I am always a big fan of places where the items on sale feel like a random collection of things…read morethat someone has collected over the years......If you are a fan of one offs and items with charm this little place in the Custard Factory is well worth a visit. You can pick up furniture and household items right through to clothes and accessories if you are not afraid to have a bit of a rummage. The things on sale here change all the time so it's not the kind of place I go looking for something specific. This is more a curiosity shop type vibe to browse through and discover what it is you went in there for along the way.

Revival is a great little vintage stall in Birmingham's alternative fashion store, The Oasis. They…read morehave a wide range of clothing for men and women spanning 50s - 80s eras with the odd exception. They stock Modj favourites such as Harringtons, button down shirts and desert boots but also have a great range of women's dresses for very reasonable prices; I picked up a lovely 50s print shift dress for a mere £10 the other day, which would have cost me double that anywhere else in Birmingham. I also found a Burberry trench for just £25 which might still be there if you're interested. There is a small changing area which is handy and the owner was pretty helpful when I enquired about a style of dress that I was after. I've visited the stall a few times now and he always tells me when his next delivery of dresses is due. All in all a great little stall where you might find a real gem if you look hard enough. If you have any enquiries you can contact Revival via wintcane@aol.com

I was quite surprised to see items that are familiar to me, a great place to dig for treasures…read more Burmi has a lot of selections when it comes to thrift shops and that's appreciate. Looking forward to visiting again someday.

If I am after something new to wear for the weekend this is usually one of the shops I think about…read morefirst. Situated on Digbeth high street just a few minutes walk from the bullring, it's a great shout if vintage is your thing. The rails are full of both men's and women's clothes, some of which have been adapted in house to give them a different look or effect. You can find anything from a tie dye t shirt right through to a pair of old school Nike hi tops dotted around this large warehouse space. I do think Cow is slightly high on some of the prices, but the clothing is always in great condition and has been well selected. It cuts a lot of time out of a vintage shopping trip when you don't have to go through thousands of below average items to find what you are looking for....or didn't even know you were looking for!

Four years ago hailed the onset of my vintage pilgrimages, and Digbeth Cow became my Mecca…read more Previously only acquainted with the rare fruits of charity shops, the abundance of second-hand goodies took me to vintage Heaven. Never before had I seen so much paisley and so many shoulder pads! The best aspect, in my modest and honest opinion, is the building itself. It's like a warehouse, stripped down bare. It's raw. The clothing rails descend from a rather lofty ceiling on chains. If you are anything like me, you will forget this, and get quite a fright when the rail in front of you starts to swing...all part of the fun though, naturally. The overall effect is jolly impressive, to my simple mind. Once you've finished gazing at these suspended rails, you'll pick your jaw back up off the floor only to drop it again when you take in what it actually on the rails. Clothes. Reams and reams of beautiful, eccentric, retro, old-fashioned, elegant and quirky clothes. Once you've picked your jaw off the floor a second time, you will start to grin. And then, then you will rush excitedly to the nearest rail to begin your feverish rummaging through this magical offering of treats. Exaggerating? Hardly. I will offer some advice here. In order to appreciate Digbeth Cow to the extent it deserves, requires at least an hour of your precious time. Otherwise you will leave worrying that you've left behind some lovely shirt hanging undiscovered in the corner you never made it around to. Trust me. I now even have a method to prevent this from happening. I start in one corner and snake my way up and down the rails from one side of the shop to the other, stopping every so often to escort the growing pile of clothes on my arm to the fitting room. I don't leave anything to chance! Think beyond the dresses and jumpers you have come to expect in these establishments (though you will of course find them aplenty also), but think also of high-waisted trousers, cast-off denims, pointy shoes, leather handbags, collections of old-school prom dresses and treasure chests of belts and scarves and hats. Oh it makes me swoon. There is one problem I have with this store. I have never been able to leave empty handed. Never. Thus I have resolved to avoid it like the plague when the stability of bank account is threatened. Desperate times, desperate measures. They even accept cards now, so I can't even protect myself by not carrying cash... To this day Digbeth Cow remains my favourite of the 'chain' (there are also stores in Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham, and Cow 2 in Birmingham city centre) and my preferred place to shop for frills and frocks and all things made of cloth (and leather!)

Reasonably priced mens & women's quality vintage clothing…read more Top Banana and many of the shops on York Road share the ethos of the old-fashioned shop keeper. The staff like to have a natter with the customers, offer them a hot drink if they're having a good mooch and often give discounts if you buy more than one item. There aren't many places to buy quality vintage clothing for men so Top Banana has an edge over most other shops. The focus is mainly American vintage from the 60s-70s and the majority of the stock reflects this, but they have everything from 40s to 90s - you just need to have a good rummage! Fans of converse and vans if you haven't heard of Top Banana where have you been?! They have LOADS and prices range from £15-£25. Prices are very reasonable but don't expect bargain basement prices like £1 etc.. this is quality merchandise which would set you back a pretty penny down south! Grab it while you can before someone else does! While you're here pop next door to Cherry Reds for some yummy food or two doors down to Polar Bear Records,

Vintage gold converse, weathered denim shirts and an abundance of classic pieces from yesteryear -…read moreTop Banana offers something that few clothing stores do these days - and that's authenticity. They have some really nice stuff, some of it I imagine would make you look like Tony Soprano, a 70s mobster or Dirk Diggler. Their range is enormous for a small shop - from vintage varsity, leather and demin jackets to knitwear, polos and an array of slick shirts. All of the items I have bought from Top Banana have a timeless quality about them that only get better with age. With Top Banana you're guaranteed to get some fine clothing for a fair price that even a young Jean-Paul Belmondo would give a nod of approval to.You will leave a (fashion) law unto yourself, swaggering like a don, whistling 'ain't no stopping us now' and ready to share your new-found slickness with the world. At least I did.

Great little vintage shop hidden away in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham. This one's a little…read morebit out of the way and there are no other shops like this in the area so I don't find myself here too often, however there is a great selection of vintage on offer and I always end up leaving with something when I do make a visit. Everything is pretty reasonably priced and always in excellent condition. The staff seem to know what they have in stock are happy to find pieces that they think you will like. If vintage is your thing this is well worth a visit, it is not very well by vintage lovers in Brum and it really should be!

Cute little shop next to The Eight Foot Grocer on Caroline Street, just off St Pauls square. Mostly…read morethey sell shirts and tshirts, I would say mostly more for men than women, but they do have a large table at the back where they seem to do alterations, so I guess you can have it made to fit:) they also have some cool jewellery made from old buttons and beads and old vintage brick a brac-reminds me of home;)

What a fantastic little shop in the Great Western Arcade! I am afraid to say I've walked past this…read moreplace more than once and not popped in. In all fairness, I normally head through Great Western to get somewhere or of an evening (when things are closed), so I do have a whole bunch of valid excuses. This place is a vintage charity shops which supports two homeless charities (SIFA Fireside and Trident Reach the People). So not only are you recycling by buying here and reducing waste, you're also stylin' for a good cause. It's a win win for everyone! I popped in here to look for a dress for a weekend away. I was greeted by the lovely staff and soon we were all in a conversation about Vintage shopping and the bargains to be had at kilo sales. I asked them if I was ok to snap some pictures (because I couldn't resist) only to be assured I could snap away to my hearts content. There was a fantastic mix of crockery, hats, clothing and lots of odds and ends (vintage woollen tea cosies anyone?) about the shop at really great prices. As you can see from my pictures, I spotted a gorgeous typewriter, vintage bears and silver spoons. Why don't you take 5 minutes and pop in? I'm sure you could find a great item at a fantastic price and all in aid of a great cause!

Unfortunately, must disagree with the other review about this place…read more On first appearances, vintage lovers may think they've hit the jackpot. Cowboy, slouch and pixie boots line the walls of the place. Retro jackets, shorts, skirts, dresses and blouses hang on huge swinging structures throughout and in the middle of the shop is a plethora of bags shoes scarfs and belts. On closer inspection, the clothes have quite blatently been brought..not back to lifebut they've come to die! Most of the stuf is from C&A, and you wouldn't have bought it the first time round, let alone now. Some of the clothes are dirty with pen marks and stains all over (believe me I've trawled the racks in the hope of a vintage haul) They are mostly what you would find in a normal charity shop. At least they are not insulting buyers intelligence by charging high prices ( a lot of the tops are under a tennerthe rest less than £20) The shoes are sometimes broken and well well worn out. Like I said, just the stuff you could find yourself in a charity shop. The only true 'finds' are the re-worked vintae boob-tube dresses, which have been made into up to date stylish pieces. Though these were priced at £18 in February- now up to £30- obviously they are some of the best sellers. The sales staff are pleasant but the owner is completely rude. Last time went in there he was having an argument with someone about the rent and a customer was treated to paying while recieving no acknowlegment, greeting, thanks or eye contact!!

An amazing treasure trove of retro delights to spend some cash on and marvel over how young you…read morewere when you used to have a jacket like that!! With a penchant for branded oldies, this place carries some serious retro style, at an affordable price. Sports jackets, jeans, coats, trainers and shoes, and an unbelievable wall of cowboy boots in all colours shapes and sizes, mens and womens fashion, you won't know what to do with yourself! The clothes hang from every available space and this huge room/hangar will take you a while to get around. There is much to be looked over, tried on and bought. Friendly staff, and a real feel good store.

Lovely little boutique on the main road of the Custard Factory selling vintage clothing and…read moreaccessories. This place has only been here a short time but the minimal design and colourful pieces lining the walls make it fit right in with the creative custard factory space. Pam who owns the place is so lovely and welcoming. She really values individual fashions and goes out of her way to source them for people. Ladies if you are looking for that special one off vintage piece this new addition to Birmingham could be the perfect shop for you, but sorry boys this one's just for the girls.....or those lads very much in tune with their drag alter ego :)

Frock On Vintage is the clothing brand belonging to Birmingham based stylist - Pam Cheema…read more Pam kicked off Frock On by opening an exclusive studio in the Custard Factory's swanky Zellig complex a couple of years ago. The studio is still going strong and Frock On now has a concession on the upper level of Topshop in the Bullring. Busy 2 years then?! If you prefer star treatment to trudging about the Bullring you can make an appointment to visit Pam at the Frock On studio, which houses rails of hand picked vintage garments and accessories. She's a lovely girl and will go out of her way to make you feel confident and help you achieve that particular look you've been after for that special party or event. Think of her as your new BFF; You'll leave that studio feeling like a supermodel! You can book an appointment with Pam via her website.

This is the kind of review where you hover between three and four stars....I am feeling generous…read moretoday but also decided on four because for the Bullring this place is a real breath of fresh air. A lot of high street stores offer a 'vintage' line these days which is basically an excuse to offer second hand clothes for a stupidly high price tag....however Harper & Lewis is a more classic vintage shop with well selected garments but in an unusual high street location. This is a bit of a hit and miss shopping experience for me but I think all vintage shopping can be. Usually when you are looking for something you never find it but when you have no money or you are not looking for anything specifically you find 20 things you literally love....always the way!! The staff here are always really friendly, up for a laugh and seem to know the stock pretty well. If you are looking for vintage in the city centre I wouldn't make this your first choice but definitely worth popping in.

As a totally avid vintage collector, specialising in CC41, 30s, 40s, and the odd 20s item, and as a…read moreregular vintage repairer and reproduction crafter for clothing and costume, I know my vintage. General rule of thumb, Antique, 100+ years Vintage 50-100 years Retro 20-50 years Sorry guys, but there wasn't a thread in here over 50 years old, it's a solid retro shop, it's cheap because it's thrift, mostly 90s grunge, 80s shoulder pads, and the marks and spencer throwbacks to the 40s filled with nylon and plastic zips in cheerful busy as heck prints. You will find this stuff in charity shops, which is quite possibly where they found it with a big mark up, and that's how they can afford a space in the bullring. I know a lot of shops call themselves vintage under this vain, but it aint correct. I was shocked and delighted to think there was a vintage shop in the bullring, but it was;t to be. I found the staff a little abrupt and judgemental, whether i caught them on a bad day I don't know. I just find places like this a but misleading, marking up thrift like that, and chopping at genuine vintage items and sewing on cuffs and white collars is not good for genuine vintage items. I guess in the end, this is a gateway drug of vintage buyers, that gets some people on to the proper stuff. If you're a true vintage lover, head to the custard factory instead, if you love retro, this place is fine. I will say though, there are some more modern tweed jackets in here that are a steal if you can;t be chewed rummaging in charity shops. Worth a gander, but definite thrift, not vintage.

Worst customer service!!…read more My friend ordered a dress made to measure from this boutique. She ordered the dress 7weeks in advance and was told it will be ready in time. When we went to the shop the man who owns the shop showed us the dress which was the same dress she saw on the mannequin 7weeks ago. The dress had marks and few beading missing. The dress which she wanted hadn't arrived and the owner lied saying the dress in front of us was the new one she ordered. The owner lied so much he had no idea after a while what he was saying. The owner is the rudest person I have come across screaming at the customers. Customers needs did not come first. Owner didn't want to listen to the customer and lied over and over again!! Do NOT shop from this boutique. You won't get what you pay for. BEWARE!!