As the stomping ground for New York’s creative cool kids, leafy
Williamsburg is packed with thrilling thrift stores. If you’re a
newbie looking to launch yourself into the world of vintage, head
straight to Buffalo Exchange, an OG on New York’s pre-loved
circuit that’s been retailing in killer clothes, shoes and decor
for over 47 years. If it’s a smaller, more intimate shopping
experience you’re after, there’s Unearth Vintage,
specialising in fashion from the 1940s through to the 1990s, and
Awoke
Vintage. Originally an Australian market pop-up, Awoke’s first
bricks-and-mortar store has become a go-to for NYC’s high-flying
fashion stylists on the hunt for off-radar finds. Finally, no trip
to Williamsburg would be complete without a visit to Artists and Fleas, a busy indoor marketplace touting
everything from vintage vinyl and handmade goodies to wacky top
hats from the Twenties.

Dive a little deeper into Brooklyn, past its eponymous bridge
and beyond Williamsburg’s tree-lined boulevards, and you’ll
eventually end up in Bushwick, a zippy neighbourhood celebrated for
its growing community art scene and soulful Latin roots. Plus, if
you know where to look, it also has some of the best thrifting to
be found anywhere in the city. Start off at L Train
Vintage, a two-storey outpost of a popular vintage chain that
carries everything from Nineties band shirts to statement designer
pieces. Next up is the Bushwick branch of Beacon’s
Closet, another much-loved vintage chain, and the place where
in-the-know New Yorkers score their winter coats, and local
institution GG’s Social Trade & Treasure Club, a three-in-one
vintage shop, event space and art gallery.

Home to a staggering 250 galleries, museums and exhibition
spaces, artsy Chelsea delivers a punch on the thrift store front,
too. At the more upmarket end of the scale, there’s Housing Works, a serious treasure trove for
unique vintage finds, with proceeds going towards providing
resources for those affected by AIDS and homelessness in the city.
Then, there’s trend-setting Crossroads, where you can rifle through racks
organised by theme (think “fringe”, “leather” and “00s”), and even
trendier The Buis
New York, a sartorial design studio you’ll need an appointment
to visit. Ever on the hunt for knockout eyewear, the headliner act
here for us is Eye Candy, a small vintage nirvana selling deadstock
frames and cute-as-they-come handbags, as well as an array of
gorgeous gloves, hats and jewellery.

Best known for its cultural diversity and thriving food scene,
East Village is also peppered with eclectic thrift and vintage
stores. Start off on 7th Street, where you’ll find funky upcycled
Nineties numbers at AuH2O, then whizz over to 8th Street for kitschy 1940s
couture at Cobblestones, before hitting the pay-by-the-pound
market at St Mark’s Place – bring a large tote. Still got room to
spare? Stop by Cure Thrift, a much-talked-about non-profit known for
its standout one-off pieces (light-up cowboy boots, anyone?),
Rogue, from
Depop thrifting super-queen Emma Rogue, and kooky designer den
Cloak
& Dagger. But our favourite of all? Fabulous
Fanny’s – a genuinely fabulous vintage eyewear store that
flaunts the most comprehensive stock of specs we’ve ever laid eyes
on.

Short for North of Houston, this well-heeled pocket of Manhattan
is especially popular among vintage sneaker-seekers. If you count
yourself as part of that club, skip straight to Laced Up, a
streetwear-inspired store stocking killer kicks by the likes of
Yeezy, Supreme and Bape. Not a sneakerhead? The store also offers
cool graphic tees and skater hoodies, as well as vintage pins and
caps. Next on our list is 2nd Street, a mecca for secondhand designer
threads, where – whisper it – premium brands like Christian Dior
can be snapped up for as little as £7. And the best bit? This
Japanese joint believes in a circular economy and strives for
sustainability across the board, with any clothes that can’t be
sold being donated to those in need.