Vintage 1970s Photos Show Lost Sites of NYC's Lower East Side
A quest to find his grandmother's birthplace led Richard Marc Sakols on a mission to capture his changing neighborhood on film.
From quirky home decor to 1940s fashion, these thrift and vintage shops sell what you need to stand out in NYC!
New York City is a fashion capital that caters to customers looking for everything from haute couture to second-hand finds. We have New York Fashion Week, flagship stores for global brands, independent boutiques, and an abundant selection of treasure-filled thrift stores. Here we look at five of the most uniquely charming second-hand stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Lediona and Elona, founders of Tired Thrift, created a store filled with clothing sourced from vendors across the globe. These two girls made it their mission to break away from the norm of fast fashion and offer shoppers a sustainable way to keep up with trends. You can find everything from lace silk tops to accessories, and movie posters for Y2K films. As a Gen Z customer or a fashion lover of any age, you may find your next staple piece here.
Unearth Vintage & Thrift is full of light and color. With quality clothing arranged in a rainbow pattern on the racks, this family-owned business creates a fun shopping atmosphere. It also boasts sensible prices! Thrifters looking for a bargain can find pieces on the $5 rack. Unearth Vintage adds an unexpected burst of new styles to its collections every week.
Think of this store as the quirky gift shop of your dreams. It is full of fun decor items like food-shaped candles, vintage clothing pieces, and furniture you can’t find anywhere else. Even their beauty and wellness products have a creative spin. Why have a regular tube of lipstick when it can be shaped like a cigarette? Feng Sway‘s fair prices make the selection even better. Truly adventurous shoppers can opt for a mystery bag filled with a surprise gift. Whether you pick up a Greek coffee cup-shaped claw clip or a troll doll lighter case, you’re sure to leave with a one-of-a-kind piece.
Hamlet’s Vintage offers pieces that allow you to channel the style of past eras from the 1940s through the 1990s. Purchases can be made online or at the Greenwich Village shop where you can browse the store’s inventory of high-quality, handpicked items. Since the store carries designer labels and luxury goods, prices are a bit higher than your typical second-hand store. Whether you pick up a neon color block dress from the 1980s or a 1970s suede jacket, each curated piece is sure to help you stand out.
Tokio7 is a designer consignment shop hidden in the East Village. Its racks are full of pieces from designer labels like Raf Simmons, Margiela, Versace, Prada, and more. You’ll also find garments from Japanese designers, a nod to the heritage of Tokio7’s founder Makoto Watanabe, a Japanese transplant who established this shop in 1996. Tokio7 is now one of the largest designer consignment stores in New York. The store offers daily sales that make designer labels more accessible. Over the past 28 years, the shop has attracted local shoppers, influencers, and celebrity clients like Chloë Sevigny.
Next, check out our thrift store archives for more!
Subscribe to our newsletter