Vintage hunting in Portland is a skill. Like many of our fun things—finding the right apartment, getting perfectly baked eggs, or, hell, a great third date—it requires patience and time. There’s the La-Z-Boy route: you can scroll through curated collections of locally run Etsy shops from the likes of Continuall, Red Luck Online, or Ghost Vintage Clothing. Then there’s the old-school way, which requires showing up early, and often, to places that seem like they haven't yet heard of the internet. (What a world!) We categorized our favorite staples of the scene—but remember that almost all these places are multifaceted, and some of our standbys, like ReRun and House of Vintage, defy labeling. Just go already.

Women's

Artifact Creative Recycle

3630 SE Division St
This shop is run by the young, and you can tell. Here, “vintage” leans more Courtney Love than Betty Draper, with walls of killer cowgirl boots, faux-fur leopard jackets, ripped jeans, and beautiful kimonos. The curatorial eye seems to be genetic, with owner Leah Meijer (pictured above) taking after mother Marcee, who runs the worth-the-visit Village Merchants up the street.

Red Fox

4528 SE Woodstock Blvd
An eclectic mix awaits you at Red Fox, where dozens of vendors bring in bits from all genres and decades. Flowy pastel things from the 1960s and ensembles you can absolutely wear to business meetings flank everything from a wood case of bones to a retro plastic turquoise beaded purse. Insiders claim this is the spot for those who subscribe to Caftan Life.

Xtabay

2515 SE Clinton St
We’ve included Xtabay in pretty much every vintage write-up we’ve ever done—and we won’t stop now. The gilded dress heaven is full-on fancy. Cupcake 1950s frocks sit beside ’60s wiggle dresses and vintage coats with each button more beautiful than the last. It isn’t for the casual vintage lover, but one who has a big-time event and heads to turn.

Accessories

AlexSandra’s Vintage Emporium 

6726 N Interstate Ave
For 13 years, AlexSandra’s wonderland has been a magic spot for both shopping and history. AlexSandra (who uses only a first name) walks visitors through an overflowing bungalow stuffed with racks upon racks of clothing in different bedrooms. But up front, it’s all about the add-ons. Beaded handbags hang on every inch of the wall; novelty wooden brooches and glittering costume jewelry fit for Princess Grace fill display racks, while alligator kitten heels and sweeping hats tower up behind.

Magpie

1960 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Long a downtown fixture, Magpie recently took all of its fabulous loot across the river to Hawthorne in 2017. Owner Todd Wooley stocks clothing that stretches back into the 19th century for both men and women, but we’re all about his accessory game. Silk scarves, velvet chokers, Bakelite bangles, jaunty berets, antique sunnies, and nicely worn-in leather bags make this a go-to for rounding out a look.

Men's

Ray’s Ragtime 

4059 NE Sandy Blvd
A piece of local history, Ray Tillotson plunked his vintage shop downtown in 1986, offering a stylish selection of jackets, pants, and accessories for famous fans who’ve included the Foo Fighters and the Dandy Warhols. Last year, the New Portland curse hit the shop, as a rent hike ousted the whole Ray’s gang to a smaller location across from the Hollywood Theatre. Don’t worry: the Hawaiian shirts, sport coats with history, and an equally good womenswear collection still stand.

Avalon

4042 NE Sandy Blvd
Four-decade-old, family-owned shop Avalon made the move to NE Sandy this year—yes, our third shop to have jumped ship from downtown relatively recently. The menswear selection boasts pieces straddling the century from 1890 to 1990, including snazzy suits, vintage Rolexes, and ties of every width. 

Hollywood Vintage

2757 NE Pacific St
This destination is known as the spot for year-round access to costumes—including a giant assortment from old MGM film productions. Hollywood also offers racks of sport coats, snap button shirts, and hundreds of smart vintage spectacles.

Home

Maven Collective

7819 SE Stark St
In short: an Instagram dreamland. Maven Collective’s light-filled Montavilla space nails earthy ’70s-casual vibe like nobody else. Patterned, woven baskets stuffed with split-leaf philodendrons, hanging jute macramé numbers, and tiny glass curios for all your knickknack needs.

Vintage Pink

2500 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Truth talk: When you walk into Vintage Pink, it leans a little more furniture than home décor. But start digging, and you’ll find that brass sunburst clock, Grandma’s TV trays, and embroidered Bengal tiger decorative pillow that you know, deep down, you want.

Stars Antique Mall

7027 & 7030 SE Milwaukie Ave
Founded in 1990, the Stars Antique Malls demand a day unto themselves. With two locations on the same block, they stock thousands upon thousands of everything from 200 vendors. Whatever you might need for your home, chances are, it’s there.

Furniture

I Heart Retro

6927 SE Foster Rd
Sure, it’s not as catalog-perfect as Good Mod or Red Snapper (both places you should definitely also hit). But I Heart Retro sings with eclectic pizzazz. Sexy red sectionals, plaid 1960s couches, space-age-looking wet bars, and teak bedroom sets fill the Foster neighborhood store, while Iggy, the resident German shepherd, cheerfully wanders through.

Lounge Lizard

1310 & 1426 SE Hawthorne Blvd
This longtime local furniture peddler—which also offers a huge array of lighting—comes right out with it, categorizing its goods as “Funk” and “Retro.” Translation? The two locations, mere feet apart, are both stocked floor to ceiling with mod Herman Miller chairs, the Jetsons’ dining room table, blue velvet low sofas, and swoon-worthy midcentury credenzas.

Hawthorne Vintage Modern

4722 SE Hawthorne Blvd
This 7,000-square-foot ode to the midcentury is a local go-to for hunting all things contemporary, Scandinavian, and teak. The pieces turn over constantly, so it deserves plenty o’ visits.

Weekend Antique Warrior

It’s the weekend. You’re ready to leave Portland proper behind and head out for some sweet shopping action. You'll need to decide southeast or southwest, for the two parallel versions of Highway 99. Take a tip from Pettygrove and Lovejoy, and let the coin decide.

If you take the western route, mosey on down 99W, winding through wine country where pinots flow and traffic is stop and go. Head first to Dundee's Red Hills Market, where you can stay for a squash-filled breakfast bowl, or grab sammies for the road. Continue on to the converted 1912 Lafayette Schoolhouse, which became a multivendor antique mall 30 years ago and is stuffed to the brim with Turkish glassware, teapots galore, and some questionable art. Next door, the converted school gym is now Rick’s Antiques, a flea market haven.

For the eastern route, go via I-5 directly to Aurora, where, in 1856, preacher Wilhelm Keil founded a Christian utopian society flush with musicians and crafters. In Oregon’s first historic district, creaky buildings feature places like the three-story Main Street Merchantile, good for hours of scavenging amid century old china and solid-plank tables. Then pop over to Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage for that gothic church light you’ve always craved. Take a 99E detour to celebrate your success with a visit to the charming red barn at Bent Shovel Brewing, and a house pint next to a roaring fire pit.