Drive along the Redditch Road and find this big converted barn housing a veritable banquet of…read morevintage goods! Mention that ubiquitous word and you might immediately think of clothes. At The Vintage Barn though, there is an emphasis on furniture, homewares and memorabilia. Pictures, clocks, lights, vases, dining sets, pin badges, books, games, kitchenware, electric fans, figurines and a whole load of curios await you. AND some tasty looking, warm-sounding hi-fi equipment refurbished with USB slots! Everything is artistically displayed, with exhibit-like qualities, so if you see something you like, they'll be another beauty nearby that will fit well with it. Everywhere you look there are items from yesteryear that you simply must have. And at these reasonable rates you'll happily walk away with some treasures. On the day we went I came out with a Gold Label Barley Wine dish, some 1970s Sparklets for a soda siphon and some Swinging Inn Sign Cocktail Sticks, for under a fiver, all in. My friend spotted a tall £30 glass vase, and was pleased to hear that because they take credit cards, then she could take it home that day. New stock is arriving all the time so it's worth visiting regularly, to find more unique pieces for your home.

My family & I have visited the vintage barn twice in the past month or so....and have never left…read moreempty handed! The range of products suits a wide audience - there's something for everyone & is a great place to find a present. This chilly barn ( wrap up in the winter) sells a variety of clothes, china/dinner ware, glass ware, ornaments, jewellery, furniture, records..the list goes on...from years gone by. Its a great place to root around but also everything is well organised & visible. Our incredible purchases include a a three piece men's suit (£30), a cut glass salad bowl with condiment holders, vintage watch, two brooches, Stevie Wonder LP, a fascinator, two dresses (£4&£6) glass bowl (£3), tie bar & cuff links, fur coat & our favourite ( see photo) a 60s Formica table & stools (£45) The barn is run by a lovely couple who are not overbearing & are very knowledgeable & friendly. They also have a Facebook page so you can keep an eye on any new furniture being uploaded at great prices. The team there also run the Moseley retro & vintage fayre - which is on once a month. Check Facebook for details

Reasonably priced mens & women's quality vintage clothing…read more Top Banana and many of the shops on York Road share the ethos of the old-fashioned shop keeper. The staff like to have a natter with the customers, offer them a hot drink if they're having a good mooch and often give discounts if you buy more than one item. There aren't many places to buy quality vintage clothing for men so Top Banana has an edge over most other shops. The focus is mainly American vintage from the 60s-70s and the majority of the stock reflects this, but they have everything from 40s to 90s - you just need to have a good rummage! Fans of converse and vans if you haven't heard of Top Banana where have you been?! They have LOADS and prices range from £15-£25. Prices are very reasonable but don't expect bargain basement prices like £1 etc.. this is quality merchandise which would set you back a pretty penny down south! Grab it while you can before someone else does! While you're here pop next door to Cherry Reds for some yummy food or two doors down to Polar Bear Records,

Vintage gold converse, weathered denim shirts and an abundance of classic pieces from yesteryear -…read moreTop Banana offers something that few clothing stores do these days - and that's authenticity. They have some really nice stuff, some of it I imagine would make you look like Tony Soprano, a 70s mobster or Dirk Diggler. Their range is enormous for a small shop - from vintage varsity, leather and demin jackets to knitwear, polos and an array of slick shirts. All of the items I have bought from Top Banana have a timeless quality about them that only get better with age. With Top Banana you're guaranteed to get some fine clothing for a fair price that even a young Jean-Paul Belmondo would give a nod of approval to.You will leave a (fashion) law unto yourself, swaggering like a don, whistling 'ain't no stopping us now' and ready to share your new-found slickness with the world. At least I did.

Revival is a great little vintage stall in Birmingham's alternative fashion store, The Oasis. They…read morehave a wide range of clothing for men and women spanning 50s - 80s eras with the odd exception. They stock Modj favourites such as Harringtons, button down shirts and desert boots but also have a great range of women's dresses for very reasonable prices; I picked up a lovely 50s print shift dress for a mere £10 the other day, which would have cost me double that anywhere else in Birmingham. I also found a Burberry trench for just £25 which might still be there if you're interested. There is a small changing area which is handy and the owner was pretty helpful when I enquired about a style of dress that I was after. I've visited the stall a few times now and he always tells me when his next delivery of dresses is due. All in all a great little stall where you might find a real gem if you look hard enough. If you have any enquiries you can contact Revival via wintcane@aol.com

I was quite surprised to see items that are familiar to me, a great place to dig for treasures…read more Burmi has a lot of selections when it comes to thrift shops and that's appreciate. Looking forward to visiting again someday.

I am always a big fan of places where the items on sale feel like a random collection of things…read morethat someone has collected over the years......If you are a fan of one offs and items with charm this little place in the Custard Factory is well worth a visit. You can pick up furniture and household items right through to clothes and accessories if you are not afraid to have a bit of a rummage. The things on sale here change all the time so it's not the kind of place I go looking for something specific. This is more a curiosity shop type vibe to browse through and discover what it is you went in there for along the way.

They really do have some nice furniture styles from Germany, England, Italy and France. There…read morereally is high end furniture here and it's good for people who like antique and vintage furniture. You might be thinking it sounds pricey? I think everything is priced within reason and when I went there they had a sale on. They even have a small cafe that you can sit in and enjoy a hot drink or a slice of cake. Betel is a charity that aids people with alcohol, drugs and homelessness issues. This is one of the Betel outlets. As part of their aid they give assistance to people by providing skills and jobs to those they help, and particularly in furniture restoration. It's clear that a lot of love and care goes into making and fixing up the furniture. As this is a charity shop, and a quality one, their stock is constantly changing. I've visited on one occasion and found there was nothing to my liking and I've been on another and found there are some things that I really like. You might find the same so don't be put off my one visit.

This place serves two purposes in my mind - coffee shop and vintage/antique furniture…read more The little coffee shop is lovely with a range of coffees (and soya milk) as well as cakes and treats which are suitable for people with dietary requirements. It's not the biggest coffee shop, but it's got a nice little homely / indie charm to it. The furniture all seems to be on the vintage / antique side of things and is on the whole better quality than you find in most charity shops. This does mean that it often feels a little more expensive too. But I've wanted a bureau for a while and despite seeing cheaper ones elsewhere, the ones in this shop felt a better deal as they were more interesting and in good condition. They let me reserve the bureau for 24 hours and when we popped in they helped load it into the car for us. I probably wouldn't buy a lot from here, but for interesting, well maintained one off pieces it's worth a look.

What a fantastic little shop in the Great Western Arcade! I am afraid to say I've walked past this…read moreplace more than once and not popped in. In all fairness, I normally head through Great Western to get somewhere or of an evening (when things are closed), so I do have a whole bunch of valid excuses. This place is a vintage charity shops which supports two homeless charities (SIFA Fireside and Trident Reach the People). So not only are you recycling by buying here and reducing waste, you're also stylin' for a good cause. It's a win win for everyone! I popped in here to look for a dress for a weekend away. I was greeted by the lovely staff and soon we were all in a conversation about Vintage shopping and the bargains to be had at kilo sales. I asked them if I was ok to snap some pictures (because I couldn't resist) only to be assured I could snap away to my hearts content. There was a fantastic mix of crockery, hats, clothing and lots of odds and ends (vintage woollen tea cosies anyone?) about the shop at really great prices. As you can see from my pictures, I spotted a gorgeous typewriter, vintage bears and silver spoons. Why don't you take 5 minutes and pop in? I'm sure you could find a great item at a fantastic price and all in aid of a great cause!

I've sold and bought stuff at Encore. I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the items I've…read morefound. They sell primarily women's second hand, designer clothes that are in very good condition, however they also have a small men's section that I've snapped up a few pieces from - a Jaegar dress shirt, a few nice polos and some formal trousers. The shop presents itself as upmarket; it's sell products of high-end clothing stores or designers, but at a smaller price due to their second hand nature. Some of it is a bit dated, I imagine for the older man or woman, but nonetheless it has a nice range. You can bring unwanted clothing here and they will sell it providing it meets their standards (designer, good condition, in season etc) So, you can either find a fresh ensemble or make some money (or both!) with Encore.

I like places such as Encore and that is because they offer high end fashion but at prices which…read morewon't do your bank balance an indeterminable amount of damage. They specialise in nearly new designer wear at Encore and the idea behind it all is that the savings are then passed on to the paying public. I have to say that I was impressed by what I found, the selection is mainly women's clothes but men should keep their eyes peeled as there are some gems to be found in store. As well as being able to buy high end fashion they also offer the option to sell your own designer wears, however be sure to note that they are specific in terms of what they take. Don't attempt to bring in a Prada shirt you found in a charity shop ten years ago as they require in season clothing.

If I am after something new to wear for the weekend this is usually one of the shops I think about…read morefirst. Situated on Digbeth high street just a few minutes walk from the bullring, it's a great shout if vintage is your thing. The rails are full of both men's and women's clothes, some of which have been adapted in house to give them a different look or effect. You can find anything from a tie dye t shirt right through to a pair of old school Nike hi tops dotted around this large warehouse space. I do think Cow is slightly high on some of the prices, but the clothing is always in great condition and has been well selected. It cuts a lot of time out of a vintage shopping trip when you don't have to go through thousands of below average items to find what you are looking for....or didn't even know you were looking for!

Four years ago hailed the onset of my vintage pilgrimages, and Digbeth Cow became my Mecca…read more Previously only acquainted with the rare fruits of charity shops, the abundance of second-hand goodies took me to vintage Heaven. Never before had I seen so much paisley and so many shoulder pads! The best aspect, in my modest and honest opinion, is the building itself. It's like a warehouse, stripped down bare. It's raw. The clothing rails descend from a rather lofty ceiling on chains. If you are anything like me, you will forget this, and get quite a fright when the rail in front of you starts to swing...all part of the fun though, naturally. The overall effect is jolly impressive, to my simple mind. Once you've finished gazing at these suspended rails, you'll pick your jaw back up off the floor only to drop it again when you take in what it actually on the rails. Clothes. Reams and reams of beautiful, eccentric, retro, old-fashioned, elegant and quirky clothes. Once you've picked your jaw off the floor a second time, you will start to grin. And then, then you will rush excitedly to the nearest rail to begin your feverish rummaging through this magical offering of treats. Exaggerating? Hardly. I will offer some advice here. In order to appreciate Digbeth Cow to the extent it deserves, requires at least an hour of your precious time. Otherwise you will leave worrying that you've left behind some lovely shirt hanging undiscovered in the corner you never made it around to. Trust me. I now even have a method to prevent this from happening. I start in one corner and snake my way up and down the rails from one side of the shop to the other, stopping every so often to escort the growing pile of clothes on my arm to the fitting room. I don't leave anything to chance! Think beyond the dresses and jumpers you have come to expect in these establishments (though you will of course find them aplenty also), but think also of high-waisted trousers, cast-off denims, pointy shoes, leather handbags, collections of old-school prom dresses and treasure chests of belts and scarves and hats. Oh it makes me swoon. There is one problem I have with this store. I have never been able to leave empty handed. Never. Thus I have resolved to avoid it like the plague when the stability of bank account is threatened. Desperate times, desperate measures. They even accept cards now, so I can't even protect myself by not carrying cash... To this day Digbeth Cow remains my favourite of the 'chain' (there are also stores in Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham, and Cow 2 in Birmingham city centre) and my preferred place to shop for frills and frocks and all things made of cloth (and leather!)