There was no day when I hadn’t scrolled through Tiktok and saw a girl trip in Charleston. Charleston, South Carolina has always been my favorite holiday, featuring cobblestone streets, pastel coloured French quarter architecture and Southern charms. However, recently, the historic city has given itself a new name as the Z Tiktok Hotspot for young travelers, especially those seeking coastal relaxation, vintage discoveries and luxury. In particular, Charleston has become a destination where the past meets the present, offering a shopping scene that combines timeless work with Southern hospitality.
As a Carolina girl myself, I always enjoyed everything Charleston has to offer, but now it has become one of my favorite places to visit these days. A few weeks ago I went along the way to run through New York City to escape the northern winter and jumped into retail therapy. History (and the preservation of its landmarks) is a monumental part of what personally makes a great place to visit for me. So, from the time I stopped by the international African American Museum to my stay at the Dewberry Hotel, I wanted my trip to be filled with long-lasting memories and high-quality shopping discoveries. For those who love vintage shopping, Charleston is a gold mine. The city’s quaint boutiques and curated consignment stores are filled with treasures that bring nostalgia and personality. I went to their luxury store while I was back in Miami and was particularly excited to explore the Bal Harbor pop-ups. So I was excited to see how they brought that Florida South Flair to one of my favorite coastal towns. With Charleston’s old world charm and a blend of contemporary style, it’s easy to see why vintage shopping is a viral sensation here.
Below we have compiled some of the most popular shopping spots when visiting Charleston. From luxury to vintage, and everything in between.
Cameron Wilder
Bal Harbor pops up
Founded in 1965, the Bal Harbor Shop is an internationally recognized and renowned destination, with 100 most coveted luxury brands in the world, including Chanel, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Nieman Marcus and Sachs Fifth Avenue. To celebrate the shopping plaza, they took a shop on the road. Charleston is one of them. From Johanna Ortiz to Balmain and Golden Goose, the gorgeous Plaza is full of unique shopping pieces.
Exchange factors
Located in North Charleston is Exchange Factor, a popular vintage and second-hand store for those who want to win some unique pieces. The store’s purpose is to promote recycling and reuse by buying and selling clothing, shoes and accessories aimed at men and women. With two stores opening, these visionaries continue to spread their purpose. Shopping with exchange factors is like “everyday Christmas.”
Closet case
Closet cases are shopping spaces that include carefully curated items genders, ranging from high-end to vintage to trendy styles. They also have some Nick’s tricks and rare collectibles. They’re all about affordable shopping, whilst giving back to the community. They are the only LGBT-owned and operated Thrift Store in South Carolina.
Fairside Vintage
Fairside is another popular vintage shop when strolling around Charleston. Farside Vintage offers a thoughtfully curated collection of distinctive clothing and accessories that represent timeless style. Their team carefully selects works from different eras, ensuring their quality and capturing the essence of fashion history.
Selective
Since 2020, Selective has become one of Charleston’s vintage clothing destinations. The store specializes in vintage clothing from the 1960s to the 1990s, offering a carefully curated collection of vintage clothing, records/CDs and accessories.
