Commuters on the Long Island Railroad are familiar with this sight near Jamaica Station: a vintage car atop a shipping container with the sign WB2AHK@AOL.COM in front of it. Turns out the WB2AHK refers to an amateur radio station which plays a role in assisting during emergencies. The operator of the station, Chester Brown, owns a car shop and set up a Ham radio station there.
Our Brooklyn Bike Diary begins where Java Street meets the East River
There is nothing quite like seeing New York City by bike. While speeding cars, potholes, and texting pedestrians seem to provide an insurmountable obstacle to a two-wheel world, it remains one of the most exhilarating ways to explore the city. As David Byrne explains in his book Bicycle Diaries, ” This point of view [from a bike]- faster than a walk, slower than a train, often slightly higher than a person- became my panoramic window on much of the world over the last thirty years- and it still is. It’s a big window and it looks out on a mainly urban landscape.” This is our interpretation of a Brooklyn Bike Diary.
In this photoshoot we sought to capture some of the joie de vivre of exploring Brooklyn by bike, with a touch of vintage nostalgia. We journey from the East River in Greenpoint, down Franklin Avenue, and south to Grand Army Plaza. While cycling might not be the most orthodox of transports, it is certainly the most stylish.
For more photos and musings, visit us at Neon Mamacita
Photographed by Nick Shepard
Styled by Annie Shepard and David Ban
Modeled by David Ban
An Empire State of Mind
Brief pause on Franklin Avenue
Hey guys, look, it’s the Bailey Fountain!
The Solider’s and Sailor’s Arch at Grand Army Plaza
Photo by Irving Penn
What’s more fun than vintage shopping? It’s like a modern day treasure hunt for that perfect, one-of-a-kind piece, that just calls out “buy me”. But of course, you need to know where to look. Lucky for you, we’ve done our legwork at Untapped Cities and compiled a list of what we consider to be the best vintage spots in the city.
And when I say vintage, I don’t mean thrift shopping. Thrift shopping implies old Ann Taylor Loft jackets found at the bottom of a bargain bin. Vintage implies both age and quality, I don’t consider anything made after 1985 to really be “vintage”, no matter how much people tell me that “the 90s are back!” I have, however, chosen to include several consignment and resale shops that do often carry vintage pieces.
So read, enjoy, and most importantly, shop!
Manhattan
Amarcord/252 Lafayette Street/ The Soho branch of this vintage fashion house focuses on European designers such as Missoni, YSL, Mugler (you know, all the good ones). With super helpful staff and a nice open layout, it’s easy to spend hours browsing in this downtown spot. (Women and Menswear)
Edith Machinist/104 Rivington Street/ Walk down a couple steps and find yourself in vintage shoe heaven. Shoes, boots, and bags cover nearly every surface with their perfectly worn leather. The focus is definitely on the accessories, but be sure to check out the clothes too, I’ve bought some great pieces here. (Womenswear)
Edith Machinist accessorizing/ Image courtesy of www.edithmachinist.com
Narnia Vintage/161 Rivington Street/ I always find something I love in this tiny store on Rivington. Their look tends toward the urban nomadic feel with lots of supple leathers, fringe, and chevron patterns. Featuring a killer mix of consignment and vintage pieces, it’s hard to leave this place empty handed. (Womenswear)
Ritual Vintage/ 377 Broome St/ If you’re looking for truly vintage pieces, from the 1910s-1940s, this is the place to come. Best of all, the pieces are all still wearable and in good condition. There’s also a selection of newer designer pieces, but the strength really lies in the older stuff. (Womenswear)
What goes Around Comes Around/ 351 West Broadway/ One of the pricier vintage stores you will find, but expect that extra cash to buy unforgettable pieces and excellent service. It’s like the buyers know how to buy the perfect example of every vintage piece- the perfect denim jacket, the perfect sweater, the perfect gauzy dress. Definitely ask the shopgirls about lower priced pieces, because they are still pretty awesome even if they don’t carry a designer tag. (Women and Menswear)
What Goes Around Comes Around’s Chanel collection/ Image courtesy of www.whatgoesaroundnyc.com
Williamsburg
Amarcord/ 223 Bedford Avenue/ The Williamsburg branch of Amarcord is like the Soho store’s little sister; the clothes tend to be less mature, a little funkier, and definitely cheaper. (Women and Menswear)
Beacons Closet/88 N. 11th street/ If patience isn’t one of your virtues, don’t go here (To add fuel to the fire, whoever controls the music is obviously a sadist because they play the absolute worst bands I’ve ever heard). BUT if you can make it through that, this massive warehouse of used clothing is an absolute treasure trove of vintage and designer finds on the cheap. (Women and Menswear)
Beacon’s massive warehouse in Williamsburg/ Photo by Scott Irvine
Narnia Vintage/ 672 Driggs Ave/ This branch of the Manhattan vintage house rivals the original store in selection and quality, just be sure to be on the lookout for the shop, the sign is a little too subtle. (Womenswear)
Narnia’s new location in Williamsburg/ Image courtesy of www.narniavintage.com
Le Grand Strip/ 197 Grand Street/ What I truly appreciate about the owner’s taste is that she embraces all that is fun, feminine, and sexy. The clothes that she selects really work on a woman’s body, especially for those trying to impress a gentleman. (Womenswear)
10ft Single by Stella Dallas/285 N. 6th St./ This store is an excellent combination of thrift and vintage. The front end is devoted to clothes from the 1980s on, at prices that are every hipster’s dream. But be sure to wander into the back room that holds the real vintage pieces. The only bummer about this shop is the total lack of customer service. (Women and Menswear)
South Brooklyn
1 of a Find/ 633 Vanderbilt Avenue/ Whether it is 1940s Hawaiian shirts or 1930s art deco gowns this store has got what you are looking for. The best part is the excellently merchandized jewelry and accessories that will make you feel like you’re in a candy store. (Women and Menswear)
A fraction of 1 of a Find’s collection/ Photo by Donna Alberico for the NY Times
Odd Twin/ 164 5th Avenue/ My favorite thing about Odd Twin is the owner, Francesca’s, adorable little baby girl. But my second favorite thing is the excellent selection of clothing from the 1940s-1980s. This store focuses much more on periods than designers, which translates into high quality at reasonable prices. (Women and Menswear)
Eva Gentry Consignment/ 371 Atlantic Avenue/ This shop brags that it has designer and vintage consignment from Alaia to Zero Maria Cornejo. Best of all, this claim is true. Using a combination of consignment and hand-me downs from its sister store, the high end shop, Eva Gentry, this shop has a great selection of designer goods at a reasonable prices. (Womenswear)
An Eva Gentry rack/ Image courtesy of www.evagentryconsignment.blogspot.com
Guvnor’s Vintage/178 Fifth Avenue/ Just half a block from Odd Twin is another Park Slope vintage stop. I recommend wandering into the back where the party dresses are, they tend to be higher quality than the more casual wear in front. (Women and Menswear)
For more vintage, shopping, and fashion tips, visit the author’s blog at www.NeonMamacita.com
Travel back to the dreamy world of vintage via a trip to CENTQUATRE (104), a cultural and artistic space tucked in the 19th arrondissement with a surprising history: the building, Villette’s slaughterhouse in 1873, was turned into the council’s funeral service (Service Municipal des Pompes Funèbres or SMPF) in 1905, where hearses (but not bodies!) and undertakers were housed. Named after its address of 104 rue d’Aubervilliers and reopened in 2008 as an artistic and creative center, CENTQUATRE’s sprawling 40,000 square meters is a great place to wander around in, and I was especially happy to stumble into the Wonder Vintage Market being held here for the weekend.
Entrance to the Wonder Vintage Market
It’s easy to get swept up in the vintage vibe here. A pair of old blue cars are parked just outside the entrance, where ladies decked out in beautiful 1950s fashion take your tickets. From there, I found myself floating in 700 square meters of vintage heaven, where I scoured the stands of movie posters, furniture, clothes and accessories, bicycles, toy collectibles and old records for precious treasures.
Vintage movie posters of every imaginable genre
Stands at the Wonder Vintage Market
The range of products was commendable; everything was of good quality, as if lovingly selected piece by piece, and the prices were fair. And why wouldn’t they be, with the curators of Wonder Vintage being die-hard vintage lovers themselves?
I caught a glimpse of Xavier Colombel and Héloà¯se Jacob, organizers and founders of Wonder Vintage, who were busy greeting guests and roaming the stands. Seeing them in person is like being confronted with veritable Retro Rock Stars. Colombel, an infographist and web developer and photographer, is a collector of clock-flip radios and old cars. Jacob, who works in publishing and communications, dresses in vintage every day from her accumulated 10-year collection. They wanted to launch a market that featured high-quality products in a fitting, vintage ambiance, reintroducing these beautiful objects to the public. Their belief in the culture of vintage, its beauty and its soul, has made Wonder Vintage a rousing success.
Remember these?
Quirky items and curios
The crowd starting to gather at the clothes stands
A haven for vintage clothes lovers
Aside from the lovely curios, the market has dressing stalls set up so you can try on the lovely, unique clothes for sale. There is also a photo studio, set up as a ’50s kitchen. The sellers are lovely as well, and everyone I spoke to took the time to explain their products’ history with passion in their voices and a sparkle in their eye – true vintage collectors and lovers.
Furniture at the Wonder Vintage Market
Try to find the perfect record to complete your collection
Vintage polaroids for the camera fans
It’s a perfect step back to the days when film was developed and phones worked by turning a dial. I left with a toy collectible robot and a plan to return the next day to score a vintage Peugeot bicycle – if, of course, someone hadn’t beaten me to it yet. This being the second World Vintage Market organized by the duo, here’s hoping for another event in the near future, because we definitely need more vintage in our lives.
Wonder Vintage Market at the CENTQUATRE
5 rue Curial, 75019
Metro: line 7 (Riquet)
Dec 1 and 2 2012, 10am-7pm
See our previous articles on events at Centquatre, including Leandro Ehrlich’s Batiment, a mirrored building faà§ade that had people hanging off the ledge in Paris, and Omnivore’s food events in the space.
East London is a ‘go to’ destination and namely it’s Brick Lane with the lovely art markets, vintage shops and quirky cafes. I took my time exploring this side of London (as it is quite literally on the other side of London to me) but have my definite favourite place to go for tea and cake (and the coffee is also very good!).
The Vintage Emporium is an amazing place to go if you love the homemade, vintage, quirky, comfortable type of cafe that serves tea in the largest cups I’ve seen and cake that comes in slabs. I’d recommend sharing! Downstairs is a great vintage shop that has some gorgeous items and is perfect for a hunt around.
If you do make your way over to that side of town, take a walk through Spitalfields Market, visit Rough Trade and get a black & white photo taken in their booth, check out art markets in the ‘Sunday Up Market‘ space and sample food from all over the world in the Old Truman Brewery.
Get in touch with the author @charlsvallance and check out her blog. Check back every other Wednesday for the next installation of (Art)chitecture by Charlotte Vallance.
Riding the subway is an experience of alternately judging people and ignoring them by playing phone games. Looking at Walker Evans’ subway portraits, not much has changed. It is somehow reassuring to know that even in the 1930s, New Yorkers were still annoyed by the general presence of pretty much everyone else. What is different, however, is the general proliferation of fur. And hats. Lots of hats.
After documenting depression-era rural America in the book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, Walker Evans turned his attention to city life and New York was the obvious choice. Over a period of three years, between 1938- 1941, Evans took photographs of fellow subway riders with a camera hidden in his coat. Despite the surreptitious hiding place, many of the subjects seem to stare directly into the lens as if they are totally aware that they are becoming subject matter (which says something about the intensity of a subway stare).
For a more refined interpretation of Walker Evans photographs, I turn to James Agee, who wrote the introduction to Evans’ book on the images, Many Are Called. He writes,
Those who use the New York subways are several millions…They are members of every race and nation of the earth. They are of all ages, of all temperaments, of all classes, of almost every imaginable occupation. Each is incorporate in such an intense and various concentration of human beings as the world has never known before. Each, also, is an individual existence, as matchless as a thumbprint or a snowflake. Each wears garments which of themselves are exquisitely subtle uniforms and badges of their being. Each carries in the postures of his body, in his hands, in his face, in the eyes, the signatures of a time and a place in the world upon a creature for whom the name immortal soul is one mild and vulgar metaphor.
I’ve seen many people on the subway to whom I might apply the term “vulgar metaphor”, and I laude Agee for finally giving me a vocabulary to do so. But like it or not, we somehow put up with each other- even if it is only in the name of going from Point A to Point B.
For more photos and commentary, visit Neon Mamacita.
