How to Shop Philly Vintage Stores on Instagram

I follow a lot of Philly shops on Instagram. It helps me keep my finger on the pulse of the retail scene, and quite often it’s the go-to place for boutiques to release breaking news and post new arrivals. But they’re not just posting sneak peeks on their Instagram feeds; stores are also fielding purchase requests and sometimes updating their feeds up to 50 times a week.

It’s the new merchandising trend: vintage stores are posting their new buys to Instagram to provide the most up-to-date stock information without shoppers needing to constantly call or visit the stores. If shoppers find something they like, they need only call the shop to purchase the item or put it on hold and the item will be available for pick-up. If you’re someone who gets overwhelmed poring over mounds of merch, then this hyper-selective shopping method is just for you. Here, five Philly vintage shops that post their wares to Insta. We’ll be over here clicking the refresh button. 

Shop: Malena’s Vintage, 101 West Gay Street, West Chester. 
Handle: @msmalena
What t0 buy: Designer statements pieces like a groovy Oscar de la Renta gown or a cinched houndstooth Saint Laurent jacket. 
Update frequency: 3-4 times a week.

Shop: Jinxed, 1331 Frankford Avenue, Fishtown; 1050 North Hancock Street, Northern Liberties; 611 South 4th street, Queen Village. 
Handle: @jinxedstore
What t0 buy: Quirky, affordable homewares like reupholstery-ready chairs and charming add-ons like rugs, taxidermy and wall hangings.
Update frequency: 50+ times a week.

Shop: Briar Vintage, 62 North 3rd Street, Old City.
Handle: @briarvintage
What t0 buy: Stocking men’s vintage clothing from the 1800s-1960s, their shop (and feed) is bursting with classic pieces you can don on their own or easily mix with your Brooks Brothers.
Update frequency: 5-7 times a week.

Shop: Wilbur Vintage, 716 South 4th Street, Queen Village.
Handle: @wilburvintage
What t0 buy: A haven for funky ’70s pieces, this shop is your best bet for colorful designer ties (think: Salvatore Ferragamo and Hermès) and chunky jewelry.
Update frequency: 10-12 times a week.

Shop: Barbara Blau Collectables, 29 North 2nd Street, Old City. 
Handle: @fuzzyhussy
What t0 buy: We call Barbara Blau the eyewear-whisperer for a reason. Shop her carefully curated collection of vintage specs that will put your Warby Parker lenses to shame.
Update frequency: 3-4 times a week.

For more vintage shopping tricks, we love this thorough guide from the folks at Into the Gloss.