This is a cool little vintage shop off S. Congress. The clothing are in more of a neutral palate. I would call their clothing more of a modern vintage. The store manager was sweet and helpful. The prices were very reasonable. I had an amazing customer experience. read more

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One of the many great boutique vintage shops to be checked out while in Austin. Great selection of men's and women's vintage. Less men's than women's but enough to be worth a look. Prices aren't exactly a steal but also not crazy high. Staff was pretty friendly too. Just be careful because you might find the perfect James Sunderland jacket to wear to an Akira Yamaoka show but decide you don't need another jacket and then just be kicking yourself later that you didn't buy it. read more

Prototype Vintage Design - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I found the cutest boots here and belt. They have some cute finds in here. Very fun clothing!

Cool place to come in out of the heat and grab some vintage stuff, if that's your thing. read more

Prototype Vintage Design - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow. The blonde woman with the curly hair was beyond rude. If I were the owner I would not want this girl representing my business. It was 6:50 and she was at the front door, I asked if she was open and she said "we close at 7." I replied "it's 6:50, would you mind if I just came in to browse until you close?" She then gave me major attitude and replied "that's in 10 min" and proceeded to shut the door on me. I have worked in retail and understand the annoyance of someone wanting to come into your store as you are closing, but it wasn't 7, it was 6:50! If you are the owner, maybe you should change your hours to represent the fact that you close at 6:50, not 7:00. I have money to spend, but won't be spending it here at a place that treats those who want to support their business like garbage! read more

Prototype is the best vintage store in Austin. Perfectly curated. On the pricier side but I find it worth it considering you go and find exactly what you're looking for. I feel like I have to settle when I go thrifting at other vintage stores but I always find exactly what I need here. Workers are always so sweet and helpful and willing to start a dressing room right away. Plus it smells amazing! I'll always come back to Prototype when I'm visiting home. read more

Nice selection but kinda pricey. There's a women's, men's and children's section. The store is organized based on these categories along with color, and clothing type. They have shoes, belts and bags displayed throughout the store so don't forget to look beyond the clothing racks! I found the cutest pastel sequin/beaded coin purse!! Street parking on South Congress or find parking somewhere in the neighborhood nearby. The exterior is a beautiful green. I am obsessed. read more

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This is a fun little vintage store around the corner from the main section of shops on South Congress. The woman working there was especially nice and greeted us when we walked in the door. About half of the store is setup with clothing. The other half is furniture and home accessories. When I was there, they had an knock-off Eames chair that looked pretty good. I didn't see the ottoman though. This is definitely one of those places where you have to check back from time to time as I suspect the display varies a great deal from one month to the next. read more

Prototype Vintage Design - Inside Prototype - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Austin, Texas

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So it seems like this used to be a part apparel part furniture store? I think they've stopped selling furniture and decided to just sell awesome vintage clothes!! So my style isn't the super hip, vintage type. In all honesty, I'm a bit too preppy to be here but I can really appreciate a unique piece of clothing. I've been here a few times now and I've managed to pick up a couple of things every time. The first time, I got a black, leather mini skirt, and a pair of suede shoes. And this time around, I got myself a crushed velvet long sleeve body con and a pair of 70s oxfords. They are all very unique pieces in my closet and look forward to shopping here every time I'm in Austin!! Thanks for the great prices and discounts. I'll be back for more :D read more

Prototype Vintage Design - 70s oxfords! - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Shopping in SoCo is an absolute delight, so many treasures packed into a few blocks. I was in retail heaven. Most stores contain something interesting, beautiful, and just for you. However, a few stood out more than others. Prototype is one of the standouts. All their merchandise is in mint condition. And their pieces are very well-curated and well-organized. It's easy to find whatever you are looking for, whether it's a vintage bolero or brown, short leather boots. Prices are mostly moderate; however, the quality and condition of Prototype's apparel and accessories make their pricing totally reasonable. I scored a beautiful fringed, vintage wrap for my mom for under $25, really gorgeous print and great material. They also carried a vintage Stetson straw cowboy hat that had seemingly never been used. It was gorgeous, and I was so sad that it came in a size 7 (wanted it for my husband who's head is slightly larger). Besides their fantastic selection, Prototype also has helpful and courteous staff. More points. I would come back here in a heartbeat. Highly recommended. read more

I'm a fan of vintage and this store has quite a selection of it from clothing to furniture. I didn't spend a lot of time looking at the furniture and accessories because it would have only made me long for pieces I couldn't take home with me because they wouldn't fit in my luggage. I did however browse what seemed like every piece of clothing. This place had fantastic choices and I even bought two of them. So I love their selection. I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars and eventually went with 3 simply because of the prices here. I do a lot, and I mean a lot, of my shopping at vintage thrift stores and the prices were consistently higher than what I've seen here in Denver and in other cities I've had the pleasure to shop in, including Austin. I would definitely visit the store again because I did end up buying a dress I loved at a reasonable price, but it took me a lot of digging to do so. read more

The location is a bit off the beaten path but still accessible from Congress St. I followed some people heading in the direction all the way down the sidewalk up the stairs into the store- (hope they weren't creeped out, keke) When you step inside they about 5 different areas of clothing, shoes and accessories, pretty much the four corners and floor of the top floor- Everything is pretty much for the ladies, I know they have a few pieces here and there for guys, but its mostly female dominated! They had a lot of good buys-I loved their boot selection and all of the clothes were in excellent condition! They carry a wide range of brands from randoms to Ferragamo to Gucci--I snagged a great vintage Gucci handbag for $90! After you are done checking out the clothes, make sure you check out the lower lever which has all the cool house items--Vintage furniture, Art, and houseware--They have some awesome stuff to add to any collection, like the wooden, box phone Eugene mentioned below!! This place is awesome, I had a great time while it lasted, I only wish we had a quality store like this with these prices in the city!!~ read more

I would definitely go for the furniture and art. They have lots of cool things that deserve a place in your homes. They had this rectangular telephone set that was just begging me to buy it, but alas my current studio doesn't even have a phone jack. However, for guys' vintage/used clothes I just had an OK experience. Their t-shirts were pretty cool, they had lots of colors and pretty good quality too. Thank god they don't have that old worn clothes smell. However, for jackets and dress shirts, everything is a throw back to the 50s or 60s. There's chic vintage that fits for today, and then there's vintage vintage that used to fit for your dad before he had to deal with you and his beer belly. This place is for the vintage vintage, not what I was looking for, but still pretty good in its own way. read more

If I'm ever waiting for a table at Enoteca, I'll come in to the furniture side of Prototype to kill a few minutes. I'm not totally convinced this is a real business because A) it's about the size of my bedroom and B) the prices are pretty absurd for what amounts to run-of-the-mill mid century barware, knock-off designer furniture, and various knick knacks. This is all stuff that the savvy shopper could find at Room Service vintage for less or a garage sale for pennies on the dollar. Now, I'm not going to knock the place for not selling at garage sale prices. I understand that they have overhead and taxes to pay, which are things that someone who runs a garage sale doesn't have to deal with. However, this shop really strikes me as the kind of place that's here to rip off all of the yuppies who've just moved in to 78704 and don't know how much some of this stuff is really worth. read more

I don't quite have the money or space for new furniture at the moment, so I wasn't shopping for anything specific here. That said, I do like what I've seen, for the most part. The furniture is great, and many of the knick-knacks are too. But the artwork is generally overpriced and seemed to be there because it's quirky, not because it's really attractive. I saw a couch and a dinette I would have loved to get for my future home, some things that would be absolutely perfect for my hipper-than-thou friends, and some things I could've imagined in my grandparents' clashing pre-retirement house (grandma loves the country; grandpa's super mod -- she won out when they went rural). ' I saw some ashtrays I would have loooved to buy as gifts if I felt comfortable promoting tobacco use (or really if anyone I gifted smoked). I even considered taking up smoking so I could have a retro ashtray collection. This is the last in a maze of three stores on and just off South Congress. I wouldn't have noticed it had I not been threading through from Mi Casa, which is unfortunate for them, street-traffic wise, as it's a lot cooler shop. I'll be back if I gain some square footage, I bet. read more

Well, last year I remember the cool furniture in here. This year my visit was a little disappointing. They've moved more into vintage clothing with a FEW vintage home accessories. Several awesome lights, but only ONE sofa and I think a coffee table......I'm a plus size girl and I don't think anyone was overweight back in the 60's - 70's...which is wierd given the munchies I'm sure they all had. I don't even BOTHER looking at vintage clothes because there are never large sizes...I can get like a scarf, or jewelry, but that's about what I'm limited too. So, this makes Prototype not much fun for me anymore... read more

eeeh. Staff was nice, but the business person in me wonders how this place can keep the lights on. They have about 9 items, all about 400% overpriced. A chunk of the inventory is domestic peripheral "Mid Century Modern" (the stuff they sold in US departments stores like Lane- not really "collectible" but looks catchy cuz it's from that period) Call me kooky, but i'd rather hunt for something more unique and a better deal. read more

I've only recently moved to Austin, but I've been to Prototype a few times already, and I am thrilled to have found it. They have a lot of really cute clothes and knick-knacks at pretty good prices, and even when I can't find anything in my size, or I'm trying to pinch my pennies, I've had a good time just browsing around and scoping out the neato light fixtures. Also? The furniture is for sale! I bought my totally rad couch here at an incredibly reasonable price and they delivered it too. I was quite impressed with their customer service, both at the store and on delivery. They worked around my schedule without making me feel like I was being a hassle, and actually, I really liked that, after an initial phone call, the rest of the coordination was over text message. It's often really inconvenient to answer the phone, but I can always take a text! I suspect this store will earn it's fifth star when I lose 30lb or they find that magical mythical cache of plus-sized vintage clothing.... read more

Clear phones from the '80s, slick let's-do-coke-on-the-mirrored table from the '70s, and edited bric-a-brac fill this modest furniture store. It's so enticing! If I could design my house with vintage/futuristic furniture from the '60s - you know, that Crayola colored Herman Miller knockoff stuff - I would blow so much money here. This is absolutely Austin's best vintage furniture... at least that I know of. The prices are a bit hefty, but if you like home decor it's worth a peek to stop by. read more

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This place has more bohemian style pieces, but I found a lovely black evening dress of the 50's style. It's a total Audrey Hepburn dress! It is well kept like new and lining material seems very new as well. The girl in the store was knowledgable about the shell material so it made me feel confident that it is indeed a vintage piece. The dress fits me very well so I'm very happy about it :-) Now I just have to create an occasion to wear it! Thinking about my next Ballet event... read more

Prototype Vintage Design - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Austin, Texas

Whenever I visit Prototype, I often wish that I had A. expendable income, and B. an apartment that didn't have hideous wall-to-wall carpeting (think grape nuts). The vintage, living room/parlour furnishings are tops here: 60's/mod area pieces that would look amazing on some hardwood floors and area floor rugs. Very cool accent pieces and lamps, though due to the store size, the variety is limited. This place is pretty pricey, especially since Austin is overrun with thrift stores. But you're paying for originality right? My beau and I did pick up a pretty sweet dinette set (though the chairs were shoddily reupholstered, which I found more comical than anything else), but it involved a bit of price haggling, a bit of waiting, and the store's necessity to get rid of some pieces that had been sitting on the showroom floor for a while. And despite it being a little difficult to grab someone's attention, once you show serious interest in an item, they won't forget you. We visited twice to see the piece we wanted, and the 2nd time, the guy totally remembered us. We didn't even need to flash him! I WOULD HAVE given this place 4 stars, if the sales guy had given us the correct screws for the table, or at least comparable ones (shame on them). Shame on me for blindly trusting that the hardware was correct. We ended up drilling a hole through the surface of the table because the screw was too long!!! Thank you, Harry Coover, inventor of Superglue! So, in conclusion: All smiles for design and originality of pieces. Frowns for price and depth perception. read more

This is a place worth going to if you have the money. I remember seeing a nice range of things. Any place that has furniture is worth a view just because it offers something new that isn't IKEA (sorry, it gets over done sometimes). They have some really cool clothes here. I remember seeing a lot of dresses from the 80s: strapless sweethearts, those skirts with those ruffle ballet tutus attached...pretty cool. I think most of the clothes I went through were about $30-$40. The people here are friendly as well. I think they sometimes offer cookies on 1st Thursday. read more

If you like mod, this may be your place. Prototype stocks furniture that looks like they found in a time capsule circa 1974. I found the place to be quite small, and didn't have much in stock. The sales people there acted as if I didn't even exist and spent fifteen minutes there without them even noticing. Good thing I didn't find something that I really liked, I can't stand buying from places that ignore customers. If you are looking for something that's 60's or '70's chic, you might want to check this place out, because they did have a few pieces that would be perfect for someone looking for that. The prices seemed reasonable. Just be sure you come wearing a cowbell or something else to attract attention. read more

I always manage to find the most unique gifts there! Organized. Easy to shop around. Not stuffy staff. Priced for the normal people. Makes me wish I drank alcohol so i could have a cool bar in my house - and i'm not one of those people trapped in a time warp. I just think they have great stuff! read more

FAVORITE vintage shop. The gals who run this place just get it. They always have the coolest pieces and good prices. I always make it a point to stop in here when visiting SoCo. It's cozy, clean, organized, and well-managed. I'm thankful sometimes that I don't live in ATX, bc I would spend all my paychecks here. Definitely stop in and take a look around! read more

Prototype Vintage Design - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Austin, Texas

If you are looking for insanely expensive mod furniture, hard-to-find chairs, or the MOD coffee tables, the store is the place you should look into... after the Room Vintage store. I do agreed with the others about the staffs completely ignored the customers. I do give them the kudos for the hard to find mint condition furniture. read more

I'm a big lover of vintage and mid century modern. I come down to Austin regularly and this place has impressed me since the first visit there. My first impression it's very rare you find a place that is as cool as the name it carries. This shop fits in that category. I've bought a decent amount from that place and will more than likely find more in my future trips to prototype. read more

Really cool place. Awesome vibe, and neat conceptual design. I loved how the store was set up in rooms...made you appreciate the ways you could use the things they sell. Picked up a vintage chip & dip bowl set, and a gift for my mom. Prices were reasonable for smaller items, but a bit out of my range when it came to furniture/larger things. Hope to be able to visit often, as I imagine they have a decent rotation of available items. read more

Every vintage clothing store should be like this. I saw Prototype down the street and decided to walk in because of their cool slogan "all killer... no filler." I get annoyed at some "trendy" vintage stores that overwhelm me with volume while offering nothing more than a Goodwill-esque shirt sold by hipsters behind the counter. Prototype has a small amount of merchandise (even smaller for guys). But it really is all killer. I had to resist dozens of "should I...?" moments as I browsed the black T-shirts. ZZ Top jacket? Jackson 5 shirt? No. I'll take the 70's vintage Godfather's Pizza V-Neck, please. Yeah, its expensive, but you expect that at a place like this. read more

This may sound tacky but I consider this vintage shop the Target of vintage shops. It's quick and easy to get around and you can find tons of staple pieces to add to your wardrobe, plus everywhere you turn you're grabbing for stuff you don't need BUT HAFTA have. If I offended you then I am sorry but this place is amazing and I never go away empty handed or regret any purchases or have to sell a kidney. This place is affordable and whoever the buyer is has a gift for finding really great t-shirts and sundresses. The past 3 NYE I've purchased my dresses here and my years are progressively getting better. I'm not sure if it was the dress or not but I was wearing a dress from Prototype when I realized one of my very best friends is going to be my future hubby. I'm happy that furniture is no longer cluttering up the place and making room for more amazing items. Items that I get anxiety knowing that someone else may own if I don't buy. Now I'm in the mood to vintage shop - Thanks. read more

I just moved into town and I stumbled upon this cute vintage shop off of Congress. It's not your typical vintage shop, everything was beautifully displayed and merchandised. I just scored this rad Santana shirt for only 40 and I'll definitely be revisiting weekly for my vintage excursions. Staff is friendly and super stylish. read more

This place puts the whipped cream on my sundae! Prototype is a slightly hidden jewel on the South Congress stretch. A little up the street and around the corner from many of the boutiques, I think it sometimes gets overlooked, which is a shame because it may be my favorite. Unlike some of the other stores I frequent, every item I have ever purchased at prototype ends up being one of my favorite things in my collection! I love how the tags label each item in the store. Gives everything a really personal touch--a vibe which is further complemented by the friendly, conversational staff. Though it's definitely vintage store pricing (no thrift here), prototype's prices generally seem more reasonable than feathers. The clothes are awesome--and somehow seem more wearable to me than those I find at the other locations. The jewelery is funky and fun and always inspires me to stretch my own style. The ambiance of the place is awesome too! They have a whole furniture section, which admittedly, I've never purchased anything from but always is fun to look/lounge around in. The art is another bonus. Plus, they have great events on First Thursdays! read more

Such a gem, I needed to write it up again! Whenever I'm in Austin for work, this has become a MUST-STOP for me. Not only is the staff super friendly and knowledgeable, the clothes themselves are ideal. Most are mint condition, and they have a range of styles and sizes (prices reflect that as well, so while some things aren't cheap, they are appropriately priced). While I was bummed some pieces didn't fit, I was so happy with the clothing that did. And such a range of eras! read more

Excellent choice of mint condition vintage furniture. Not for the cheapskates out there...but for those looking for quality ( i.e. not room service kinda stuff ) come here! Hurray for knick knacks..you know I collect em. And its Austin, vintage stuff is where its at. Great for gifts, and friendly staff doesn't hurt too. The rooms are decorated to look like a mock living, dining room etc, need to know where to put a piece...check it out! read more

Half of my closet came from Prototype. The vintage prices here are extremely reasonable (especially compared to San Francisco, CA). Also a lot of really cute jewelry pieces- vintage, and reproduction stuff that continues to come home with me after each visit.The home accessories however, are out of my price range, but are all very cute, and in beautiful condition. Maybe one day after I finish paying off my student loans my house will look as good as my wardrobe. Everyone who works there is so sweet, and helpful too. I love you Prototype! See you soon, xoxo read more

Cool store. I'd like to see more furniture than clothes. But I am guessing that the clothes is what keeps the register ringing! Other than that, always a good treasure or two to be had! read more

Prototype abounds with vintage treasures, a fantastically friendly staff, and a relaxed atmosphere. I remain a forever customer!

I got some incredible vintage black riding pants for $16 here!!!!!! lots of choices, friendly staff and cute displays.

This shop is very well organized despite the wide assortment, and reasonably priced by Austin boutique standards. Staff are friendly and the store layout is very sleek. Prototype gets my vote for best Austin vintage shop, alongside their neighbor, Feathers. read more

Beautifully edited, yeah a little pricey, but the pieces are so well chosen It's a pleasure to shop here. My pal found a darling 60s tri color swimsuit for about $35. Well curated shops like this save time and make for happy shoppers . Oh and the phantom of the paradise imagery added to my joy. Well done Prototype! read more