finds. From
Italian designer brands to
French haute couture labels, Laura Crovato carried the biggest fashion names out there. And the best part? They're all fairly affordable. Some are understandably more expensive since they're still vintage designer pieces, but for the most part, they're not as highly-priced as retail.
Mercatino San Martino
Do you know what's great about Mercatino San Martino? It's practically off the map. Firstly, just as its name says, the store is amidst the bustling market right by San Martino Church. You're gonna have to go through various food stalls, small-time eateries, knick-knack stores, and the like to get there. And when you do, you can dive into the glamorous history of it all. The store is run by Italian grandmothers, so you know that the pieces here aren't just old, but well-preserved too. There are a lot of great finds, each rare than the next!
Mercatino San Giovanni e Paolo
Another vintage find that's also within a marketplace is Mercatino Santi Giovanni e Paolo. The place is also fairly busy as it's right by Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo. You'd do well not to get here on Sunday! At the same time, you really should only go here when you're only looking for two things: glass jewelry and silk scarves. Though the place has a couple of vintage pieces to offer, the two are its specialty. And rest assured that going here just for that is still worth it. Their glass pieces are so exquisite, they can rival those from a
French jewelry brand. As for the silk scarves? Utterly fabulous!
Discover the chicest vintage shops in Venice so that you'll know where to shop for great finds at even better prices. From retro designer pieces to unique items that you won't find anywhere else, these shops are fashion treasure troves!
