This article is part of the FT Globetrotter’s New York Guide.
Street style photographer Johnny Cirillo recently camped outside a particular vintage store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, hoping to capture some imaginative dressers for his popular Instagram account Watching New York. I’m doing it. “I know there are cool people coming and going,” he says. One of our favorite spots is Awalk Vintage, well known for its celebrity clientele (Lana Del Rey, Emily Ratajkowski, and Malia Obama have been spotted there). On Saturdays, the store is so busy that it’s difficult to enter. Young chics check out each other on a public catwalk on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn.
Shopping has changed a lot over the past decade. Once upon a time, the ultimate New York City fashion experience was a trip to Carrie Bradshaw-inspired Barneys (now closed). Today, with economic instability and online retail taking over, the idea of ​​going shopping as a leisure activity, perhaps followed by an afternoon cocktail surrounded by paper bags, feels quite retro. You can. But one area of ​​fashion retail that’s having an IRL moment in New York is vintage clothing. Vintage fashion expert Lisa Jokinen, who has been creating a map of the city’s best shops since 2017 (available as an app here) says: Open it or listen to the person who is trying to open it. ”
Much of it is a youth movement driven by the 2000s fashion revival (stores like Awalk sell 1990s and 2000s dreams, like Vivienne Westwood corsets and Jean Paul Gaultier mesh T-shirts). items are overflowing). Jokinen notices that: Many of the store owners are fairly new to the clothing business and have been building their customer base and inventory on platforms like Depop during the pandemic. But the shopping scene offers everything from hand-picked designer treasures to “stacked” thrift and Americana-inspired men’s clothing.
Jokinen says the energy in the field is being driven by broader cultural changes. “Buying second-hand is no longer a niche activity; it’s less stigmatized and more in demand.”Additionally, “so many mid-priced clothing companies, including brands like Mara Hoffman, We had no choice but to close.” Because of this, people looking for high-quality clothing without paying $1,000 for high-end designer pants may be more open to second-hand and vintage items.
With so much demand, inflation, soaring rents, and competition from high-end clothing, prices are no longer as low as they used to be. Sadly, these days you rarely hear of smart shoppers finding Gucci blouses in thrift store bargain bins. Still, in the best shops, the prices are favorable, even compared to new designer clothes and mid-priced clothes.
There’s also a refreshing energy to this field. We pride ourselves on reuse and sustainability, and bring a unique flavor to many of our shop experiences. In addition to the physical store, Jokinen says there are many events held every weekend. We recommend following her on Instagram to find out what pop-up and vintage markets are happening in town during your visit (her favorite is A Current Affair, which comes twice a year).
Indeed, used clothing seems to bring people together, from people-watching in Williamsburg to chatting with salespeople while browsing the shelves at a pop-up market. In the internet age, it feels fresh and, well, vintage.
james veloria
75 East Broadway #225, New York, NY 10002
Finding James Veloria feels like a uniquely New York experience. The store, a neon-hued oasis with a giant pink heart cut into the wall, is tucked away on the second floor of an unassuming shopping mall on a busy road just below the Manhattan Bridge. . It may take a little while to find (I had to watch a TikTok video to find the correct entrance), but it’s worth it. The clothes are not cheap, but the quality is excellent. In fact, I gasped when I saw several items on the racks (a $220 all-black Prada dress, a $170 men’s 1990 Gianni Versace men’s yellow palm tree print shirt) ).
There are also vintage shops on every floor of the building, including the cool New York brand Eckhaus Latta. You’ll feel like you’ve discovered a stylish secret (most stores are open Wednesday through Sunday, but some, like James Veloria, are open seven days a week). Located in the heart of Chinatown, it’s also a great place to grab some dumplings after shopping. Website; Directions
Seven Wonders Collective and Stella Dallas
203 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 and 285 & 281 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
It’s hard to choose just one high-end vintage shop in Williamsburg, so here are two that are just a 10-minute walk away. Seven Wonders has three locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but the main location in Williamsburg is huge, beautifully curated by a collective of several vintage dealers, and is hard to beat. On this visit, I bought Issey Miyake’s pleated please pants for $328, Michael Kors’ buttery black leather blazer for $248, Jean Paul Gaultier’s 1999 mesh T-shirt for $478, and a fringed cowboy rawhide leather jacket for $438. I found it for dollars. Website; Directions
Stellar Dallas is technically two adjacent stores. Stella Dallas Living offers a beautifully curated shopping experience with soft music and rich fabrics throughout. The walls are lined with rare and delicate 1930s lace dresses (many in the $500 range), as well as a host of designer and on-trend items (Balenciaga sneakers, $145 and $95 cowboy boots). Next door, Stella Dallas’ 10-foot single is a more down-to-earth selection of $30 worth of recycled goods, with racks crammed with printed T-shirts, jeans, and dresses. Website; Directions
crowley vintage
147 Front Street, Suite 303, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Former longtime Ralph Lauren employee Sean Crowley describes the highly curated yet comprehensive store aesthetic as “British-American” and “Ralph Lauren-adjacent.” This treasure trove is home to traditional menswear from 1880 to 1980. This is a vintage shop rather than a recycled one, which is reflected in the prices, and there are many rare items on display. Highlights include beautiful suits (from 1960s seersucker Brooks Brothers to English tweed and Savile Row pinstripes) that cost about $500 to $800. Also $275: Barbour jackets, military coats, knit jumpers and vests, leather belts, Harris wool tweed overcoats, and vintage umbrellas (with age marks on the handles and refurbished to withstand the weather). On sale from $325.
Crowley knows his extensive collection intimately and is available for advice at the store, which is open to the public on Saturdays but can also be visited by appointment. Not-for-sale items are scattered throughout the mannequins (including a 1904 French Academy uniform made of black wool and hand-embroidered with silk thread with green olive branches), and the decor is chic with an English flair. It has been. (Also Oxford University’s wooden boat shield, a photo of Churchill and a bearskin hat.) Website; Directions
other people’s clothes
150 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Although prices for vintage and used items have gone up recently, it’s still possible to find bargains at OPC (which has two locations in Brooklyn and one in Queens; I visited the huge Williamsburg store). proves that. We have just about everything you could want, including curve sizes and menswear. Most items are priced between $8 and $35, including mid-priced brands like Reformation and Farm Rio, and everything is organized by color. There are also higher value items (I had my eye on the $575 oxblood Jil Sander box handbag, but wisely left the $22 Lauren Ralph Lauren dark floral shirt). It’s light, bright, and a little easier to get to than your average thrift store, but it does require some effort. If you’re in the mood for experimenting and trying on things to a soundtrack of loud music, come along. Website; Directions
Where do you buy vintage in New York? Let us know in the comments section below. Follow FT Globetrotter (@FTGlobetrotter) on Instagram.
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