The third largest city in Texas may be known for its beloved football team, the Cowboys, and its eponymous 1980s hit TV show, but Dallas is also an eclectic hub for culture, arts and shopping. From high-end designer boutiques to western boot warehouses, the north Texas metropolis offers diverse shopping opportunities, especially when it comes to vintage. Dallas is a treasure trove of relics from yesteryear.
Designer vintage clothing at Vintage Martini (Photo: Jennifer Nicole Sullivan)
Whether it’s vintage clothing, furniture, housewares, art, rustic decor or quirky collectibles, you’re bound to find some of the best gems in one of Dallas’s numerous vintage boutiques. Check out these seven top vintage shops the next time you’re in the Big D.
Vintage Martini
Chanel, Dior, Givenchy—name a luxury designer and Vintage Martini will most likely have one, if not several, covetable vintage pieces by that designer hanging on the racks in their 4,000-square-foot boutique. Owners Ken Weber and Greg Kelly scour the closets of socialites across the country to acquire the highest quality vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories (some of their rarest finds date back to the 1800s). Everything is impeccable at Vintage Martini—the service, shop, selection and even the smell (no mothball funk here). If you want luxe looks on a budget, this is the place to shop.
2923 N Henderson Ave.
Dolly Python
Vintage cowboy and combat boots at Dolly Python (Photo: Jennifer Nicole Sullivan)
From the beautiful to the bizarre, Dolly Python carries a bounty of unique vintage finds in its 3,800-square-foot emporium—everything from retro cowboy boots and dusty yearbooks to an antique child’s coffin and golden busts of JFK and Jackie O. Opened by proprietor Gretchen Bell in 2005, Dolly Python offers a vast selection of vintage clothing from the 1940s to 1980s in a third of the shop. The rest of the store showcases booths from more than 30 antique dealers and consignors who sell furniture, housewares, old photos, toys, art, taxidermy and other oddities from yesteryear. Music collectors can stock up on the shop’s well-curated section of vinyls, cassettes and eight-tracks.
1916 N Haskell Ave.
Lula B’s Antique Mall
Vintage furniture and decor at Lula B’s (Photo: Lula B’s)
Its tagline is “Cool Stuff for Cool People,” but to call Lula B’s “cool” is a major understatement. Vintage treasures abound in both the original shop, located in the Design District, and the new 20,000-square-foot Oak Cliff location, which boasts a bounty of clothing, jewelry, furniture, barware, art, toys and heaps more. If you’re looking for mid-century modern furniture (a Florence Knoll sofa, anyone?) or a conversation piece, Lula B’s is the place to be. It would take hours to look at everything at just one Lula B’s location, so plan to stay a while.
Lula B’s Oak Cliff, 1982 Ft. Worth Ave.
Lula B’s Design District, 1010 N Riverfront Blvd.
Gratitude Vintage Clothing
Locals know that Gratitude is the ultimate place to shop for vintage prom dresses and Halloween costumes, whether it’s a men’s 1970s polyester disco shirt or a 1960s Mad Men shift dress. For a Don Draper look, check out the store’s selection of ’60s-era men’s suits and ties. The Oak Lawn-area boutique opened 26 years ago and moved down the street from its original Fairmount Street location into much larger digs in 2008. The shop is filled to the brim with vintage clothing finds, but they’re known for their collection of hundreds of vintage hats, covering the walls of every room. Their quality and quantity of clothing makes Gratitude a must-stop shop.
3613 Fairmount St.
Second Kiss Vintage
Storefront of Second Kiss Vintage in Dallas (Photo: Michelle Cervantes)
There’s one word that sums up this charming little vintage boutique situated in Lower Greenville: dresses! Opened by Michelle Cervantes in 2013, Second Kiss Vintage stocks its racks with must-have dresses from all decades, including flowy ’70s-era maxis, floral ’60s-era shifts and flouncy ’50s-era A-lines. The shop also stocks retro T-shirts and menswear. Clean and streamlined, Second Kiss doesn’t require digging through overpacked racks for hidden gems. Another plus? Everything is affordable.
2400 N Henderson Ave., Suite C
Curiosities
Storefront of Curiosities in Dallas (Photo: Curiosities)
Curiosities carries antique oddities that live up to the Lakewood boutique’s name. Every nook is filled with strange wonders, the likes of doll limbs, creepy clowns and a taxidermy baboon wearing a top hat (selfies with the primate are encouraged). Eight antique dealers supply the shop with unique vintage furnishings, photos, knick-knacks, clothing and other surprises. Opened by Jason Cohen and his mother Terry Cohen more than 10 years ago, Curiosities is the go-to place for quirky vintage with a sense of humor.
2025 Abrams Parkway
Vagabond Vintage Dallas
Men’s and women’s vintage clothing at Vagabond Vintage Dallas (Photo: Amy Marrs)
The rustic tin store signs outside of Vagabond Vintage are the first indicators that this Design District boutique is nothing but hip. Hundreds of vintage graphic T-shirts fill the shop, so you’ll find a plethora of retro concert tees, with musicians like The Who, Pink Floyd and Kenny Rogers. Husband and wife owners Keith and Amy Marrs keep the shop stocked with a range of vintage clothing from the 1950s to 1980s, set at pocket-friendly prices. This is the spot to scoop up a pair of vintage cowboy boots, a Dashiki shirt or an ugly Christmas sweater. If you’re ever in East Texas, stop in Nacogdoches to visit their second shop (2027 North St.).
1616 Market Center Blvd.