We’ve all heard about the horrors of fast fashion. Skip the mall and check out these Pittsburgh vintage stores selling affordable, trendy clothes and accessories for men and women.
Shadyside
Hey Betty
📍5890 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
📱: @heybettyvintageclothing
Walking into Hey Betty feels like walking into your cool great-aunt’s giant closet. All of the items are the highest quality — no need to dig for treasure here. Inventory fills every inch of wall space, from hat boxes stacked against the floor to art and hanging items almost as high as the ceiling. There is a healthy selection of men’s jackets and blazers. As I parsed through reasonably priced evening bags, a pair of women modeled cozy overcoats. At the heart of the shop is a jewelry case filled with special occasion brooches, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Be sure to check out their shop on Etsy.
Eons Fashion Antique
📍5850 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Browsing through the racks at Eons Fashion Antique, I feel like I’m on a movie set. From the moment I walk in the door, I’m surrounded by clothes. I wind through hanging racks with clearly marked signs dictating the style and era. The collection of cashmere coats is especially tempting as the weather grows colder. The prices are reasonable for a city vintage store with high-quality inventory. It’s been a fixture of the Pittsburgh vintage community for decades — don’t miss out!
South Side
Three Rivers Vintage
📍1716 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
📱: @threeriversvintage
Three Rivers Vintage draws you in from bustling Carson Street with a dynamic and expansive window display–complete with not just human mannequins but also a stylish poodle with pink bows in her ears. Their selection dates back over 100 years and has offerings for both men and women. Not in town? They post regularly on their Instagram and will ship directly to your door.
Highway Robbery Vintage
📍2012 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
📱: @highwayrobberyvintage
Just a couple blocks down from Three Rivers, you’ll find Highway Robbery Vintage. The space is thoughtfully arranged, with neatly folded stacks of sweaters and eye-catching displays of ’90s inspired accessories. The majority of their inventory is from the 80s and 90s: racks of mom jeans, bins of bangles and fanny packs. Additionally, they carry a selection of Reworked vintage, which are stylish pieces on the pricier end. If you’re not able to make it to the store, you can shop from their website.
Bloomfield
Fifty One Ten Vintage
📍5110 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
📱: @fiftyoneten
The fun of vintage shopping is the magic of discovery, and Fifty One Ten Vintage celebrates it. The shop features an entire wall of vintage shirts and sweatshirts — concert tees, Pittsburgh sports tees, Disney World apparel or a top featuring a cheerleading team at a random high school. I loved browsing through the sweaters, mostly representing the 1970s through the 90s. The store also sells records, CDs and cassettes. Shop from their collection online, or visit their shop on Penn to find something unexpected.
Millvale
Vintage 416
📍416 North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15209
📱: @vintage.416
Owner Alayna Gallagher opened Vintage 416 one year ago — in the middle of a pandemic. I was greeted at the door by Louie, the sweet nine-year-old rescue dog who is happy to follow you around as you shop. The pricing is fair and affordable, competitive with the fast fashion industry. There is an unbelievable selection of women’s formal wear, including bridal: an empire waist 70’s wedding gown, and a bedazzled blinged-out ‘90s wedding gown. She rents out the shop for groups looking to have dress-up parties, and sells items from her collection online (pickup only).
Squirrel Hill
Avalon Exchange
📍5834 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
📱: @avalonexchange
Avalon Exchange offers an expansive collection of the trendiest 90’s styles. This is my go-to spot when I’m looking to consign clothes. You can opt for cash, but I prefer exchanging for store credit so I can bring home another chunky knit sweater, guilt-free. There are always great finds, but it just takes a bit more effort to parse through. If you prefer, you can shop their online catalog instead.
Cover photo courtesy Getty Images
