It’s the question I get asked most – where do you find your second hand stuff?
I’m a regular at the charity shops, car boot sales and vintage shops in my area, and over the last few years I’ve whittled my favourites down to a core list of weekly must-visits. Being the shopping enabler that I am, I’ve now put together a handy guide to the best second hand haunts in Leeds. Want to furnish your house, restock your wardrobe or just feed your thrifting habit? Take a look at…
The Bargainista’s Little Black Book
Leeds Edition
Are you a secondhand shopaholic? Do you think of new charity shops as unchartered territory? Does a Sunday morning spent on your hands and knees scrabbling through an ‘all items 50p’ bin sound like your idea of a good time? Well, you’re in the right place. And if you live in, or you’re planning a trip to, Leeds – even better. The Bargainista’s Little Black Book (Leeds Edition) is your guide to the best charity shops, car boot sales and vintage stockists in Leeds – keep it close and you’ll never miss another bargain.
Charity Shops
St. Gemma’s Hospice
728 King Lane, Leeds and 49 Street Lane, Leeds
St. Gemma’s Hospice is based in North Leeds and many of the charity’s shops are also in the area. They’re not the cheapest, but prices are reasonable and the quality of their stock is always great. St. Gemma’s also run a
vintage fair four times a year where the vintage clothing, furniture and accessories that have been donated to the charity are sold for higher, but not unreasonable, prices.
Expect to pay…
£5 for branded dresses
£2-3 for blouses
£1 for glassware and accessories
You could find…
Current season dresses from Topshop, French Connection and Boden
Vintage tea sets
Leather cowboy boots
PDSA’s Attic
57 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds
A beautifully-laid out shop with a focus on vintage pieces, supporting animal charity PDSA. The Attic is filled with old suitcases, 60s tea dresses, leather clutch bags and trinkets from times gone by. A little more expensive than your average charity shop, yes, but with vintage dresses priced around the £10 mark, not too pressing on your purse.
Expect to pay…
£20 for a vintage suitcase
£10 for vintage dresses
£2 for silk scarves
You could find…
An original 60s shift dress
Vintage lace fabric
A rotary dial telephone
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Car Boot Sales
The Big One
Greengates Farm, Old Otley Road, Leeds (Sundays from 6.30am)
Pannal Car Boot
Junction of A61 and A658, Harrogate (Sundays from 8am)
Swillington Bank Holiday Car Boot
Wakefield Road, Swillington, Leeds (Bank Holiday Mondays from 6am)
Photo of a car boot sale in Brighton from Dominic’s pics on Flickr
If you want a real bargain, you need to be in a muddy field at 7am on a Sunday morning – snoozers are losers. Car boot sales are full of second hand treasure – just avoid the dodgy DVD sellers, the fake designer handbags and the baby clothes (unless you’re after baby clothes, in which case fill your boots). My three favourite car boot sales are big and take around two hours to navigate properly, but I always come home with a car full.
Expect to pay…
50p for dresses
£2 for winter coats
£5-£10 for furniture
You could find…
A vintage typewriter
A faux fur coat
A (real!) designer purse
*
Vintage Stockists
Mighty Baby
Duncan Street, Leeds
Mighty Baby is a vintage gem, tucked away at the bottom of Briggate in Leeds city centre. The shop opened in April and is stuffed full of treasure, from pretty printed dresses to leather satchels. Clothing is organised by colour – not only is that helpful when searching, but it also makes the shop look like a sartorial rainbow. Mighty Baby currently have a £10 sale (everything is a tenner!) and lucky Little Bird readers will also get 15% off by mentioning this blog.
Expect to pay…
£10 for everything from dresses and jackets to leather bags and belts
£15-25 for items in the boutique section, including high quality dresses and leather jackets
You could find…
The perfect summer dress
A pair of leather shorts
A classic white blazer
Redneck Clothing
Duncan Street, Leeds
Redneck Clothing, despite its neanderthal name, is a haven for vintage vixens. Located in the old Oxfam shop at the bottom of Briggate (and next-door-but-one to Mighty Baby), Redneck’s window displays promise gilded mirrors, bird cages and leather suitcases all piled haphazardly on top of each other. And when you step inside, that’s exactly what you get. Clothes trails up the stairs, shoes cover the carpet and bags spill from open suitcases. You’ll need to dig, but there’s lots to discover.
Expect to pay…
£5 for small leather bags
£10 for chunky cardigans
£20 for lace dresses
You could find…
Cut off Levi’s 501s
Sequin capes
Leather biker jackets
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And there you have it – my favourite second hand haunts in Leeds. Now I need your help to create more editions of The Barganista’s Little Black Book – if you’re a regular thrifter with a list of must-visit shops, sales and stockists, I want to hear from you. Email me on jen@littlebirdfashion.com to find out how you can take part in the Barganista’s Little Black Book project – can’t wait to hear from you!
