Vintage Clothing Stores In Tucson For Clothes

Along historic 4th Avenue in Tucson Arizona you will find three of the most charming and well stocked vintage clothing stores. These stores have been in business since the 1970s and are all owned by the original owners, two of whom are sisters. If you haven't paid a visit to these stores you really should put a trip here on your itinerary the next time you visit Tucson, Arizona. Not only are the clothing collections simply amazing, but visiting these stores is like going to a clothing museum.

The first of these shops, How Sweet It Was, is co-owned by Connie Lauth and Crissy Burgstaler. The store has been open since 1974 and has rented costumes and sold vintage clothes to Tucson as well as theatre and film companies.

The store has an amazing array of clothing, jewelry, accessories, shoes and hats from different historical eras that date back to Victorian times and span the ages all the way to the 1980s. In the back of the store is the rental area as well as a museum corner featuring authentic 1920s flapper dresses on display. The store is decorated very Victorian with red plush wallpaper and vintage display cases and furniture. The store is packed with vintage treasures as they are stocking up for their busiest time of year, Halloween! How Sweet It Was rents all types of Halloween and other special event costumes.

Anther claim to fame is that How Sweet It Was has Tucson's most extensive collection of vintage cowboy boots. People come from both coasts, Europe and Japan just to find their one of a kind classic cowboy boots. Celebrities who have got cowboy boots and other vintage clothing from How Sweet It Was include: Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, Spike Lee, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Costner, Courtney Love, Stella McCarthy and many more!

The store is open every day and you can also sell your vintage clothing here as well as buy and rent. How Sweet It Was is located at 419 North 4th Avenue in Tucson, AZ. Their phone number is 520-623-9854

Down the street from How Sweet It Was you'll find another Tucson Treasure, The Other Side vintage clothing store.  Arlene Leaf has owned and operated The Other Side in this location since 1979.  Described as "Fun, Funky and Fabulous" The Other Side has a collection of vintage clothing from the 1950s through the 1970s.  

When you walk into The Other Side you notice that it is also connected to Tucson Thrift Shop at 319 N 4th Avenue and owner Arlene does indeed own both shops.  Within these shops you'll find a mind-boggling collection of original 50's, 60's and 70's clothing and accessories.  Arlene also has a vast inventory of sterling silver jewelry, Indian spreads, beaded curtains, wacky and retro accessories and ethnic and rhinestone jewelry.

Want to dress you and your friends up as beatniks or the ghosts of Woodstock to go to that Halloween party?  The Other Side is the place!  Halloween is definitely The Other Side's busiest time of year, and Arlene also stocks new Halloween costumes, make-up, wigs and accessories.  The Other Side is a mecca for all of Tucson's Halloween needs.  If you're in Tucson for any reason, don't miss seeing The Other Side during your tour of Tucson Treasure Vintage Clothing stores.

The Other Side and Tucson Thrift Shop are open every day and can be reached at 520-623-8736.  

The last, but really not least, of the classic vintage clothing stores on historic 4th Avenue is Desert Vintage. This shop is owned and operated by Kathleen Lauth who has been in business since 1974. Kathleen operates Desert Vintage in a vintage craftsman bungalow home, giving the shop a cozy atmosphere that matches the eclectic collection she has.

Her vintage clothing is for sale or rental and she also rents regularly to film and theatre companies. Her collection spans from Victorian era to the 1970s and she has some amazing unique pieces of clothing, hats, shoes, cowboy boots, purses, jewelry and other accessories.She also has an eBay store where you can check out and buy her most recent treasures.

Desert Vintage has a great selection of 1920s to 1940s clothing. Kathleen says that her most popular items include the cocktail dresses and day dresses from the 1940s, 50's and 60's. This is the place to get your "Mad Men" look on! Also, Desert Vintage is another Halloween Headquarters as they rent costumes to the general public and October is a busy month.

Desert Vintage is the original site for How Sweet It Was, until that shop outgrew the location and moved down the street. Kathleen Lauth is the sister of Connie Lauth, owner of How Sweet It Was. However, Desert Vintage is not connected to the other store and took the name and separate ownership when How Sweet It Was moved locales.

One of my favorite parts of the store was the jewelry case, which is a museum's worth of jewelry, costume jewelry and just amazing eye candy. Kathleen reserves Mondays and Fridays as "Buying" days so if you have old vintage items to sell, call and bring them on over. In fact all the shops buy from the public so if your piece didn't sell at one of the shops you have the other two to try.

Desert Vintage is also open every day and can be reached at 520-620-1570.

Here is a layout of 4th Avenue so you can plan your own walking tour of Desert Vintage, The Other Side and How Sweet It Is, the next time you're in Tucson, Arizona.  

While you plan this tour, take a look at the Independent Bookstores on 4th Avenue, and add them to your day on 4th Avenue.  A lovely way to spend a day enjoying history and finding those unique treasures for birthdays, holidays, weddings and any special occasion.