New York City's Best Vintage and Second-hand shops
Everything is better in New York (except for the Chinese food, apparently) but the vintage and thrift shopping is absolutely, infinitely better in New York. But where do you even start? Which places are most worthy of the time that you have so little of? We’ve done the grunge work for you (no pun intended) so that whatever time you spend digging is hopefully spent striking gold. Aside from shopping second-hand being easy on your wallet, it is also really environmentally friendly and our beautiful earth and global climate can use all of the help to slow down the compounding damage from fast fashion. So, save the earth and your wallet by following this guide around the city to find all of the hidden treasures that your soul desires.
The Attic
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Head over to Williamsburg and you’ll find the Attic, a vintage shop with thoughtfully, well-curated items with prices averaging around $15 - $30 - a pleasantly lower range than most vintage shops around the city. The Attic has a remarkably friendly staff, where they’ll likely offer your pup a treat and maybe even serve champagne to you as a guest (outside of COVID, of course). The Attic should absolutely be on your list of places to visit regularly if you’re wanting to make solid your vintage and second-hand shopping game.
The Attic is open 11 am to 8 pm every day. They require masks, enforce social distancing, and ask that you sanitize your hands before shopping in-store at a limited capacity.
For more information, check out The Attic’s website here and browse some of their current and past inventory on Instagram here.
photo c/o the attic
Le Grand Strip Vintage Boutique
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Originally named “Fille De Joie” by founder CC McGurr, Le Grand Strip is a fabulous vintage boutique in Williamsburg with a French Riveria twist. CC has a remarkable background in fashion and entertainment and spent 2000-2007 writing about fashion trends in PAPER magazine while dreaming up Le Grand Strip. Drop by Le Grand Strip to find a number of exciting, bright, unique, and fun pieces that will bring life to your closet. Le Grand Strip also has vintage and used designer pieces, so if you’re looking for some big names like Gucci, Chanel, or Jimmy Choo, you’ll love everything Le Grand strip has to offer. Visit their Instagram for current inventory and their website to learn more about Le Grand Strip.
photo c/o le grand strip vintage
Feng Sway
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Step into Feng Sway, a swanky vintage shop in Williamsburg filled with greenery (for purchase) and lined with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and accessories. Dubbed “your personal paradise”, Feng Sway is an experience like no other, with inventory that tells a story of its own. If you’re not looking to get out for some socially-distant shopping, Feng Sway has a lot of their inventory online which is rare and so convenient, even if you’re just wanting to browse online before you shop in-person. They have ten different categories to shop online, ranging from home decor and oddities to dried florals and loungewear. Feng Sway has some other amazing vintage and resale retail neighbors, so if you make the trip out to Williamsburg you’ll be in good company.
Shop Feng Sway’s online inventory here.
photo c/o feng sway
Dusty Rose Vintage
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Female-founded by Maresa Pontich, Dusty Rose is a vintage store in the charming neighborhood of Greenpoint in Brooklyn that is wholeheartedly dedicated to ecological and humanitarian principles. With a background in fashion with large corporate retailers, Maresa decided to dedicate her career to sustainable fashion, and to the benefit of all of us (and Mother Earth!) she brought us Dusty Rose in 2008. Dusty Rose offers wardrobe styling and consulting (among many other amazing services) so if you’re wanting help bringing some pieces to life, Dusty Rose is exactly what you’re looking for.
Explore Dusty Rose’s services and their story on their website here.
photo c/o dusty rose vintage
Risk Gallery and Boutique
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Colorful. Bright. Fun. Ridiculous. This is Risk Gallery. If you could envision a boutique that was all of your childhood dreams of playing dress-up, modified for you as an adult, you are basically envisioning the reality of Risk. Even better, Risk is what I think famous artist Ashley Longshore’s closet would look like if I was ever able to sneak a peek. If you’re looking for bright, bold, girly, eclectic pieces and art, add Risk to the very top of your list.
Visit Risk’s website here for more information on their hours and more.
photo c/o risk gallery and boutique
Worship Vintage
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Worship is a remarkable vintage shop in Bushwick that is temporarily closed due to COVID but they have a fully shoppable Instagram account here where they frequently post and style pieces that are available for purchase. Fingers crossed that Worship will reopen when COVID restrictions are lifted. If you head out to Catskills, the Worship store is still available to shop for an in-person experience. You’ll find some charming pieces at Worship, all within the $20-$60 price range which is mid-tier for vintage shopping - not thrift prices but not on the higher-end of vintage shops, either - a nice middle ground. Worship’s amazing staff is always ready to help you with whatever you may need on your vintage hunt so be sure to follow and reach out to Worship until they’re able to safely and sustainable re-open their Bushwick location.
photo c/o worship vintage
Collections Vintage
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Collections Vintage in Bushwick is a beautiful, soft, and delicate vintage shop with a smaller selection of finely curated items for your shopping. Think more feminine color sand silhouettes in a soft and airy boutique and you’ll have Collections. Collections is open and available to shop in person (required masks and social distancing) but they also offer shoppable Instagram stories and have their direct messages open and available for shopping requests and purchases as well. Follow and shop Collections here.
photo c/o collections vintage
Known to Man
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Known to Man was founded in 2008 to serve as a destination for magical pieces and vintage goodness galore. Located on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, Known to Man is another spot that you’ll have to add to your Williamsburg round-up of vintage shops that deserve your time ad money. Known to Man is open to shop in person but they’re available on Instagram to shop virtually as well! Know to Man is also styling up their pieces and featuring fabulous fits for your viewing and shopping pleasure so be sure to give them a follow and stop by in-person when you’re in the neighborhood!
photo c/o know to man
L Train Vintage
Brooklyn and Manhattan
L Train Vintage has a number of different stores around New York, with three Brooklyn locations and one in Manhattan. L Train is a great place to thrift and find vintage pieces at great and totally affordable prices. You’ll have to do a little more hunting here as the inventory isn’t as curated or refined to a certain style but if you love to hunt and find amazing deals, you’ll have fun at any of L Train’s locations. Explore their Instagram to sift through some funky inventory and view their COVID 19 story highlights to see what they’re doing to help prevent the spread while you shop!
photo c/o l train vintage
Madame Matvou
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Madame Matvou is full of feminine, elegant, flirty, and unforgettable pieces. Madame Motvou is a sea of shining jewels, accessories, and colorful clothing, with an array of high fashion name brands, too! This beautiful shop is female-founded and run by a wonderful lady named Rosemary, so be sure to drop in and introduce yourself to Rosemary or ask to learn about her memorable story and her history as a successful store owner in one of the friendliest neighborhoods in Manhattan. Madame Matovu is a world of possibilities and adventure boxed up in a beautiful shop off of West 10th street - a shop you’ll be so happy that you paid a visit to.
Madame Matovu is closed Monday and Tuesday, but open Wednesday through Saturday. Follow Madame Matovu on Instagram to see their COVID hours and their stunning inventory.
photo c/o madame motvu
