So maybe last week you were coerced into going shopping on Robson, and perhaps you spent too much—it’s intoxicating, we know. When you start flipping through racks of $400 T-shirts, suddenly the one that is seventy percent off seems to be an absolute steal.

Does it matter that it is bright green leopard print? Well, only the day after when you introduce it to your cliquey un-designer-y wardrobe and they don’t play well together. It has a spat with your plaid coat and the red leggings and there’s a huge jumble of clothes on the floor—not a good scene.

What do we propose as the solution? Vintage shopping. It requires a little more walking and a little more hunting, but getting interesting pieces for good deals is hard work no matter where you shop.

If you are a seasoned veteran of vintage, the following may be basic knowledge, but for our fellow newbies, a good place to learn the ropes is Main Street. It has a number of thrift and vintage stores, and the added bonus of being far enough away from UBC that the hipsters don’t steal all the good stuff, but close enough that you can get to campus and back in an hour. Here are a few shops to try.

C’est la Vie
3247 Main Street

We’ve had the most luck with this place with good deals and interesting finds. It’s a small store, but it has a good variety and it is well-laid out. The cheery pink exterior is also enticing.

Bohemia Gallery
3243 Main Street

This shop has a great atmosphere. The owner is friendly, seems genuinely interested in finding a good fit for her customers, and is open to negotiation. The stock is more or less unedited, which means  that there will be more mall brands hanging out with actual vintage, but the occasional gem does turn up. The good vintage items are snapped up quickly, so act fast if you like what you see.

Solid Threads
2-3851 Main Street

It looks a little small and dodgy from the outside, but it is definitely worth checking out. Solid Threads is possibly one of the best stocked stores in terms of quantity, especially for all of your heavy-hitting basics: chunky knit sweaters, cowboy boots and ray-bans. If you can make your way through the mothball–scented hat corner, you’ll come out with some usable layering items.

Front and Company
3772 Main Street

If nothing else, we were first intrigued by their elaborate window displays. Mannequins hang from the ceiling, reclining amongst mounds of pillows, dressed elaborately in vintage gowns. Inside, they have a varied vintage shoe collection, and you can find everything from octopus rings to designer vintage vests. The store is well organized, with separated sections for vintage designer, new clothing, and your ordinary, non-designer stuff. It’s not the best place to treasure hunt, but you can always be assured of finding something that catches your eye.

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