A beginner’s guide to vintage shopping in the North East

Four Reasons to Favour Second-Hand Clothes Shopping

It’s a lot more sustainable

I think the vintage shop owner, Helen Belles, has summed this up the best: “As much as the majority of us love to shop and look our best, I think the time has come that it can no longer be at the expense of our planet. When you buy vintage or pre-loved items, you’re not only saving unwanted clothes from ending up in a landfill but you’re slowing down the need for the fast fashion movement.”

Vintage items are usually higher quality

A lot of the time, high-street retailers skimp on production value to provide a low price-point, however with vintage clothing, this isn’t the case at all.  Vintage shop owner, Rachael, from The Yesterday Society, also confirmed this. “As a rule, vintage items are generally created to a higher level of quality than fast fashion items, therefore, making them last longer.”

Also, Helen Belle’s “advice to anyone who is shopping for vintage for the first time is to not get too disheartened as you won’t always find what you’re looking for immediately. Instead, it helps to know your measurements and carry a tape measure with you as vintage sizes tend to measure up a lot smaller than modern day sizes.

You can make your personality more prominent with vintage

When you shop for vintage clothes, there’s the bonus of being able to “stand out from the crowd and express yourself with your fashion clothes. [Rachael from the Yesterday Society] loves experimenting with clothes and mixing different eras together and would advise everyone to have more fun with fashion.”

It’s less likely to break the bank

If you’re willing to put the time into searching for an item, you’re much more likely to find a bargain. That’s why we’ve uncovered the top vintage shops in the toon and beyond – all of which offer quality vintage clothing at affordable prices.

Revealed: Our Favourite Vintage Shops to Visit in the North East

Helen Belle’s Vintage

Visit here if you’re interested in picking up a classic 80’s midi dress. Not only are they super versatile and easy to wear, but they usually have pockets!

Prices start as little as £10 for a blouse and can go up to £55 for a coat. Naturally, prices for dresses, skirts and jackets are in-between.

How did Helen Belle’s Vintage start?

Helen has always had a love of fashion and shopping but found herself becoming increasingly frustrated with not being able to find what she liked on the high street. So instead she decided to give second-hand shopping a go and fell in love with her first-ever vintage dress.

 But to her total surprise, she also discovered she had a new-found passion for vintage fashion overall. After countless purchases, this new craze left her with a bursting wardrobe so much so that she decided it was time to share her love of finding treasures with others. She then began her business, a stall at Tynemouth Market called ‘Helen Belle’s Vintage’

What makes Helen Belle’s Vintage unique?

Every single item in the shop is carefully picked by Helen herself. As a self-confessed perfectionist, only the best will do. She also believes that vintage pieces should be able to work alongside people’s everyday items so is very careful about what she buys. Most importantly, Helen also chooses items she believes she will wear herself rather than following a particular vintage trend.

Where is Helen Belles Vintage based?

Online via Etsy or at Tynemouth Market, every Sunday between 9am – 3:30pm. Helen also regularly updates her Instagram with her ‘new in’ collection.

Flea Circus

Visit here if you want to find a unique piece in the 200 square metre shop chock full of brilliant stuff. Not only do they sell clothes, but they also have an extensive range records, comics, curiosities, handmade jewellery and so much more.

 Prices start at £10 as they’re big believers in providing ‘Newcastle prices’ for their customers.

 How did the Flea Circus start?

Jess and Jim set up the Flea Circus as they both wanted to sell their furniture, but they didn’t have the money or time to set it up themselves. So instead, they used their initiative and created a unique shopping hub for local independent businesses.

 To sum up the Flea Circus, the shop space is made up of 35 independent businesses, with the rule that each person has to complete one shift per month. With these alternating shifts, it not only allows the business to be open six day a week but for the entrepreneurs and creatives to do what they do best in their spare time – find, fix, make and sell.

 What makes Flea Circus unique?

Although the Flea Circus sells a range of products, what makes this shop unique for fashion enthusiasts that they have six vintage clothing sellers. Each seller – Lisa, Hap, Nana Sylvia’s Wardrobe, Lazy One, Vintage Revival and the Yesterday Society – bring their own style to the shop, so there’s always a wide selection for both men and women.

Where is the Flea Circus based?

The Flea Circus fan be found on 210 Warwick Street in Newcastle. Opening times are as follows: Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 6pm, and on Saturday – Sunday