Box Vintage

I follow Box Vintage on Instagram so I get to see their stock daily as they post the latest little numbers.
What I’m really disappointed in though is that everything that they post is size 8 or 10.
Marilyn Monroe would be rolling in her grave!
I like how involved Box Vintage is in the West End business community and I love their presence (marketing) on social media.
I just wish they’d stock a variety of sizes so that we can ALL enjoy their vintage goodness. I know it’s possible because Can You Keep a Secret? at Greenslopes regularly posts amazing pieces that are size 12 and 14.
C’mon guys! Purchase some stock that looks good on real bodies — not your size 8 dummies.

The best part of Box Vintage is the staff. Not only are they lovely, but they’re not pushy and happy for you to try on five billion things and if you’re not feeling it, not buy them without any big sighs. Personally, I prefer 50s or 40s vintage and Box definitely is more into the 70s, 80s, 90s grunge style. However, what vintage items I have from those time periods I’ve gotten from Box. I can understand why some people might think they’re over-​priced, but when you take into account the effort of sourcing, cleaning, styling etc that goes into each item, the prices are totally reasonable. And when they have their sales… jeeze. I think I walked out of there with about four dresses for $ 50. Always worth a browse when you’re in West End (and their tumblr is good fun too!)

I wish I could give this vintage store a 4 or 5 star rating like the other reviewers but I just can not. Anyone who knows my style knows that I am a huge fan of vintage (I wear vintage clothes most days) but for some reason I never find anything I want to purchase here. If I do find something I like, I end up finding it to be too expensive.
The thing with Box Vintage is a lot of their clothes are in the same condition as clothes from Op shops, it is not one of those vintage stores that only sells top condition vintage clothing. This is why I find it over priced– a dress that would probably cost $ 10 at an Op shop will cost you at least $ 60 at Box Vintage. Although I will admit the merchandising is better than what you would expect at an Op shop making it easier to pick out stuff, I still would rather go to an op shop and rummage through t find something I like.
Box vintage is not all bad though, they do find some cute clothes, it is well organised and the staff have a very friendly and laid back.
If rummaging through a pile of junk at an op shop seems too time consuming and you do not mind spending a bit of cash, you may prefer shopping at Box Vintage.

Box Vintage does a good job of sourcing clothes that are interesting and high quality. I picked up one of my favourite dresses here — a flowy, cotton, red-​polka dot number — and have never had a problem with it. The ranges of belts, bags and shoes is also overwhelming; it’s easy to spend an hour in here just browsing.
But the main drawcard for me is the staff and the effort they put into making shopping at Box Vintage a special experience. They take absolute pride in what they do, and the cottage turned store (and recent lot turned garden/​sitting area beside the store) is a testament to this. I’ve never once walked past and thought the store looked drab or unexciting. There is always a lovely dress swishing in the breeze, or some dapper looking mannequin standing surly by the roadside.
And as far as I can tell, they were the first vintage store in Brisbane to start the playing-​card-​as-​price-​tag trend you see so often these days, so extra props to them for the originality.

I find with vintage stores it becomes more about the selection on offer and the price you pay than anything else. The service doesn’t have to be particularly good, nor does the array of clothing have to be exceptional. It’s about finding that gem, that unique, one-​of-​a-​kind rare as hen’s teeth jacket. For me it was about trying to find shoes that matched my ridiculously, clown-​sized feet (size 13).
Box Vintage is what I’d classify as premium vintage. They scour a variety of clothing wholesalers and outlets across the country to find the best of what they call vintage. They fix it up, wash it and display it for our pleasure. Box Vintage isn’t a thrift store, like Vinnie’s or any number of the op shops run by charities. It’s about showcasing exceptional vintage clothing. Unfortunately, for that superb range, you do end up having to pay a lot for it.
But if you’re looking for a high quality, excellent vintage store that caters towards quality over quanity, then look no further. Just be careful of what they recommend — I purchased the most ridiculous set of clothes and they thought it was great. It was completely brown, tight fitting and was very dull. I looked like a cop from the 60’s. Aside from that one occasion I’ve dropped several hundred dollars on this place and have mostly been happy with what I’ve got. I still haven’t found decently sized shoes though.