Where to get the best fits in Leeds

If you haven’t noticed already, Leeds student fashion is good. Like really good. So good that we have an article in British vouge all about it. This “car-boot-chic-meets-English-frazzled-woman aesthetic” as described by Vouge, is arguably fuelled by the beating heart of the second hand, pre-loved vintage scene which has taken roots in our very city.   

So, the question is, where do we get these Vouge worthy fits? 

Let us begin…… 

North South 

Specialising in 90s and Y2K fashion, North South has solidified its position as a pillar of the vintage scene. Stepping inside feels like you have entered the bedroom of someone considerably cooler than yourself.

Just browsing through the clothes rails brings about the compulsion to get frosted tips and listen to Avril Lavigne. While North South has become iconic for its selection of retro streetwear revival clothing, since the style is so curated, the variety and pricing of items can often suffer.

White Rose: 

In the middle of Albion Street, White rose is often overlooked as it's so close to Trinity.

Centred around sustainability and charity, the best way to describe White Rose is a slightly fancier charity shop since all net profit goes to charities aiming to eliminate genocide globally! The variety and quality of their clothing seems nearly impossible with how affordable the items are.

Additionally, due to the shop being less selective with what they sell, the opportunity to find a hidden gem is major (if you have the time to comb through each rack). Not only do you look good, you feel pretty good too. 

Chinese Laundry

Having the Chinese Laundry brand on your jumper, it is to the cool youth of Leeds as what a stone island logo is to a roadman.

A favourite amongst Corn Exchange shoppers, the small shop boasts some of the best finds in preloved and upcycled fashion.

However, with it being on the pricier side some people may consider the shop to be overrated. Even then, I must admit that the quality of the clothes is extraordinary and if you are willing to shell out that bit extra, you know it is going to last a long time.

While my preference is affordability, Chinese laundry is the definition of slow fashion: buying quality items in the moment to save you money, and the planet, in the coming years.  

Blue Rinse 

Ranging from 70s-esque bold button downs and flares, to Y2K lace tank tops, Blue Rinse boasts fashion from every decade. With only 4 shops in the country, Leeds is home to two outlets, one in the Merrion centre, the other near the corn exchange.

While some people may be put off from the predominant sea of browns and blues on the shop floor, they do have an amazing, dedicated section to accessories, with the highlights being their eclectic collection scarfs and jewellery.

When Blue Rinse does a kilo sale, they do not mess around. With a massive selection of clothes to sort and root around through, it’s easy to spend hours just looking. However, day to day, while Blue Rinse has an amazing and extremely chic variety of clothes, the prices can range from affordable to daylight robbery.

Headingly Charity Shops 

The OG of vintage finds. The mother of all pre-loved. The god of accessible clothes and fashion… The charity shop.

All throughout Leeds we are lucky to have such a high number of charity shops at our disposal, especially in hot spots such as Headingly and town centre. The joy of the charity shop is that no two are alike! With the stock constantly changing and updating, you are never sure what you might find.

So it’s no surprise when I tell you the ratings are: