WHEN it comes to clothing, old is the new black. And with winter passing by smooth as a circa 1970s silk Hermes scarf, we decided to hit the streets in search of some of the best vintage boutiques the area has to offer. Twenty-some stores later, we’re the proud parents of two vintage Diane von Furstenberg dresses, (all for less than $100), an Isabelle Fiore handbag in mint condition ($25), three chunky rings (including a $41 black Lucite Chanel), a pair of stunning refurbished gold heels, a lace cocktail dress, a rabbit-fur capulet and a pair of comfortable, rock ‘n’ roll-style studded ankle boots. We only brought cash. We didn’t buy it if we doubted it (and neither should you). Voila, our vintage roundup:
Poppet
350 E. Ninth St.; (212) 924-3190
With red walls, platform shoes and sexy, sari-wearing mannequins, it comes as no surprise that Poppet helped style the upcoming “Sex and the City” movie. From fab handbags to sexy Maud Frizon heels, owners Billie Madley and Suzanne Pettit are serious fashion insiders, and it shows.
Frock
148 Orchard St.; (212) 594-5380, frocknyc.com
Consider this an unofficial vintage museum; Frock boasts the créme de le créme of old-school elegant wares. And if you ask nicely, owner Evan Ross just might show you the $3,500 Chanel dress he lent for an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It looks like patchwork ’80s bags are making a major comeback, and here they’re affordable, at about $100. Rachel Bilson and Mandy Moore can periodically be found here, perusing the dresses and snapping up vintage purple silk Manolo Blahnik heels.
TOKIO7
64 E. Seventh St.; (212) 353-8443
It’s not unusual to find something on display in this designer den also being sold for quadruple the price at Saks or Bloomie’s. That’s because fashion editors, stylists, designers (and anyone else who gets their hands on the merchandise a season in advance!) come here to sell their stuff and get 50 percent cash off the store’s stock. Prada, D&G, Martin Margiela, Viktor & Rolf,
Gucci, Versace, Fendi, Chanel – the gang’s all here. “Last week, I grab-bed two Marc Jacobs pencil skirts, and a pair of Nina Ricci pants from the $10 bin,” crows Tara Mikhail, who works “in the closet” at Women’s Wear Daily. “They’re awesome!”
Cobblestones
314 E. Ninth St.; (212) 673-5372
Make sure you don’t trip over a teapot when you enter this closet-like antique heaven, featuring wares from the 1940s through the ’70s. The store sells everything from scarves to brooches, clutches to costume jewelry. They’ve also got Florsheim hats, Bruno Magli Couture heels, sequined pillbox hats and tons of jewelry. “With vintage pieces like this, it’s a way of expression. It’s boring to be like everyone else,” says regular shopper Emile Simon. “I like to mix [vintage] with what’s new these days, like a leopard camisole under a plaid sweater with a Scottish terrier scarf.”
Cadillac’s Castle
333 E. Ninth St.; (212) 475-0406
It’s only been open 10 months, but owners Kreg and Joanne (it’s informal around here – no last names) and their dog Cadillac have a nice display of contemporary designers such as Corey Lynn Calter, Jill Stuart, Marc Jacobs and Walter. There’s a fun couture section where they carry the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier catsuits, the ones with the cat print in front and the rope down the sides.
Ina
15 Bleecker St.; (212) 228-8511, inanyc.com
This is one of those boutiques where supply and demand is what keeps it going – along with a hefty price tag on some of the exclusive, vintage Chanel and Marc Jacobs items. Amiable yet shrewd owner Milo Bernstein won’t say where he tracks his amazing finds, the best in the city, except that he has “arrangements.” After playing the vintage game for 15 years, it’s not a surprise.
Stella Dallas Vintage & Used Clothing
218 Thompson St.; (212) 674-0447
It’s hard to know where to begin when you step inside this store, which boasts major vintage street cred. You can go the conservative route and try on a snazzy $75 shift dress, or squeeze into a pencil skirt with a matching tweed pink blazer for a look that’s very “Mad Men.” Or go the crazy route and try on something like a psychedelic muumuu; belt it up and it’s a very cool-looking dress. You’ll also have a great time sifting through vintage Burberry trench coats ($125), fur capulets, and sweet Blue Frye cowboy boots for $85.
Olive’s Very Vintage
434 Court St., Brooklyn; (718) 243-9094
Olive’s is not your average old Ramones T-shirt-and-jeans kind of vintage place. Since owner Jen McCulloch opened the boutique in Carroll Gardens seven years ago, Brooklyn has gotten a serious dose of style. The shop’s eclectic collection spans centuries, featuring pieces from the late 1800s to the rockin’ 1980s.
Amarcord Vintage Fashion
252 Lafayette St.; (212) 431-4161
Italy might be the home of fashion, but now, thanks to Patti Bordoni and Marco Liotta’s vintage empire, the East Village is getting in on the action.
Amarcord focuses on styles from the 1940s to 1980s, and offers frocks from household Italian names like Roberta di Camerino, Gucci and Fendi.
Exquisite Costume
377 Broome St.; (212) 966-4142
Tracy Moulton and Stacy Iannacone are known for two things at Exquisite Costume: their collection of turn-of-the-century garments (think fab 1920s vintage flapper dresses) and high-end threads from the top designers of the 1970s and ’80s, including YSL and Ungaro. This shop has it all, from skirts and shirts to boots and belts.
Michael’s Consignment Shop FOR WOMEN
1041 Madison Ave.; (212) 737-7273
It’s not exactly vintage, but Michael’s is your best bet for spectacular secondhand duds. Since 1954, the consignment shop has outfitted fashion-forward New Yorkers on a budget. If your style is more modern than outright vintage, hit up this Madison Avenue shopping mecca, which doesn’t sell anything more than two years old.
– With additional reporting by Jennifer Tis