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Tags: fashion | retro | second hand

When I first moved to this country, and saw the vast number of second-hand clothing stores, I imagined my wardrobe rocketing to new heights of chic...

Old seventies leather jackets, deep blue jeans of forgotten brands, and delightfully ugly shirts with collars big enough to serve as spare wings on a jumbo. As I began exploring these stores, some of which actually sell clothes by the kilo, I began to realize that this town is not the used clothes paradise I first believed it to be.

Most of the stores, sadly, are really only appropriate for those who don't just ignore style, but actually detest and have sworn themselves to a life-long pursuit of its destruction.

For those of you who are too lazy to partake of the joy of hunting for second hand duds, you can always buy online. Online-obleceni.cz has tons of cool English second hand, somereal bargains too! But for those who love the hunt, there are a few gems hidden away in Prague's corners, that are definitely worth a look for the economically minded, yet non-fashion abhorrent shopper.

Sekáč Smoking Woman

Another hidden hole-in-the-wall worth sniffing out is the Smoking Woman at Italská 16, Praha 2, near the dog park at Reigrovy sady (but don't worry, it's far enough out so that you don't have to watch for slobbering dogs chasing balls). The outside, which looks exactly like every other second-hand store in the city, is deceiving. This place is probably a little bit more geared for girls than guys, but they have some really kickin' sh*t for both sides of the street.

The jeans here are the best merchandise, well varied, worn in, and priced about the same as other places, but once again afflicted with the Fat Albert virus. They also have sweaters which are worth wearing, jackets in inconsistent but quality supply, and plenty of eyebrow raising (and use your imagination) skirts for the girls. These are, of course, not the only places to find good gear in the city, but are worth visiting if you want quality clothes and second-hand prices, without having to shift through kilos of moo-moos and grandpa get-ups.

Not far away at Moravská 6 is Toalette they also have a branch at Karolíny Svetlé 9). Long a staple on the scene, Toalette is very popular with people who like to create their own image. If quality vintage piece you can do that, the original details set a piece apart from mdoern mass produce pieces. With a plethora of beautiful high heels alongside beautiful silk skirts, scarves and shawls, they also have a great selection of clothing choices for the dapper Dan.

Satna Cloakroom

If you're around the Old Town, there's a really nice little shop at Konvitská 13. Last time I was in there, there were a lot jackets that had the early eighties break dance appeal, all reasonably priced, as well as racks of jeans for men and women, each pair running about 250Kč. They really do carry the best selction for western men.

They also have a good stock of the unusual, such as tight, neon green, fake snakeskin pants (around 300Kč), which gave me the first and last reason to ever want to be a woman. I mean damn! This is definitely a place of equal opportunity for both genders; very fly sh*t at very good prices. Larry Mackler, the owner, keeps this place open out of a love of style and rumour is that it might move or cease when the lease is up... let's hope not.

Also, if you're looking for the biggest and some say the best, check out K-Oukey. With seven stores, (Karolíny Svetlé 9, U Radnice 6, Krakovská 19 and Od Simona Krakov), they carry the quality second hand clothes, most of it branded. If you're looking to save a few or even a lot of korunnas, well, K-Oukey has the best deals in town!

If you're looking for something really special, the kind of outfits that ends up with you never having to pay for drinks and your pocket full of business cards, then you need a fabulous cocktail dresses, embroidered top, or a luxe velvet jacket, all of which you can find in Retro (Uhelný trh 9, near Dr Stuart Botanicus). A recent arrival in Prague's second-hand scene, the owner Natalia Yosupoba hails from Russia, where she used to manage a second-hand clothing concern. Her first venue was Second hand Ráj (at Václaské námestí 27), which sells vintage costumes as well as normal second-hand clothes, many of which end up gracing the major fashion glossies, they are that unique.

If fancy pants is beyond your means or style, then head on out to these more everyday vintage shops where price smart Czech moms shop for their families: Exclusive Second Hand (Revoluční 18 and Bělehradská 73) has a nice orderly selection; Second Hand Market sells their clothes by weight: i.e.: 1 kg of coats costs 500 CZK, (Klimentská 1); Second Hand (Plaská, 2, Mánesova 50, Milady Horákové 32 and Rumunská 30); and Start Shop Genesis (Bělehradská 12).