Exposed fashion blogger Kate Mitchell reveals her favourite spots for picking up some retro bargains.
Sheffield is home to a fabulous range of vintage and collectable shops, so whether you’re kitting out your accommodation or stocking up your wardrobe for the new uni term, you’re guaranteed to find something a bit special. The city centre is a great place to start exploring Sheffield, but don’t ignore the very accessible suburbs, among them Broomhill, Kelham Island and the Ecclesall Road area. It’s worth a wander around or a short bus or tram ride to find some real vintage gems. I’ll start you off by sharing some of my regular haunts…
MOOCH VINTAGE // DIVISION STREET
As you walk down Division Street in the direction of the city centre, there’s a 99 per cent chance you’ll stop abruptly as you pass Mooch, look at their amazing window display, and feel compelled to go in immediately. Well, I do. For guys and girls alike, this beautiful vintage shop really is a cut above the rather generic crumpled jumpers and smelly logo t-shirts you might expect from a vintage clothes shop. Beautiful original vintage dresses, one-off sheepskin jackets, 60’s minis and Bardot tops abound here. Not a stinky sneaker in sight.
THE FRONT PARLOUR // SHARROWVALE ROAD
Tucked away down Sharrow Vale Road, this is a little jewel in Sheffield’s vintage crown. The owner sources items from people who pass things on to be enjoyed again by a new generation – fascinating collectables, often kept in families for decades, range from clothes and accessories to one-of-a-kind items of furniture. It really feels like it’s part shop and part fascinating social history. The most exciting thing is that you never know what you’ll find in there from one week to the next, but you better hurry as things tend to fly off the shelves.
THE NICHOLS BUILDING INDIE ARCADE // SHALESMOOR
Self-confessed purveyors of the weird and the wonderful, Indie Arcade boasts a whopping three floors of vintage clothes art, furniture and memorabilia. Based in Shalesmoor near Kelham Island in a stunning Victorian building, Indie Arcade is a retro lover’s paradise. It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy sunday rummaging for retro furniture, artwork, clothes and trinkets you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
ST LUKE’S VINTAGE // BROOMHILL
A relative newcomer to Sheffield’s bevy of retro beauties, this one’s already carving out a reputation for some of the coolest vintage clobber in the city. Carefully and lovingly selected, their nostalgic one-off finds are always creatively displayed and reasonably priced. I’ve snapped up everything from 50’s fashion magazines to an original 60’s Norwegian jumper. Hop on a 52 bus from the city centre or West Street – they stop right outside St Lukes Vintage at the bottom of Crookesmoor Road.
