Ottawa’s Best Vintage Stores and Consignment Shops
Whether you’re a fashionista looking to acquire cool vintage styles, a budget shopper looking to expand your wardrobe with trendy pieces, or an environmentally-conscious customer looking to consume less, shopping second hand is both sustainable and fun. With a mix of retro vintage stores as well as fashionable consignment shops with constantly evolving styles, Ottawa is a great place to fill your wardrobe with fun new looks. Shop sustainably while staying fashionable with our guide to Ottawa’s best vintage and consignment stores.
Bellwethers Vintage
Nestled on a quiet street off of Bank St. in Ottawa’s downtown core, Bellwethers Vintage is a gem, and one of our favourite vintage stores in Ottawa. Specializing in designer and vintage clothing from the 1940’s to 1990’s, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of clothing and accessories, hand-picked for their timelessness and glamour. Browse through their collection which includes designer brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Missoni and Halton, as well as hand-made pieces and one-of-a-kind items. Mother-daughter team Carol and Madison opened Bellwether’s in 2017, and regularly travel in Canada and the USA to find special pieces to add to their collection. Stop by and find something unique for a special occasion, or an elegant accessory to glam up your look.
Darling Vintage
A high-end boutique with an impeccable selection of vintage fashion, Darling Vintage is a favourite among fashionistas shopping for quality sustainable clothing. Their carefully curated selection of clothing, footwear, accessories and bridal gowns provides something for every occasion. They also offer cool handmade and vintage jewelry, as well as unique vintage housewares. The store is well merchandised with items organized according to colour and theme, making for a great shopping experience. If you’re looking for something specific head to their Instagram account for the latest styles, and scoop up that special piece before it’s gone.
Ragtime Vintage
A staple on the Ottawa vintage scene for over 35 years, Ragtime Vintage has an impressive collection of vintage fashion for people of all genders. Specializing in retro and designer apparel, you’ll find pieces for everyday wear, as well as exotic and eccentric costume pieces for special occasions or flashy parties. Go treasure hunting through this quirky store for something to match your personality, from evening gowns and vintage tuxedos, to tutus and go-go boots. Whether you’re looking for a detailed accessory to help your outfit pop, a colourful piece to compliment your everyday look, or a full-on wardrobe makeover for a costume party, Ragtime Vintage is the place to go.
The Recollective
Owned and operated by sister duo Carla and Kelly, the Recollective is one of Ottawa’s hippest second-hand fashion boutiques. Previously known as PreLoved Ottawa, the fashion-forward and eco-conscious co-founders at the Recollective pride themselves on the importance of shopping sustainably, while keeping style top of mind. Their curated and modern collection of high-quality consignment clothing, handbags and accessories changes frequently, and their newest and hottest items can be seen in full-styled looks on their Instagram account. If you’re looking for some style inspo and a great way to shop sustainably, put the Recollective on your list.
Valamode
Designer is the name of the game at Valamode, one of Ottawa’s best designer resale destinations. Owner Dia Shams has been involved in the luxury brand business and fashion industry for over 15 years and is an ultimate luxury resale expert. With a focus on luxury accessories and designer goods, indulgent shoppers on a budget will love searching for that special vintage designer piece at Valamode. With an online store as well as an onsite showroom (by appointment only), you can snap up the latest designer items at the click of a button, or come in person to find that limited edition Channel purse, Gucci belt, Dior earrings or Prada clutch.
Clothes Encounters of a Second Time
With over two floors of second-hand treasures to peruse, Clothes Encounters of a Second Time is a hub for designer consignment in Ottawa. Originally founded to provide clothing to Vietnamese refugees in the early 1980’s, they expanded their operations into a store to sell extra clothes to raise money for the refugees directly. Clothes Encounters continues to donate clothing and raise money for new communities in Ottawa, and takes pride in making fashion sustainable and accessible to everyone. This popular Ottawa second-hand store has a massive selection of pre-loved clothing and accessories, for both men and women, with a great selection of designer handbags and shoes, from Prada to Louis Vuitton. Whatever you’re looking for, no matter what your budget, you’ll sure to find something great at Clothes Encounters.
Trove Fashion
Carefully selected for quality, style and value, fashion and budget conscious shoppers will love Trove Fashion. Located in Ottawa’s hip Hintonburg neighbourhood Trove has a thoughtfully curated selection of stylish and unique consignment clothing, footwear and accessories, as well as new items from local designers and makers. Browse through their cozy store and find a statement piece, cute accessory or a new outfit for every season.
The Clothes Secret
Surrounded by great antique shops in the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood, the Clothes Secret is a great Ottawa consignment shop for sustainable, classic and stylish looks. With a concentration on office wear and every day styles, you’ll have a great time mixing and matching chic blazers and tweed coats with stylish dresses and elegant accessories. Choose from a wide variety of classic brands like Banana Republic, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, and Michael Kors, with new styles rotating in weekly. If boots are your thing, you’ll love browsing their stock of leather boots, Hunters, Sorels, Blundstones and more; perfect for changing up your wardrobe for every season.
