On the Scene in Budapest: Locals Talk About the Latest Trends in Their City
When you go secondhand shopping in Budapest, you immerse yourself in the history of the city – and your closet gets an upgrade. That's what fashion designer Fabian Kis-Juhasz says, who takes us to the best vintage stores in the Hungarian capital
As a fashion designer, I am, for example, inspired by Italian cinema of the sixties and seventies. Women were allowed to be dark and demonic in the stylish thrillers of the time. In general, I like vintage things. And that goes for my historic and beautiful hometown of Budapest as well. Here, you have the opportunity to live in lovely old buildings.
A good way to discover the history and culture of Budapest is secondhand shopping, a huge trend and part of our youth culture. The local shops have clothes that are not available anywhere else, and you can sense the lingering tang of the Soviet Union when you walk into a vintage store in Budapest: polyester granny blouses, old fur coats, oversize jackets, and sportswear from Western brands that were considered status symbols. In the mid-2010s, luxury brands like Vetements and Balenciaga turned the post-Soviet aesthetic into a trend, and you can find original items from that period in Budapest's thrift stores.
Vintage Fashion: On a Treasure Hunt in Budapest
I find the activity of vintage shopping wonderful in itself; it feels like a treasure hunt: I love the excitement of the hunt and the fact that I have to sift through a lot of junk to find the right thing, my new favorite piece. There are quite a few of them too, because Hungary has built up a considerable film industry and many of the costumes find their way into Budapest's secondhand shops.
A store that many people in the movie industry appreciate is Vintage Shop Práter. The clothes here are not quite as cheap as elsewhere, but this is due to the excellently curated selection, which ranges from classic wedding dresses to elegant menswear and great accessories. Even if you don't want to buy anything, it's fun to hang out with friends and try things on.
For more information about our tips, please click on the points on the map above.
Western Style or Incense?
Jajcica also has a phenomenal selection, especially of Western clothing and cowboy boots. I never leave this store empty-handed. The prices are a bit higher, but you can always try bargaining the price down.
A real insider tip for patient treasure hunters: Retro Retikül és Régiségbolt. The store is a little out of the way in an otherwise quiet neighborhood. It smells of incense, and it's pretty chaotic, but I regularly find wonderful clothes there.
About
Fashion designer Fabian Kis-Juhasz studied and worked in London for a while before returning to his hometown of Budapest in 2021. He runs a fashion label under his own name and designs costumes for movies, including the comedy "Poor Things," which won four Oscars in 2024, one of them for Best Costume Design.
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