Meet Sofia!
The coolest and kindest vintage aficionado answers the usual questions.
I’ve been looking forward to this post for a little a while. Sofia has been so generous to share her love of secondhand/vintage. Offering a glimpse into her considered and cherished collection; a collection built up through her years working in and around vintage and the secondhand community.
Lets please all take a moment to appreciate her perfectly curated jacket collection (3rd to last image.wow.) and make sure to note down the excellent selection of vintage shops Sofia shares.
Enjoy!
– Introduce yourself please.
Hi! I’m Sofia from Örebro, recently back after 17 years in London. I’ve spent most of my adult life working with vintage and secondhand clothing. I started out in larger vintage chain stores, learning a lot about sourcing, styling, and working creatively with clothes.
I’ve always liked being around creative scenes and trying different things. Over the years I’ve worked as a model, gone to castings and auditions for film and tv, rollerskated a lot and DJing (something I used to do more of). I also run a small movie podcast on the side, although it’s a bit quiet at the moment.
Today I am a team leader and visual merchandiser for a non-profit charity that raises money for different projects. It’s a different pace, but still rooted in the same belief I’ve always had that the choices we make about what we buy, wear and support really matter.
– What do you love about secondhand shopping?
I’m nostalgic at heart. My first secondhand memories are from going to loppis with my dad. He collects 50s and 60s toys and even has his own little museum, so secondhand was never a trend for me, it was just life. I grew up flipping through old photos of my mum and dad travelling in the 70s. The cuts, the style, the confidence. It stayed with me.
Secondhand taught me to see the stories in things. Why buy new when so much already exists? I still treasure hand-me-downs from my mum. I love clothes that are worn, even with holes. They feel real. They’ve lived. Fast fashion is cheap for a reason, and I don’t really want to support that.
I’m drawn to different eras and pop culture, 60s, 70s, 80s. Through film, music and style. Even my late 90s teen years, experimenting with kawaii and grunge, still influence me today. Seeing it all circle back now is fun.
Military clothing is a favourite too. Built to last, practical, and still holding up decades later.
I’ve always loved collecting things: West Germany ceramics, movie memorabilia, old Snoopy and Peanuts pieces, vintage band t-shirts. I love connecting with other collectors and the vintage community, seeing what people are passionate about and hunting for. I’ve made friends all over the world online, and even met some in real life through shared obsessions.
Secondhand doesn’t just fill my wardrobe, it fills my home too. Most of the things around me are vintage finds: furniture, ceramics, little objects collected over time. I can’t stand beige, clinical homes with dried grass everywhere. I love colour, warmth, and being surrounded by things with personality. Every time I come home I feel grateful for that.
For me, secondhand isn’t just shopping. It’s a connection to the past, to other people, and to the things that feel worth keeping.
– A few of the best vintage/secondhand shops?
From my hometown Örebro, I have to mention Ge för Livet City and Records & Stuff.
Ge för Livet City is special because the money raised goes towards different projects that support people in need around the world, and you can always find great stuff at affordable prices. Records & Stuff is full of curated vinyl, collectible items, and books. A little treasure hunt every time.
In Stockholm, I love Broadway & Sons, Herr Judit, and Pop Stockholm. Each with its own personality, from classic denim to carefully curated vintage.
In London, my favourites are Pop Boutique, House of Vintage, Wow Retro, Rokit Vintage and Levisons. And for great thrift finds: Capital Carboot in Pimlico and Princess May Carboot in Dalston.
But honestly, the best way to thrift in Sweden is at loppis and antique fairs. A loppis (short for loppmarknad aka fleamarket) can pop up anywhere. In the countryside in an old house or barn, a basement, or even across a whole neighbourhood. That’s where the real treasures are: mid-century furniture, old records, vintage clothes, lamps, crates of forgotten textiles often for next to nothing. It’s unpolished, personal, and full of surprises.
– Any tips or tricks?
Know your measurements, but ignore the size labels, vintage sizing is all over the place.
Always try things on and check the labels if they’re still there. They’ll tell you a lots about the fabric, quality, and how the piece will actually feel and last. I stick to materials I know I can wear. Natural fibres are usually the best.
Don’t be scared of smells or small flaws, like holes. A wash, a steam, or a simple repair can completely transform something.
Go early to shops and markets, especially if you’re hunting for something specific, the best pieces disappear quickly. And check every section. I always look in the men’s department for knitwear and shirts.
The golden rule? If you see it and love it, get it or regret it. Patience matters, but when the right piece shows up, you’ll know.
– Your favourite ever vintage find(s)?
This is impossible to answer, so I’m naming a few:
I love old band tees. A worn out The Runaways t-shirt from 1976 that I bought from a vintage dealer at Spitalfields Market in London is one of my holy grails. It’s so special it’s hanging on my wall at home instead of in my wardrobe.
I also have a 70s parking lot bootleg Queen baseball t-shirt that I wear constantly. I love a good bootleg. There’s something about unofficial ones that always have more personality.
And then a 30s–40s Chimayo purse that I still can’t believe I thrifted for cheap. Those are the finds that make your heart race a little.
Thank you! Loved this!