The best vintage stores in NYC

Women who appreciate a color-coordinated closet (guilty!) will love Mirth Vintage, as the store—which hawks mostly monochrome, timeless duds—is handily organized by hue. At the Greenpoint shop, sift the racks for wares and accessories (bags, shoes, belts and some jewelry) from the early 20th century to the early aughts.

No shop in New York understands the need to express yourself through a cold-weather protector than one of Manhattan's most vibrant vintage shops, Spark Pretty. After the success of the store's '90's Forever pop-up, owners Amanda Dolan and Meagan Colby put down permanent roots in the East Village in 2018. The aesthetic is a combination of “I Want My MTV” meets '80’s hair bands, crossed with the flash of '70’s glam-rock. We dig it. We're particularly loving the early-90s Barbie tees, the rainbow-bright ravewear and the crystal-encrusted, hand-painted Tony Alamo jean jackets. You'll also find other throwback apparel items including bellbottoms, studded skinny jeans, pins, patches and shoes.

Countless celebs call Metropolis a favorite shopping destination: Drake, Bella Hadid, and Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have all been snapped shopping at this nearly four-decade-old Greenwich Village spot. And no wonder—the shop boasts one of the best vintage T-shirt collections in the city, as well as leather jackets, sports jerseys and breezy summer rompers. We fell in love with a black leather Coach purse covered in gold studs, along with a purple, black and shimmery silver zebra sweatshirt that brought us straight back to the ’90s.

Owners Patti Bordoni and Marco Liotta stock their shops with decades-old duds in pristine condition, sourced from frequent trips to their Italian homeland. Expect to find well-known Italian designers such as Gucci, Pucci and Valentino mixed in with other European labels that fit the shop’s edgy, mod aesthetic. During past visits, we discovered a multicolor button-up Versace blouse that’s so bold it needed no accessories, and there’s also a men’s section where you can find Euro-influenced clothing and a plentiful selection of buttery-soft T-shirts.

Children of the ’80s and ’90s will feel like they’re back in their childhood bedroom at this men’s shop, which specializes in vintage sports attire like NBA snapbacks and jerseys, Yankees windbreakers and lovingly faded Mets tees. The owner's collection is so well-curated that rappers and celebs (like Kid Cudi and Scarlett Johansson) are among the shop’s fans. And in case the retro athleisure isn't enough of a blast from the past, it also stocks Space Jam, Mighty Ducks and Batman paraphernalia to delight your inner kid. 

Situated directly across from Bowery Ballroom, this shop aims to satisfy your craving for late ’80s and ’90s streetwear, and it more than succeeds. Invoke some nostalgia with a hard-to-find Smashing Pumpkins concert tee, an oversized Wu-Tang shirt or a pair of rugged yet sexy Gucci/Timberland printed boots. Accessorize with a Keith Haring keychain or patch and pick up a Troll (remember those?!) as a fun conversation piece to make your trip down memory lane complete.

This vintage mecca, which opened in 2006, packs an exhaustive collection of affordable men’s and women’s clothing. Shoppers can choose from lived-in concert tees to LL Bean vests, bright plaid shorts to button-down flannels, and racks of one-of-a-kind shoes. Seriously, we mean one of a kind: during one trip, we spotted a pair of white leather kitten-heeled boots festooned with pastel flowers. This is also a great spot to check out if you need to flourish your denim drawer, with pairs of Levi's, Lucky Brand and Wranglers aplenty. 

You’ll find Calvin Klein denim overalls, Ralph Lauren crewbecks, vintage Madonna and Metallica concert tees, and a wide selection of sports team sweatshirts, jackets and tanks (go Yankees!) at L-Train’s three city locations, which carry ’70 to ’90s style fashions for as little as five bucks. They also have a great selection of neon, pineapple and pink-flamingo printed Hawaiian shirts—perfect for that upcoming summer BBQ where you want to want to look good but still have a few bucks left to show up with a six-pack in hand.

Vintage fanatics, start your engines: Fashion Institute of Technology graduate Lexi Oliveri raided her stylish mother’s stash in preparation for this Williamsburg boutique and subsequently curated a well-edited collection of pieces tagged at surprisingly gentle prices. Find high-waisted Lee denim from the late 1970s, DKNY blazers from the '80s and early-'90s Tommy Hillfiger frocks that will turn heads on the boardwalk, beach or city street. The space is outfitted with industrial pipes, French damask wallpaper and a vintage armoire stocked with purses and jewelry to complement any outfit you put together.

This high-end boutique is known for dressing fashion-minded celebs (Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz and the like) for red-carpet events and photo shoots, with designer pieces dating back to the 1850s. The store’s pieces have made their way onto countless theater and movie sets such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Kinky Boots. Discerning stylistas with a penchant for pre-loved loot can scoop up Chanel earrings, Gucci strappy sandals and period cocktail dresses. An appointment-only showroom upstairs houses museum-quality pieces that can be rented for special occasions, so come ready to empty your wallet.