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Used Clothing can take many exciting forms, from the old fashion thrift shop to shops with a focus on vintage, and on to the world of luxury high end consignment. From the Lower East Side to Uptown, here is a guide to the best shops in Manhattan, an update to our previous guide to our 25 favorite vintage shops in Manhattan.
Pippin Vintage Jewelry and Pippin Home are two separate shops sitting side-by-side at 112 West 17th Street and 112 1/2 West 17th Street. While the jewelry shop has a street entrance, you will find the home shop down an alley between the buildings, which takes you to a hidden carriage house in the back. Furniture and wallhangings are artfully set about the outdoor space, as you make your way to the entrance of the back building. Also located on this same stretch of West 17th Street are the Angel Street Thrift Shop and a large Housing Works.
Dresses, dresses and more dresses, with a beautiful selection of vintage wedding gowns can be found at Shareen Vintage. This is not a street level shop. It’s located at 13 West 17th Street on the 2nd floor of a walk-up building, but worth the trek.
Beacon’s Closet is a Brooklyn based company with three locations in Brooklyn and one location in Manhattan, located at 10 West 13th Street. The West Village shop we visited was beautifully organized and filled with used women’s clothing and new accessories.
You’ll remember Hamlet’s Vintage from their many years on Bleecker Street. Now in a larger space on West 4th Street for the past year, this vintage clothing shop will sell either on consignment or buy your clothes.
Star Struck Vintage Clothing has been at this location in the West Village for over thirty-five years. Everything is organized by color and style, from casual-wear to rock tee’s to cool Hawaiian shirts. And then there are the vintage courture pieces. Gucci, Pucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior. Located at 47 Greenwich Avenue between Charles Street and Perry Street – family owned and operated. Also in the West Village, NYC Consignment located at 22 Jones Street carries high-end vintage clothing for women and men, hand-made jewelry and gifts.
Located at 7 West 14th Street, this is the new high-end Goodwill Boutique
Since its opening in September, this West Village High-End Goodwill Store has created quite the buzz. At 4,800 square feet, this space sells high-end goods for men and women. Located at 7 West 14th Street, this is their 13th store and 4th boutique in Manhattan.
Front window of the new high-end Goodwill Store on 14th Street
A reader steered us in the direction of Pilgrim Vintage, a small shop located at 70 Orchard Street, filled with high-end designer clothing. The owner, who spent several years as a stylist and fashion director for Bloomingdale’s, walked us through rows of Chanel suits and bags, and racks of Japanese designers like Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake. Every inch of the shop, filled with luxury brands, shoes, jewelry, and lots of handbags. Closed on Mondays.
Cure Thrift Shop opened the doors to their two-story, non-profit shop in 2008. Benefiting juvenile diabetes research and advocacy, they carry all manor of clothing, both men’s and women’s, all kinds of household items and furniture that spills out onto the sidewalk in the summer months. They are located at 111 East 12th Street.
Eleven Boutique located at 180 First Avenue, on the corner of 11th Street, is their flagship high-end shop where you can buy, trade or consign. We found racks of designer clothes, bags, shoes and jewelry at their First Avenue location. They also have two shops in Brooklyn.
Not only is Stock Vintage solely a men’s shop, but their primary focus is also on mens work-wear from the late 1800s to the late 1960s. As they write, you’ll find “complimentary objects that weave stories of beauty.”
The two-story Metropolis Vintage is located at 43 Third Avenue near 10th Street. This is vintage t-shirt heaven.
The very large No Relation Vintage located at 204 First Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, is part of an even larger company that goes by the name L Train Vintage. They have another East Village shop located at 111 East 7th Street and two more shops in Brooklyn.
The very eclectic and wonderful Screaming Mimi’s opened its doors in 1978 at 382 Lafayette Street in Noho, as a resource for film, TV, theater – and all vintage fashionista’s out there. Their Lafayette Street building was sold, and a search for a new location led them to Chelsea, where the new shop opened its doors this week. Screaming Mimi’s Chelsea is located on the parlor floor of 240 West 14th Street, between 7th-8th Avenues. The 382 Lafayette Street location will stay open through Halloween.
There are three great vintage shops in a row on East 9th Street beginning with Fabulous Fanny’s, located at 335 East 9th Street. They have both men’s and women’s vintage clothing, jewelry, and purses–but they’re best known for a nice selection of vintage eyewear, including antique spectacles dating back as far as the 1700s. Their eyewear is often used for Broadway shows and movies.
Right next door to Fabulous Fanny’s, you will find Cadillac’s Castle, the high-end designer consignment shop named after the owners dog, Cadillac. Here we found a mix of vintage Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang and Valentino with some interesting new pieces.
Continuing onto the next shop of this trilogy, we came upon a newcomer, Glasgow Vintage at 331 East 9th Street. Here you will find Scottish vintage for men, women and children. The shop is owned by a couple who owned a shop in Scotland for twenty years and moved to the U.S. last year. Lots of Harris tweed, colorful wool sweaters and plaid shirts.
Two shops in one occupy 208 East 6th Street, with Nomad Vintage, who was a ten year veteran of the Antique Garage, selling clothing and Mode Marteau selling antique jewelry. They opened their doors in 2013.
The 9th Street Haberdashery is a charming little shop specializing in ladies wear from the 1920’s and 1930’s and some pre-1950’s for boys. The shop is filled with lace tops, irish crochet, vintage lingerie and antique jewelry. Mixed in, you will find vintage taxidermy, antique dolls and what they call ‘antique oddities’. They’ve been at this location since 2012, and most certainly eye candy for the vintage lover. Their dogs, Amelia & Olive, are there to greet you.
AUH20 Thrift Shop located at 84 East 7th Street is what the owner calls women’s recycled clothing, shoes and accessories – including jewelry. Curious about the shop’s name? Au= Gold, H20= Water. They pride themselves on affordability. Most items in the shop are priced under $25 and they have a permanent $5 & $10 rack.
Directly across the street from AUH20 is Tokio 7, at 83 East 7th Street. Tokio 7 opened in 1995 selling high-end designer brand names. And since the owner is from Tokyo, Japan, his lables include Japanese designers like Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto, in addition to Prada, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana (to name a few). They consider themselves to be one of the largest consignment shops in the City, selling men’s and women’s clothing, eyewear and shoes.
Local Clothing Vintage was opened by an F.I.T. grad and has a mix of new, vintage and consignment pieces, all beautifully displayed. This tiny shop is located at 328 East 9th Street and seems to be always crowded.
Mr. Throwback‘s window is a throwback in time. Located at 428 East 9th Street, they specialize in vintage sportswear, NBA champion jerseys, video games and vintage toys like Space Jam and Batman paraphernalia. Mike, the owner, will buy, trade or consign.
Hats, gloves and fancy shoes are just a few of the beautiful things you’ll find at Cobblestones located at 314 East 9th Street. The owner grew up on East 4th Street and has had this shop for more than 34 years selling vintage clothes and accessories.
David Owens is the place to go for vintage suspenders. After 13 years on Orchard Street, they recently relocated to new space at 161 Rivington Street. We visited them last year where we found a rack of vintage cashmere coats for $100 each and they were going fast. The shop sells both ladies and men’s vintage-wear.
Edith Machinist Vintage Boutique, located at 104 Rivington Street, is the go-to place for vintage shoes. Beautifully displayed, they have a wide selection that run from the front door to the back wall, with racks of vintage clothing above.
Ellen is located at 123 Ludlow Street. Owned and operated by Ellen, this tiny eclectic shop has been at this location for twelve years. Her shop carries out of the ordinary vintage wear.
Dressing Room Bar & Boutique is what the name suggests. They have a vintage clothing exchange, a section for up-and-coming independent designers and a coctail bar! Located at 75 Orchard Street.
Buffalo Exchange is a national shop with five locations in the New York area including the East Village, Chelsea, Boerum Hill, Williamsburg and Astoria. This is not a consignment shop. They will buy, sell or trade.
The designer consignment shop INA has several locations in the City. We decided to visit Prince Street in Nolita where they have a women’s and men’s shop, side by side. You will also find them in Noho, Soho, Chelsea and Union Square.
Amarcord Vintage, located in Soho and Williamsburg, has a beautiful collection of high-end vintage fashion for men and women, including jewelry. We spotted an attractive row of men’s vintage valises in their Soho shop.
[Update: After a rent increase of about 400%, Amarcord Vintage closed its doors on Lafayette Street after ten years in business there. However its Williamsburg store will be upgraded and reopen mid-May 2016. Located at 223 Bedford Avenue, between N 4th and N 5th in Brooklyn.]
BIS Designer Resale (consignment) beautifully display top designer scarfs, handbags, shoes and women’s clothing. Located a block east of the MET at 1134 Madison Avenue, you can shop by designer. They’re all there.
Directly next door is Encore Resale, known as this Country’s first consignment shop founded in 1954 by Florence Barry, who in 1982 sold the shop to the Selig family. With over six decades of consignor relationships between them, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, they have racks and racks of designer clothing. While we were there, several large cars pulled up and idled, while women quickly ran in and out with bundles of clothing draped over their arms.
Simply named ‘Collette’, this beautiful high-end consignement shop is located at 192 Madison Avenue near 92nd Street in Carnegie Hill. The owner, whose name is Collette, first opened a high-end shop in the Hamptons 14 years ago. This has grown to five shops including men’s, children’s and furniture.
2nd Time Around high-end consignment has grown over the past thirty-five years to over forty shops in twelve states. With ten to choose from in New York City alone, we decided to visit their Carnegie Hill shop in this adorable space located at 1318 Madison Avenue between 93rd and 94th Streets.
LaBoutique Resale has occupied two floors at 1045 Madison Avenue for over twenty years, selling high-end designer women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories. Each shelf was neatly organized with merchandise from top designers, with a seperate collection of what they call ‘funky designs’ from Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garcons and the like.
Right next door to LaBoutique, located at 1041 Madison Avenue, is Michael’s Consignment which has operated at that location since 1954 in the high-end market.
With probably the widest street frontage we’ve ever seen Designer Resale has a separate women’s and men’s shop, side-by-side, stretching from 322 East 81st Street through 324 East 81st Street. The men’s shop has several small rooms, with high-end shoes, shirts, sport coats, and suits with labels like Gucci, Prada, Zengna and more. The women’s shop has six small rooms of high-end consignment clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories.
A Second Chance luxury resale consignment opened their doors in 1993 and have shops at 155 Prince Street and 1111 Lexington Avenue near 78th Street. We visited the Lexington Avenue shop–and there they were–Birkin Bags in every color. Over a dozen of them ranging in price to $75,000. In addition, designer clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
Last year, the consignment shop Martiell moved from East 9th Street to their new location at 163 East 87th Street. While they continue to carry high-end designers like Chanel, Gucci, Prada etc, they also hope to attract a younger group of patrons with a medium priced rack with designers like Rag & Bone, Theory, Helmut Lang and Alexander Wang for men and women.
Margoth Consignment located at 218 East 81st Street carries high-end women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
Also on the Upper East Side, we found The Arthritis Thrift Shop located at 1430 Third Avenue, and just a few doors down, The Society Boutique – part of Memorial Sloan Kettering, located at 1440 Third Avenue. At 246 East 84th Street is The National Council of Jewish Women Council Thrift.
Trunk Show Designer Consignment is located at 275-277 West 113th Street in Harlem, just East of Frederick Douglass Blvd. Opening in 2012, they carry high-end vintage with labels like Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci – to name a few, and a few local emerging designers.
City Opera Thrift Shop is beautifully curated, with proceeds benefiting the New York City Opera. They are known for their Vintage Events in art, accessories and furniture, each listed on their website. City Opera Thrift Shop is located at 222 East 23rd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
Vintage Thrift Gramercy, 286 Third Avenue
Vintage Thrift Shopswas founded in 1971 as a way to preserve and stabilize the Lower East Side with community development programs and services. They have two locations – 286 Third Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Streets, and Vintage Thrift West, located at 242 West 10th Street, between Bleecker & Hudson. All proceeds benefit the United Jewish Council of the East Side.
Cauz For Pawz is a nonprofit thrift store raises funds for animal welfare organizations, and rescue groups. In addition, they host pet adoptions and a community pet food pantry. Cauz For Pawz is located at 212 East 23rd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
Also on our list are the Goodwill and Church thrift Shops, Salvation Army, and of course, Housing Works all over the city, you never know what you’ll find. And we can’t forget our favorite online vintage shops like Back In Style with their extensive Pucci collection. If you have a favorite, we’d love to hear. Happy shopping!
You can contact the author at AFineLyne.
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