SecondSkinWilmington
Buyers are raving!
This shop got multiple 5-star reviews in the past 7 days.
Announcement
Ladies and gents, welcome to Second Skin Vintage, located at 615 Castle Street in downtown Wilmington. Curated vintage style for women and men, specializing in pieces from the 1950s, '60s, and '70- along with iconic vintage spanning 100 years of fashion history.
This is just a tiny sample of our 1,200 square foot store, so visit us in person! We're open Monday through Saturday 11am-6pm, Sundays 11-5. Stop by or message us and we'll get back to you during regular store hours. Thanks for visiting!
Announcement
Ladies and gents, welcome to Second Skin Vintage, located at 615 Castle Street in downtown Wilmington. Curated vintage style for women and men, specializing in pieces from the 1950s, '60s, and '70- along with iconic vintage spanning 100 years of fashion history.
This is just a tiny sample of our 1,200 square foot store, so visit us in person! We're open Monday through Saturday 11am-6pm, Sundays 11-5. Stop by or message us and we'll get back to you during regular store hours. Thanks for visiting!
Items
Featured items
All Items
Reviews
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Lady Lavinia on Sep 15, 2021
5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely stunning dress set. I am so delighted with this purchase. It took a long time to reach me but defitnitely work the wait. It would be nice to see reserves offered to offer seas customers as the time difference can sometimes make it difficult to purchase straight away. Other than that l am very pleased with my purchase.
Lady Lavinia 🌹 -
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Katherine on Aug 24, 2021
5 out of 5 starsBeautiful vintage knit suit. In great shape and arrived quickly.
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Keva on Apr 28, 2021
5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely gorgeous! Better than the pictures I saw online. It fits perfectly. No imperfections. Thank you!
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Sienna on Apr 14, 2021
5 out of 5 starsThe cutest bag I’ve ever seen! It fits everything I need perfectly! The condition is like new!
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Sienna on Apr 14, 2021
5 out of 5 starsSuch a beautiful dress! A perfect fit and it’s in amazing condition!
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Sienna on Apr 14, 2021
5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely love it! The dress and jacket are in such great condition, I’m never disappointed with the quality of preservation. You just can’t get vintage this good in Australia! Thank you so much Second Skin!
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Madeline on Feb 28, 2021
5 out of 5 starsSo precious and darling. Shipped immediately. Owner is great and very helpful. Takes care of her inventory and customers! Great local vintage store to support <3
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sreams on Feb 21, 2021
5 out of 5 starsHere in Texas mail delivery was suspended for five days because of Winter Storm Uri, but when Uri left, my dress came. It is absolutely beautiful, in like-new condition, and the measurements are spot-on. Torso measurement is helpful as I am long-waisted. It fits exactly and flatters me. The color is absolutely lustrous. It's hard for a woman in her sixties to find a formal gown that is not either too young and revealing or too matronly. This is perfect! My husband loves it. Even better, so does my daughter-in law. :-) Thank you so much for the fine gown, well described, photographed, measured and shipped. This is more than I usually pay for vintage locally in Austin, but well worth it.
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NICOLE on Jan 17, 2021
5 out of 5 starsItem shipped fast and was perfect as described! Love this shop.
About SecondSkinWilmington
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Our pieces have been featured in photo shoots in around Wilmington and beyond. (Kevin Titus Photo, Wilmington, NC)
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Check our our curated rack of party dresses, spanning all decades. (Photo, Ben Minor, Wilmington, NC)
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1970s boho spirit in a Mr John hat. Model, Haley from The Wonder Shop; Photo by Waverly Leonard of Second Skin.
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The very first photoshoot Waverly did for SSV!!! (Photo, Waverly Leonard, Wilmington, NC).
Welcome to Second Skin Vintage in Wilmington, NC, located at 615 Castle Street.
We are a men's and women's vintage clothing store, located in downtown Wilmington. Our vintage collection comes from sources around the country, and is carefully curated to represent both current fashion trends and iconic styles from from the past 100 years, with a focus on pieces from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s.
The store is a labor of love for Shop Owner, Karyn, who has been selling and styling vintage professionally for over 12 years. She is also the host of Wilmington's "I Love Vintage!" Social Club, a unique monthly meet up for vintage enthusiasts. The group meets at the store on the first Tuesday of each month to socialize and learn about different vintage topics. Please visit our Facebook page for more information about these meetings.
Our staff is dedicated to providing body-positive customer service and a unique approach to fashion and styling. If you think "I can't pull off vintage," try a visit to our store! We have something for every body and every style. We also enthusiastically cater to Wilmington's philanthropic dress-up crowd, providing civic-minded citizens with era-appropriate attire for the city’s many themed fundraising events.
All items sold by SSV are carefully researched for authenticity, lovingly laundered (when possible), and carefully examined for damage. When necessary, items are professionally restored by our Shop Seamstress, with every effort made to restore garments to their original beauty using era-appropriate techniques. Additionally, in our shop "Polices" section, we have provided a guide for how to launder your vintage garment.
Our Etsy site is only a very small sampling of our inventory, so please contact us if you're looking for something specific. We may have similar items in another size or color. Our inventory is restocked daily--faster than we could possibly post on Etsy. Stay on top of new arrivals by following the shop on Instagram @secondskinvintage. You can purchase from our IG feed safely and securely online.
Stop by and see us! We're located in downtown Wilmington's Castle Street Arts and Antiques district. Store hours are 11am-6pm, Monday through Saturday; 11am-5pm Sundays.
Shop members
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Karyn Oetting
Owner, Boss Lady
Karyn has been professionally selling vintage clothing in Wilmington since 2002. She owns Second Skin Vintage in downtown Wilmington, and hosts the city's "I Love Vintage!" Social Club, a monthly meet-up for vintage lovers.
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Henry
Shop Assistant, Window Displayer
Henry is responsible for our creative, ever changing window displays. His killer sense of style and humor make him a fan favorite. If you stop by on Fridays when he's working, let him pull pieces and style you! He's really good.
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Dorothy
Shop Assistant
Dorothy runs the show when the boss is away. Tagging and steaming new arrivals, merchandising, cleaning the store, listing items on etsy, and helping our customers!
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Rachel
Seamstress
Rachel is our store seamstress, responsible for maintaining our inventory, and who we refer customers to when they need alterations. Rachel is available by appointment, or once a month at our Pop Up Seamstress Shop events.
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Katie Allen
Seamstress, Milliner
Katie is a seamstress specializing in historic restoration, responsible for maintaining the oldest SSV inventory. She's also the owner, designer and milliner at Lifted: Vintage Inspired Millinery, a line of hand sewn hats carried at the store.
Shop policies
Additional photos and information are always available, and questions will be answered during normal store hours (11am-6pm, Mon-Sat and 11am -5pm Sun EST). When in town, please visit the store in person at 615 Castle Street, downtown Wilmington, NC.
We're active on IG @SecondSkinVintage
Accepted payment methods
Returns and exchanges
I gladly accept returns
I don't accept exchanges or cancellations
Returns and exchange details
Refund will not include cost we spent on shipping and Buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.
Please message the shop before returning item.
Second Skin Vintage must receive the item and ascertain its condition before issuing a refund. Signs of wear beyond fitting, including tags that have been removed and reattached, will be grounds for refusal of refund.
If you want to return an item, but it falls outside the terms of our return policy, please message the shop. We will gladly try to work with you.
Payment
Shipping
US customers: Expect to receive your package in 5-7 business days, if not sooner. You may choose to upgrade to 1-3 Day Priority Shipping at checkout if you need your item sooner.
Additional policies and FAQs
More information
Frequently asked questions
About Clothing Measurements
The following are measured across the garment while flat, and are DOUBLED:
Bust/Chest: taken across widest part of chest, usually directly under the arms.
Waist: the smallest part
Hips: the widest part
The following are measured while the garment is flat and are NOT DOUBLED:
Shoulder: measured across, from shoulder seam to shoulder seam
Inseam: Along the inside seam of pants/shorts
Rise: On shorts or pants, this is the length from the "crotch seam" to the waist band.
The following are measured while the garment is hanging and are NOT DOUBLED:
Length: taken from collar seam to bottom hem
Sleeve: taken from center of neck to cuff hem
Torso Length: from collar seam to "crotch" seam (in rompers/bathing suits) or natural waist (in dresses)
Sizing details
Each listing provides an estimate of modern sizing (small, medium, large, etc). This information is meant to help narrow your search. Please use the measurements provided in each listing to ensure best fit.
Women's numeric dress sizing has changed many sizes over the past 60+ years, and continues to vary among contemporary brands. Your contemporary size is not the same as your vintage size.
When we provide a Vintage Label Size, it is a resource for individuals who know their vintage size, which has changed dramatically over the years (sometimes as much as 6 sizes). Please refer to your own measurements when shopping vintage, not an arbitrary dress size. Even better, compare our measurements to a similar garment that fits you well.
Care instructions
All Second Skin Vintage garments are lovingly hand washed (when possible) before going out for sale.
How To Care For Your Vintage Garment
Believe it or not, your vintage garment is actually pretty sturdy.
1) Almost all fabrics can get wet and therefore can be washed
(Some exceptions, like 1920s/30s rayon)
2) Use Delicate/Handwash cycle and cold water
2) Hang or lay flat to dry. Do not use dryer. (Laying flat is best for heavier garments or sweaters).
3) Colorful cotton garments from '60s and 70s: prevent color bleed by washing separately by hand with a tablespoon of vinegar and detergent
4) We use regular laundry detergent
Please do not hesitate to ask if you have questions, we want to help preserve sartorial history!
Vintage Condition Guidelines
Second Skin Vintage uses the following guidelines, based on standards set by the Vintage Fashion Guild:
Mint: An item is as perfect and pristine as when it was originally made and shows no sign of wear (mint condition is rare for vintage clothing).
Near mint: An item shows only the slightest signs of wear.
Excellent: An item shows typical signs of wear due to occasional use.
Very good: An item is considered wearable but has some surface flaws (staining or soiling, for example).
Good: An item is wearable but cannot be returned to excellent condition even if repairs are made.
Shipping Info
All items ship in 1 business day. Expect to receive your package within 5-7 days, if not sooner.
You can upgrade to 1-3 Day Priority Shipping (if not the default option.) Simply place item in your cart, then choose the shipping method you want at checkout .
Returns and Refunds
Second Skin Vintage gladly accepts returns of items in same condition as sold, with attached tags, within 30 days of purchase.
Refund will not include cost we spent on shipping.
Buyer responsible for return shipping.
Please message the shop before returning item.
Second Skin Vintage must receive the item and ascertain its condition before issuing a refund. We will not return item if it fails to meet our return requirements.
Signs of wear beyond fitting will be grounds for refusal of refund, including: tags that have been removed and reattached (we can tell), odors, damage, soiling, etc.
Do We Buy Clothing??
We buy and restore true vintage clothing and accessories in any condition. We look for in-season items from the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and older. We are not a consignment shop; instead we pay competitive, estate sale prices.
If you are interested in letting go, please drop off your clothing during store hours. Your clothing needs to be off the hanger and folded in a shopping bag. We will contact you in 2 business days to let you know if we’re interested in buying any of your pieces. Afterwards, you have two weeks to pick up your check and/or your remaining items.