In a city with a history of fashion as unique as its international residents, New York has always been a place where tried-and-true styles meet the new ideas that turn them into something interesting. While styles shifting as quickly as sand can be bad for designers, it makes for unparalleled vintage shopping.
This is the only city on earth where you could find unworn 60s Dior in mint condition, Jean Paul Gaultier dresses from the Madonna years, and rare Hermes accessories- often under the same roof. Here’s our round-up of N.Y.’s best vintage stores to meet your styling needs while also considering your budget.
Beacon’s Closet
Beacon’s closet is hands-down N.Y.’s best clothing exchange store. Not crazy about your wardrobe? Swap out some pieces at Beacon’s and you may be surprised by what you’ll find. Generally favoring a younger customer, this is the place to find inexpensive vintage and contemporary men’s and women’s clothes in a store whose inventory is constantly changing.
Their spot on 13th street is especially good because of its close proximity to NYU and Parsons. As college is the time to try out new styles and take some risks, a diverse assortment of vintage, nearly unworn, designer, and even student design projects can be found. Who knows? You could walk out with some- thing designed by the next Marc Jacobs. The space is on the cozy side, and can be packed with students on the weekends, so pop by mid-week for un-spoiled access to their newest finds.
If small isn’t your thing, Beacon’s just opened a new flagship location in Park Slope Brooklyn, just north of Williamsburg and it is enormous – this place is not for the amateur vintage shopper! While color-coordinated racks do help in making their inventory easier to navigate, it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not in the right frame of mind.
With that said, If you love the thrill of the hunt, spend a couple of hours pouring over their huge selec- tion product, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something you love. Pay extra attention to accessories like shoes. We saw some beautiful mint condition 90s Ferragamo flats for only $29.
92 5th Ave, Brooklyn & W 13th St, Manhattan
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Tokio 7
Only go to Tokio 7 if you have room for a new addiction. Whether it’s the life-size Predator statue out front, or the charming sign that draws you in, it is the incredible assortment inside that will keep you coming back. Self-described as unusual and funky, Tokio 7 is pretty much the place where models consign their samples to trade-in or trade-up for other goods, or should we say greats?
Their carefully selected inventory tends to be on the newer end of the spectrum for vintage, like 90s through today, though they do have a small assortment of older pieces which keeps it interesting. Here you can find glorious clothing, shoes, and accessories from a range of designers- some well-known, some not, at a below-average price point.
Tokio 7’s hidden power? Menswear! Compared to other places we visited, Tokio 7 probably has the best assortment of menswear in terms of how diverse it is. From casual street-wear, to shirting and tailored pieces, Tokio 7’s inventory appeals to a lot of different points of view and is very unique.
83 E 7th St New York, NY 10003
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Resurrection Vintage
If you’re looking for something on a whole other level, Resurrection Vintage is just that. Their blend of top designer vintage pieces, interesting reading material, and current window theme, “Ambush: Sex & Fashion” create a shopping experience that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. With their only other store in L.A., Resurrection Vintage rotates merchandise between their two locations, so it is here that you’ll see the best of both coasts.
Their edgy take on vintage dressing is a refreshing perspective, as it brings new life to the category. Resurrection Vintage carries only vintage clothing, except for their current limited edition collection designed by store owner, Katy Rodriguez. Her simple silhouettes are given intrigue by their unusual print: blown up still shots from 70’s porno films.
While the boutique itself is small compared to the other stores we visited, they have an enourmous archive and online store in case you don’t find the Alaia, Gaultier, or Hermes piece you were looking for. This is also true if you are looking for more menswear, as their Nolita boutique carries mainly womens- wear. Resurrection Vintage only carries the best, and with that definitely comes a higher price-point, but for pieces as rare as what they carry, and every label you could want, the price is worth it.
217 Mott St New York, NY 10012
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What Goes Around Comes Around
And finally, we’ve saved the best for the last. Just one look at their gorgeous window displays gives you the idea that something special is going on at What Goes Around Comes Around before you even step inside. With the two sides of the store divided between menswear and womenswear, and merchandised according to the two, WGACA almost feels like two stores.
One step into the women’s side and you’ll feel like you’ve entered the enormous closet of the world’s best-dressed woman. The only thing standing between you and the country’s largest selection of vintage Chanel handbags is your wallet. WGACA is expensive, but seriously so incredible. There isn’t another store in the world where you could find perfect condition vintage Chanel dresses, Unique Hermes jewelry, and other designer good dating back to the 1890s.
With a collection as impressive as theirs, you might think WGACA would be pretentious, but that coudln’t be farther from the truth. Their staff is incredibly knowledgable, stylish, and friendly, and will help you get the most out of your visit to WGACA by giving helpful suggestions and insight into their extensive collection. This bi-coastal store also has a great website that ships to over 100 countries, so if you can’t make it into the shop, you won’t feel too left out.
As for menswear, WGACA has the market cornered on vintage Levi’s and rock tees. So if you’re looking for something more upscale for men, you’re probably not going to find it here. What they do have is a nice assortment of vintage sportswear, military surplus, vintage records, and an impressive collection of vintage Playboy.
351 W Broadway New York, NY 10013
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Article by Amelia Whitworth for FashionIQ