I’m freshly back from New York, and despite the election results, I’m already pining to go back. New York gave me the same buzz I used to get when visiting London. Everything was bigger, better, bolder, and more beautiful. And that includes the vintage stores in New York too.
I visited New York with my best friend, and together, we enjoyed thrift shopping across the Upper East Side, Lower East Side, and Brooklyn. We shopped until we dropped! And so, here is another guide to second-hand fashion, this time, in New York.
The Best Second-Hand & Vintage Stores in New York
I had the best time shopping for second-hand clothes, shoes, and accessories across these seven vintage stores in New York. They’re dotted about the city, and so I’ve ordered them how we visited them: first Lower East Side, then Brooklyn, and then Upper East Side.
Ending Soon
254 Broome Street, New York, NY 10002
Ending Soon was the first vintage store we visited in New York. We had spent the morning in Manhattan, and wanted to dip our toe into the wonders of the Lower East Side so headed there to kill a few hours. I’ll be honest; we weren’t prepared for what was in store (literally). Ending Soon has an incredibly well curated selection of designer fashion, with a loose sartorial-slash-grunge feel, cut with lots of Issey Miyake Pleats Please pieces. The store has an aesthetic edge to it, but the assistant was friendly, and the changing rooms were large. That said, the pricing was a little above market value (in my opinion). We tried on a good few pieces before heading onwards, marvelling at how good the store had been. Little did we know what was to come…
My rating: 8/10
Lara Koleji
70 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
While my friend and I had made a pretty extensive list of thrift and vintage stores, Lara Koleji was a place we stumbled upon after Ending Soon. We were still reeling from the few pieces we’d found – and vowed to return to – when we were bowled over the selection here. My friend immediately pounced on a vintage Prada jacket, while I pondered over a cold-shoulder sweater from Chanel for $300 (I should have bought it). Items here are a little more feminine, with some cooler accessories and homewares dotted about. Pricing is also good to fair, and the staff were nice.
My rating: 9/10
Desert Vintage
34 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
And then, things only got better. Desert Vintage is quite literally vintage fashion paradise. (You may need to work a lifetime to afford their pieces, but it’ll be worth it). Here, we were welcomed inside and immediately stunned by a rail full of vintage Alaia, Dior, and more. Hand-written swing tags gave the years and noted if pieces had been seen on the runway. There were also intricately woven, one-off garments, exclusive perfumes, and handmade homewares, displayed around the store. The space is so beautifully done, with considerations being paid to the art and lighting too. I don’t think I’ve experienced such a beautiful vintage store anywhere else on Earth!
My rating: 9/10
James Veloria
75 East Broadway #225, New York, NY 10002
Now for a change of pace: James Veloria. Our final stop on our first day of thrifting was in Chinatown, hidden away on the first floor of a shopping mall. If Desert Vintage is a paradise, James Veloria is a party. With whimsical decorations, love-heart shaped dressing rooms, and an unparalleled collection of Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood, we lost ourselves playing fantasy dress-up. And this is what I love about vintage fashion: the real opportunity to curate and display different thoughts, feelings, and energies. If you’re in vibrant, technicolour dresser, James Veloria is a must.
My rating: 8/10
Seven Wonders Collective (Williamsburg)
203 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
For day two of our thrift shopping adventure, we took the subway to Brooklyn and got started at Seven Wonders Collective in Williamsburg. Even though I’m a vintage store veteran, this store felt a little intimidating, and the staff didn’t help matters (or maybe it’s a New York thing?) That said, this was the first store we had come across with different concessions, so almost every rail was curated and sold by a different entity. With this mix came a real mix of styles – Americana, cowboy, European vintage, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, plus even more Issey Miyake, including the incredible jacket pictured. Personally, I found almost everything to be overpriced, but I did appreciate the store size and variety available.
My rating: 6/10
Sorbara’s
326 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Next: Sorbara’s. This is the new name for Chickee’s Vintage, which I have to say wasn’t particularly conducive to the minimalist style of second-hand clothes on offer. We visited while it was still named ‘Chickee’s Vintage’ and on arrival, I was pleasantly surprised! The store has a general timeless aesthetic that really appeals to me, with high quality clothes and designer labels to back it up: Chanel, Prada, Ralph Lauren, and more. It’s well laid out given its small size, and has two changing rooms too. It’s a great stop-off for anyone who wants a ‘quiet luxury’ aesthetic without following the crowd to the next sample sale by The Row.
My rating: 9/10
Seven Wonders Collective (Greenpoint)
37 Norman Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222
If you’re looking for true vintage, Seven Wonders Collective in Greenpoint is a great place to start. Here they have rails upon rails of well made clothing from eras gone by. I was particularly taken by this buttoned blouse, which I put on backwards to emulate the current in-style waistcoats. Alas, the fit wasn’t quite right, and for $90, it was too expensive, akin to the previous Seven Wonders we visited. However, at this one, the staff were friendlier, and the store felt a little more welcoming too.
My rating: 8/10
The Niche Shop
311 E 81st Street, New York, NY 10028
On day three of our thrift-tour of New York, we headed to the Upper East Side. Our first stop was The Niche Shop, a quirky little boutique full of pretty vintage and fun oddities. I especially liked the upcycled sweatshirts, which had been daintily embroidered with different phrases. These went for around $20, which I felt was a good price, but sadly there just wasn’t a colour combination I liked in my size.
My rating: 8/10
Allegra Vintij
230 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028
Our final stop when thrifting in New York was Allegra Vintij. This was recommended to us by the sweet owner of The Niche Shop, and we took the short walk over to check it out. Here, we found probably the best selection of true vintage clothes in New York. Allegra Vintij clearly is a vintage fashion specialist, and after stepping into the store we were greeted and fell into conversation with the lovely staff members. The quality of pieces is high, with some really rare and unique items on display. This is reflected in the prices, but I felt the pricing was fair. I picked up this mint-condition cornflower blue wool jumper (with a nod to Andy Sachs’ cerulean one) for just $45, and almost added the vintage green Prada shoes to my basket too! Thanks to Allegra Vintij for being the cherry on top of our thrifting trip!
My rating: 9/10
Some Vintage Stores in New York We Missed…
While we spent almost three days thrifting in New York, there were some spots we just didn’t get chance to visit. Here’s where I’d love to head back to if I’m ever back in NYC!
Artists & Fleas Williamsburg – Recommended by Alice Cruickshank, sadly it wasn’t open when we were in the area!
Vaux Vintage – While in Brooklyn we ran out of time to get to Vaux, but the pieces and styling are beautiful!
Let me know if you visit any of my recommendations! P.S. Got somewhere to recommend? Let me know below!
