American Graffiti

American Graffiti is a vintage shop in the Northern Quarter. Nothing new there, right? The Northern Quarter is jam packed full of vintage shops. So what gives American Graffiti its review-​worthy uniqueness? Well, it’s vintage taken to its Nth degree. Vintage that is so specific to its timezone it can masquerade as fancy dress. You can mix and match and get away with it, or you could quite easily attend a party as Jackie O.
The website categorises the clothing by decade. Whether you’re a 1940s jitterbug in your pillarbox hat and dainty skirt suit, a 1950s circle skirt and pinched waist lover, a Carnaby street-​hopping 1960s monochrome dream, a 70s disco diva or all 80s power-​suits and shoulderpads, you’ll fit in well here.
It’s not just vintage, retro and fancy dress clothes you’ll get here either. Alongside a massive array of shoes and accessories there’s even some homeware to be going along with. And they even provide costumes for stage and screen, including Life on Mars, Coronation Street and Take That. The atmosphere is welcoming and nothing is dusty or musky — all the items are lovingly laundered to a tee, dry cleaned and presented beautifully. Well, that’s passed my vintage ‘ewww!’ test then. With friendly staff and a downloadable 10% discount voucher, you don’t need any more excuses to pay it a visit.

Awesome owner and awesome clothes. Very cool place, though you have to dig (like in any 2^nd hand store).
Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the Northern Quarter.

This is probably the best shop named after a George Lucas film in the whole of Manchester city centre. It’s also my favourite shop that I have never bought anything from.
Carrying a selection of excellent vintage garb and fancy dress costumes for people who really go all out for fancy dress — want to go as Philip Marlowe, Stevie Wonder or Withnail, there is bound to be something here. It will cost you though — this is one of the most expensive of the vintage shops in the Northern Quarter but definitely one of the best.
If you don’t fancy going for the head-​to-​toe retro thing then a few cool, classic accessories can really add a stylish touch to any outfit (unless you’re wearing a mankini or something). To this end, there is a great range of glasses and sunglasses are available too as well as a selection of ties and handkerchiefs. I will really have to buy something from here at some point.

This shop’s a weird one. It’s somewhere that I always swear down is awesome, but then when I go in, I don’t buy anything. And then I remember that in my five years of Manchester-​living, I have never bought anything here. And then I think «so why do I love it so much???»
I suppose reason número uno would be that American Graffiti is pretty damn kooky. Like, the kookiest. It’s the only place I know where you can pick up a pair of comedy specs, a wig and a vintage teaset. The stock here tends towards the fancy dress, though you might occasionally find something a little more sober. So if you’re having a 60s night or a burlesque night or a glam rock night, chances are you’ll find everything you need in this shop.
As well as the big costume bits like wigs, you can pick up such things as cigarette holders, which make costumes so much better for a few quid.
Oh, and they have an umbrella holder by the door for when it rains, which is nice.

I really thought American Graffiti was just going to be another vintage shop on Oldham Street. Actually it’s a kind of vintage slash fancy dress slash kitsch shop that has bucket loads of character.
I really like it in here. I mean, there aren’t many clothes in here for boys — it’s almost all flamboyant retro gear for girls, but there are some really cool fancy dress accessories to be had and smiley, friendly staff on hand to help you out.
I bought some 80s food canisters here for my girlfriend. They were £15 for a set of three and well cute. I’ll be coming back to American Graffiti if I’m gift or fancy dress shopping at any point. You never know!

An essential place for fans of vintage and retro, American Graffiti is a colourful boutique packed head to toe with original and unusual clothes.
Whilst most vintage shops in the area seem pre-​occupied with the 50s to the 80s, the owner has an eye and passion for every period from the 1920s onwards. As a result, you’ll likely to see old flappers outfits nestled next to psychadelic flares and breath-​taking dresses from the summer of love. As well as a fine selection of trousers, skirts, blouses, dresses, coats, jackets and accesories, there’s a varied selection of shoes, boots, wigs and homeware. Like I said: Essential!

American Graffitti has a huge and amazing range of vintage and fancy dress clothing, shoes, wigs and accessories.
The perma happy staff are scarilly keen to offer a helping hand or expert eye you.
Kitsch, colourful and lots of fun, given the time of year this place has got be worth a visit if you like to make a proper effort.

Great shop to spend time toddling about in. I spent over an hour in here last time– its not that big a shop. Huge range of vintage clothes and fantastic lil shop if your going to a fancy dress.
Staff are fantastic and put you at ease when you have strange requests such as ‘I’d like a fish costume, not a mermaid but a full-​on fish’.
Great prices and well laid out. Take a trip down here even if you don’t have anything particular in mind– better than a coffee break!

American Graffitti has been going for as long as I can remember in Afflecks Palace and is one of those stores that I grew up buying items from. This new store was opened by owner Vanessa because as the vintage market grew, the boutique simply wasn’t big enough to house all her stock.
You can get just about style of vintage fashion here from 40s through to 80s in the form of dresses, shoes, accessories and also wigs, eyelashes, fancy dress and prop hire too. It can be a little pricey in here but if you rummage around enough you’ll find a few one-​hit-​wonders that are worth every penny. I’m especially keen on their hat, sunglasses and shoe collections.

Vintage/​retro shop just off Oldham Street, it opened because the owner couldn’t fit all her stock in the small unit in Afflecks. There’s something for everyone, it can be a little pricey– but the staff are always very friendly!

Undoubtedly a fantastic selection of vintage clothing and accessories with beautiful old dresses, shoes, compacts, Kelly-​style bags, jewellery, aprons
I have my eyes set on a gorgeous retro kitchen set but, like the most part of American Graffitti’s stock, it is a tad overpriced.
That said it is great for finds, it lacks the ‘jumble’ feel of a lot of great vintage shops in Manchester– I feel too akward to have a good root– but this is possibly the reason so many people love it!

American Graffiti is a vintage clothing /​jewellery nick-​nack shop selling unusual and rare items from the 50s to the 70s. They also sell fancy dress masks and retro costume jewellery which makes a perfect gift for that hard to buy for bohemian friend. I would definitely recommend American Graffiti because it is a treasure trove of beautiful vintage clothing, 60’s kitsch furniture and rare memorabilia– they have everything and anything. A great place to shop.

another shop i love, i’m a real retro fan! it has great vintage clothes, shoes, accessories & household items & new items which still fit with the retro theme. only around the corner from ‘pop boutique’ so visit both the same day!