DGH's 6 Favourite Vintage Stores in Vienna
Since a very young age I’ve absolutely loved vintage shopping because there is nothing else that gives an outfit that extra edge that a vintage piece in the mix does. The fact that it it also the most sustainable and ethical way to buy clothes really just makes it a no-brainer (vintage dress in the cover photo from my latest trip to Barcelona btw. Mirror, chair and tables second hand from willhaben.at :) . Therefore, it was about time for me to share with you my 6 favourite vintage stores in beautiful Vienna that I can go to again and again, and know that I can always find something beautiful and special.
These are actually two stores next to each other in the very artistic Neubaugasse in the 7th district. The one is full of reworked Levi’s jeans and cut-off shorts, as well as cool graphic hoodies and accessories. The other one has a nice selection of reworked denim skirts, shirts and vintage dresses, plus plenty of band t-shirts, so make sure to check both of them out.
118 Likes, 0 Comments - Www.bootik54.com (@bootik54) on Instagram: "Denim...what else ? 🙏🏾 @susannawurz 🔥🔥🔥..."
2. Burggasse 24
This is a concept store located in the 7th district as well, next to one of the most picturesque little squares in the hood - Sankt-Ulrichs-Platz. Here you can find a wide variety of designer pieces as well as cool vintage designer-less ones, vintage designer sunglasses, and the occasional really fancy pair of vintage designer shoes or a dress.In any case there are no fast fashion second hand items to be found here. Another cool thing is that they buy clothing anytime, so you can just drop by with a bag of clothes, they will look through it on the spot and buy whatever fits the concept of the store (unfortunately, or well fortunately, they are quite picky!). And last but not least, there is a wonderful little cafe inside with homemade cakes (partly vegan) and a very cosy living room-like atmosphere.
186 Likes, 0 Comments - Burggasse24 (@burggasse24) on Instagram: "Shop & Café snaps by @thedailydose__ 🌷 thank you for visiting loves ! #vintagestore #café..."
This one is a special one. I discovered it on Instagram probably two years ago, and couldn’t wait to check it out in person, nice the feed was already quite promising. What I found there was not only an amazing selection of super wearable handpicked vintage dresses, shirts, pants, skirts and accessories, but also this super cool and stylish lady, who is the owner and curator of the store, and gives the place that little extra something. I would say a must visit if you are a vintage lover and are around town.
100 Likes, 1 Comments - Kleider gehen um (@kleidergehenum) on Instagram: "#vintagefashion #kleidergehenum #vienna #wien photo @apolloniabitzan styling @noushin.redjaian"
4. Polyklamott
This store recently moved into a new, bigger and nicer location in the 6th district. What impresses me most here are always the sunglasses, optical glasses frames and accessories. Apart from the women’s and men’s main clothing sections, there is always a special pair of vintage Chanel earrings or a show-stopping pair of vintage cat-eye sunglasses to steal your heart to be found here. Also, at my last visit I found out they produce their own recycled kashmere pieces - there was a number of crop-tops and bodysuits - a little bit pricey but quite nice.
42 Likes, 0 Comments - Poly Klamott (@polyklamott) on Instagram: "✨Treat yourself with our beautiful 90s vintage Chanel clip on earrings embellished with Swarovski..."
5. Secondi
Secondi is located in the 8th Vienna district, which is a little bit more sophisticated than the 6th and 7th. And this little store is somehow giving you this vibe as well. This one is a little more messy than the previously mentioned stores and you can find a mixture of designer and not so sophisticated second-hand pieces here, but every time there are some real treasures to be found. Also, the owners are really nice and offer to make adjustments to the clothes when necessary. Unfortunately no Instagram.
Another cool little concept store down the Burggasse in the 7th district, offering very unusual, carefully selected dresses, blouses and jackets. Also, I have to say I’ve always found the prices very reasonable for the quality of the pieces they offer - a must visit.
Let me know how your next trip to the local vintage shops goes and happy to hear your suggestions for extending this list!
xx, D
Girl crush: Miley Cyrus
Apart from having a badass voice, Miley Cyrus is an ambassador for veganism and sustainable fashion to no less than her 75 million instagram followers as starters. Thus, there is something about Miley that I relate to very very strongly. Maybe is has to do with my newfound commitment to a vegan lifestyle, maybe with her commitment for spreading the message that making clothes does not need to cause suffering in order for you to look stunning, or maybe with the fact she had to break it off with her finance Liam Hemsworth in order for them both to grow as individuals and truly find themselves. Any similarities with people and events not intended. They got back together by the way.
I must have first followed Miley in 2013 around the time Wrecking Ball came out to see what the fuss is all about, after she was proclaimed one of the most followed people on Instagram. I didn't take me long to unfollow though because shortly after I had enough of all the tongue sticking out going on. The truth of the matter is, seems at the time Miley was trying by all means to get away from the Disney character image she became poplilar for, looking to find her own voice, and meanwhile heavily smoking weed in her own words. She has gone a long way since though.
Miley has now undergone a massive transformation to come to a place where she is more real than ever and more than ever herself and "solid as her own being", which she couldn't have done growing up and being attached to another person. I find it amazing that she uses her reach on social media and any chance she gets to talk about the problems in the fashion industry, sustainable fashion and being kind to animals and the planet by leading a vegan lifestyle. Last year she also tied the knot with veganism by getting the V for vegan-shaped tattoo pictured below.
461.8k Likes, 4,860 Comments - Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Instagram: "Vegan for life! 💚"
Sustainable fashion still has a rather low popularity on the red carpet, but with people using their voices to spread the message that you can be stylish and sustainable all at the same time, like Miley Cyrus and fashion designer Stella McCartney, whose stunning dress (pictured below) Miley wore at the 2018 MET Gala, we are getting there. Thank you Miley!
2m Likes, 8,716 Comments - Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Instagram
And don't even get me started on her love for animals and the bunch of pups she has at home, her promoting the #adoptdontshop initiative and organisations such as @beaglefreedom, that save animals from inhumane animal testing labs.
890.2k Likes, 4,146 Comments - Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Instagram: "🌺🌸🌹🌸🌺🌹"
681k Likes, 2,021 Comments - Liam Hemsworth (@liamhemsworth) on Instagram: "My dog posse and I (not all pictured here) are supporting young Aussies living with cancer by..."
473.9k Likes, 2,242 Comments - Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Instagram: "dora so cute 💜💜💜💜"
667.3k Likes, 2,677 Comments - Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Instagram: "Thankful for @beaglefreedom and their mission to free captive pups from inhumane animal testing..."
351.6k Likes, 1,366 Comments - Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Instagram
And to finish with, here is one of my favourite Miley Cyrus performances (song by Miley's aunt Dolly Parton). I don't know about you but as for me, don't need any more reasons to be heavily girl-crushing here.
Fashion Revolution Week: what it is and five ways to get involved
“Fast fashion isn’t free. Somewhere someone is paying the price.”
Exactly five years ago, the question who makes the clothes we wear became from a matter of curiosity to a very urgent issue. On April 24th 2013, in the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed, killing more than 1100 people that were making clothes for major western brands, leaving thousands more injured. The heart-breaking disaster has since become a sign of global inequality and has sparked demands for greater transparency and safety in the fashion industry supply chain. This tragedy is also what motivated Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro, co-founders of Fashion Revolution, to take instant action. Their movement has grown into the largest initiative for ethical and sustainable fashion, with more than two-and-a-half million people having taken part in Fashion Revolution week last year. In more than 100 countries people asked the question “Who made my clothes?” on social media and followed or took part in talks, film screenings and events on the subject.
The campaign is simple. It urges fashion brands to take responsibility for their production and show greater transparency in their supply chain. The lack of ownership of the factories producing the clothing is one of the main issues that has led to the current state of unfair and unsafe working conditions in the fashion industry. When brands do not own the production and often do not keep track of their long and complicated value chain, it is very hard to keep them accountable for the safety and well-being of their garment workers. Therefore, practices such as mistreatment and suppressing of workers, adapting residential buildings with lack of protective equipment and outdated wiring into factories are common in the largest clothing-producing countries in the world. Thus, Fashion Revolution is asking one simple question: "Who made my clothes?"
This Fashion Revolution week, here are five simple ways how you can get involved and contribute to greater transparency in the fashion industry:
1. Ask "Who made my clothes?"
It is as simple as that. It has never been easier for your voice to be heard by using social media. Take a picture of your favourite piece, tag the brand and ask #whomademyclothes. The more we ask, the more the industry will listen.
2. Take an alternative
There are so many fun ways to update your wardrobe without actually shopping for new clothes. For example, checking your local vintage store. One of my favourites in Vienna and currently conveniently located just across the street is Bootik 54, which is full of pretty reworked vintage Levi's jeans, shorts and skirts. Extra points: at the next brunch, organise a swapping party. The rules are simple - everybody brings three pieces of clothing and is not allowed to go home with the same pieces they brought.
3. Buy less, choose well, make it last
The last few decades have been marked by a rise in consumer culture that has had an immense impact on the way we live. This culture of frequent trendy and cheap, mostly emotional purchases comes at an environmental and human cost - fashion is as of today the second most polluting industry in the world after oil. This scary statistic can be changed, and each small step counts. Here is a beginning - when you see an item you'd like to buy, leave it, give it 24 hours and come back if you still think you need it. Extra points: love your clothes. When you lose a button, sew it back. When it breaks, mend it. Also if you haven't, you can check out the movie The True Cost, showing the reality of the fashion industry supply chain. This movie pretty much changed my life forever. Also, this 3-minute-short movie Loved Clothes Last, directed by Balthazar Klarwein, who has worked with Mario Testino.
4. Shop for ethics and sustainability
In recent years so many fashion startups have emerged, that approach the business of fashion in an ethical and sustainable way, ensuring fare wages and safe working conditions for their markers while also minimising the environmental impact of their business. Nevertheless, gone are the times when sustainable and ethical fashion was basic and boring. Seek out brands that create beautiful clothing while being dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices. Here is a list to help you.
5. Sign the Fashion Revolution Manifesto
The Fashion Revolution manifesto is a statement by designers, producers, makers, workers and consumers that believe that fashion does not need to exploit workers and destroy the planet and therefore demand a radical, revolutionary change of the industry. By signing the Manifesto on their website you can declare your wish to support this vision for a better industry, make it even stronger and share it with others.