Lula

Love this store. Great vintage finds for both men and women — jackets, sweaters, shirts, trousers, scarves. Best part, the owner is welcoming, eager to help, and super friendly.

If you want to find vintage pieces that are wearable every day, this is the place! The selection is outstanding, the owner is helpful and honest – even if you like something she will let you know if it doesn’t fit you well – and a good selection for the tiny and large. I am a well-​endowed lady and I always find good fits here! Lula is the spot!

I got my wedding dress here!!!
My sister and I walked in one day after a couple attempts at finding a vintage wedding dress at other shops. Here, the owner helped us right away and I tried on a couple pieces. When my sister so intuitively told Hayley (the owner) exactly what I was looking for (70’s bohemian for an outdoor event) she says, matter of factly, «I have that. It will be in my warehouse though. Dresses that nice get ruined in the store.»
So she took my measurements… first eyeballed me and then used the tape. She was exactly right with her guesses!!! SHE IS SO GOOD!
Then we made an appointment for the following week for me to try one her warehouse selections.
At my appointment she already had 7 – 8 dresses hanging in a dressing room for me. Since I came there alone this time she (and another customer who apparently was VERY excited about my upcoming nuptials and a friend of Hayley’s) helped my zip up the backs, button up the fronts, tie sashes, and gave me suggestions on how to alter it. Each dress fit more or less… YEAH, SHE IS SO SO GOOD!
After I tried them all on she told me to walk the shop and sift through the racks and then come back to the dressing room to try my favorites on again. So thoughtful.
I ended up buying TWO DRESSES! One for the wedding and the other for random special occasions. For both dresses, $ 145. Yes, my wedding dress cost me under $ 100!
It was a great experience. If you’re looking for something in particular just ask Hayley and she may have exactly what you want/​need and probably more.

I needed opera gloves and I got them at Lula’s! I had been in to browse times before and I’m glad I thought to go here for my opera glove needs! They were priced better here than they were at Party City and David’s Bridal so I’m glad I got to shop local and experience the fun and beautiful store Lula’s is… AND meet Lula herself!

I am a sucker for vintage clothes, and Lula is among my favorite retro sources! First, the new renovations in Lula make it feel more like an upscale boutique (rather than the previous store layout which had lots of clothing offerings, but was a bit overwhelming). If you aren’t finding what you’d like in the boutique, just talk with the owner, and she may have something in mind that hasn’t made its way out to the floor yet.
Speaking of the owner, I echo the reviews that rave about her recommendations of what to try! I went to Lula looking for a dress to wear to a retro-​themed party, and all of the choices I made were too big and frumpy. She brings me a beautiful 70s-​style peach floor-​length dress that has this almost Victorian-​style neckline. I was skeptical of how it would look, but it fit like a glove! The dress got tons of compliments at the party, and I sort of felt like I was channeling an awesome 1970s Dolly Parton at the Country Music Awards or something (this is oddly specific, I know, but the dress was just that crazy-​cool).
Enough of my ode to that dress — I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to stop by Lula if you are a vintage enthusiast. Most dresses seem to be in the $ 50ish range, give or take. There are lots of well-​curated gems here, just waiting to be rocked to your next party or date night.

Current photo on Unilocal is not accurate. The store has recently gotten a renovation and everything is crisp white and boutique-​ish.
The selection of vintage clothes is very edited and small. A lot of sizes in the M-​L range, but if you’re outside of those two then you might be out of luck or just find one or two pieces that you can squeeze into. There are 4.5 wall racks (total) for all sizes and clothing items on offer in the store. Men’s has a tiny selection that shares with women’s special occasion dresses.
Maybe it’s the clients the owner purchases from or the clientele that shops there, but the colors offered are pale, pastel, muted, with the occasional shocking neon from the 70s. It got a bit boring fast staring at a wide range of beige.
Quite a few items are «As-​Is» status. I saw a print shell that had an interesting pattern (ala Diane von Furstenburg), but when I flipped the tag to find the price, I noticed several pencil-​size holes dotted across the back. The shirt was still $ 20+ though and about the cheapest item of clothing in the store.
The accessories and shoes looked interesting in a period piece-​admiration way, but I’m personally not a purse or trinkets girl so did not browse deeply to check the prices.
Overall an okay store that I might stop by to see the stock if I’m in the neighborhood with nothing to do, but I wouldn’t consider it a go to place for vintage finds.

Really? I don’t get all the overwhelmingly positive reviews. I had admittedly high hopes for Lula (especially after walking ~2 miles to get there), but despite spending a long time combing the racks and trying to find the best aspects of this store, I was really disappointed.
There are almost no clothes that will fit a petite person (e.g. I’m generally a size XS/​S). I get that. But even had I been able to fit in the items, I found most of them to be less than compelling… Maybe you could refashion them a little with a sewing machine or something, but otherwise, there weren’t many vintage pieces that I thought were really wearable, outside of costume parties. However, I realizes style is a personal and subjective issue, so you may find what you’re looking for here.
I found the organization unhelpful (by color — why?), and left feeling like I wasted my time. I love supporting small business, and I tried to love Lula, but it just really missed the mark for me.

Lula is the best! Any time I go in, I find a superb item at an even better price. I’ve been going into this fantastic store for eight years now, and it never ceases to impress. The owner, Hayley Bush, is hugely knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. She’ll help you find that perfect party dress, or tell you how to wash your new knit top. She’s the best, and Lula is a true treasure; we’re lucky to have her and her fabulous store!!!

I love Lula, I love Lula, I love Lula, I love Lula, I love Lula (now you try it! faster!)
The merchandise is ever-​changing, high-​quality and always on-​trend. This is not the thrift store; clothing here is worth the price and has been cleaned, repaired (as needed) and comes ready to wear.
The owner is like the friend you wish you’d brought with you — she’ll tell you if something doesn’t fit and/​or doesn’t look good on you, then suggests 3 new pieces (and accessories) as better alternatives.
If you see something you love, and it fits — grab it and don’t look back. Items here don’t last long; all’s fair in love and vintage shopping.
Enjoy!

Lula, snuggled in the cozy-​now-​buzzing Selby-​Snelling neighborhood, is one of the best vintage finds in St.Paul.
And if you’re like me and new to vintage shopping– maybe a little timid of how to transform and update a whole outfit from the 1950s– Lula has a phenomenal selection of scarves to add a vintage flair to your personal style. Don’t be afraid to describe exactly what you have in mind to the shop-​keep because she will be vital in sifting through the boxes of colorful silks.
The stock seems to turnover with the season, so if you find something that you love– buy it right then and there!
My best Lula finds: a silk cream/​navy polka-​dot handkerchief and a lovely, teal ladybug broach.

I’ve bought a few dresses and a skirt from Lula, and I like browsing even when I don’t need to purchase anything. The owner is knowledgeable and approachable; when I was looking for a suit for a job fair she picked out a few outfits, complete with accessories. Unlike other vintage stores in the twin cites (and elsewhere), the clothes are clean, in good shape, priced decently, and not all jumbled together even though it is a bit crowded. Big points for that.

I have been involved in some local films (by: Christopher R. Mihm) lately and when you’re looking for for vintage clothing for dated movie sets and props. I personally start here first. They have it all and in Great Condition especially since they are dealing with items as old as they are.
Incredible !!!
Tell the ZERO sent ya.

Amazing selection of quality retro/​vintage clothes in great condition. I loved how knowledgeable the owner was on all of her items. The store was packed to the brim — in a good way. The clothing was all sorted by decade, which was also helpful. The price point was a little more than I thought necessary, but then again, it is worth it to pay a higher price for a place that has great service and knowledge of their stock (I am in the clothing industry as well). Overall, I highly recommend!

I really want to love Lula, but each time I stop in, I’m a tiny bit let down. The owner is great – calls you «hon,» makes helpful suggestions, bring you accessories to try on with the clothes – but if her friends stop in (and they have on many occasions when I’ve been there) it’s hard to get her attention. Not a big deal, but it could be annoying if you really needed hands-​on help.
And the selection is large, yet I don’t find a lot that works for me. Perhaps I just have a different style than the owner? The clothes are arranged by color, not by era as in most vintage stores. Lula does have a good amount of shoes and jackets and other pieces. If you’re in the area of shooting the St. Paul retro loop, it’s worth a stop in.

Stuff… Lots of stuff… Packed to the gills.

I absolutely love the owner, she is the BEST! She has a knack of looking at your body and knowing exactly what will work and be flattering for you. I recommend going during the week when it’s less busy. Weekends tend to be busier and there’s less 1:1 attention. I like to go and shop with particular ocassions in mind (like weddings, summer parties, dress up events, etc.) because I feel extra special wearing anything I’ve bought there. Compliments are guarenteed!
I especially like buying dresses, sweaters, purses, and hankies from Lula. Prices depend on what you purchase. Dresses range from $ 25−50ish. Shirts/​sweaters $ 15−30ish.

I must update my review and add another star. I found the most amazing top in here last week. I also found a great all purpose black «Kelly bag». I love how all the clothes in here are clean so you can wear them the next day like they are brand new. Yeah, Lulas!

Lula is at the heart of the secondhand party that is Selby-​Snelling. The owner is very discerning with her merchandise. I’d say it’s some of the best quality vintage in the cities.
Last week I found this adorable ‘60s swimsuit (if only it had been more flattering) and a couple of ‘50s and ‘60s cocktail dresses that I liked. I’ve never bought anything here, but I nearly always find something I would buy… and then talk myself out of it because it’s more expensive than my typical Savers/​ValuVillage raids. All things considered, it is pretty affordable for the quality, and a great place to check out, especially if you’re looking for a dress.

Love this place more for the owner than the clothes. Lots of choices for the ladies. A little more limited for me but her winter selection is fab!

Haven’t bought but have browsed a few times. The owner has a good selection of clothing from American designers, actually still made in America which should tell you the stuff is of generally good quality. I recall DvF and Woolrich at my last browsing. I would love to be a vintage whore but I start sneezing from all that vintage wool and tend to depart before making a purchase.

Quality vintage + affordable prices + friendly staff = 5 stars.

My first experience with Lula was not so great, but I held off on reviewing till I’d been a few more times. The first time I was here it was July and I was trying on gowns and they have no air conditioning. At one point my friend had to get the jaws of life to remove me from a dress. Not good.
Yesterday I went back to Lula and came away with two awesome vintage finds: a cute 60s boxy jacket and a 40s wool shirt jac and both were in mint condition and were less than I would have paid for them on Ebay.
The woman who runs Lula is very picky about what she takes in. She makes sure everything is truly vintage (you don’t have to wade through a lot of 80s crap) and in excellent repair. She dry cleans every single item so that what you buy is ready to wear out the door if you like. (This has to be the best smelling vintage store in the Universe. Not a whiff of that musk de Ragstock: incense and mildew.) Service is also really helpful and knows her stock pretty well. She also tags her items with a modern size equivalent.

i never find anything in here, but i don’t shop like that, I guess.
I love the idea of vintage, but don’t have such good luck.
still, a destination.
I know many people to always come away with something that looks great and mod on them.