Pop Boutique Manchester
Lizzie WoodThe original Northern Quarter vintage store, Pop Boutique throws up some surprises among the 1950’s dresses and mod jackets.
With locations in Liverpool, London, Leeds and even as far as Sweden, Oldham Street in Manchester is Pop Boutique’s oldest location. The vintage shop opened in 1994 and whether you’re an old face or first-timer, remains one of the Northern Quarter’s most inviting spots.
While Pop’s décor is full-on swinging sixties retro, the shop stocks everything from 1950’s dresses to mod jackets and clunky (yet classic) ’80s furniture alongside a good selection of bags, shoes and accessories. Sprawling over two floors, the boutique provides an all-inclusive shopping experience, including a café, a basement furniture selection and hair dressers (those looking to complement their vintage outfit with a sharp new cut needn’t even leave the building). The café is worth a visit in its own right; a handy spot for a cuppa especially in the summer months, when tables spill out onto Oldham Street.
With a café and hair dressers alongside retro clothing, Pop provides an all-inclusive shopping experience
With so much competition on the vintage fashion and reclaimed clothing front, Pop’s Manchester store doesn’t necessarily offer the city’s best bargains or the most stimulating shopping experience but there’s something comforting about its laid-back atmosphere and the downstairs furniture section is an ever-changing treasure trove of chintzy tea cups and plush sofas.