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Vintage Thrift ($$$) 286 Third Avenue (22nd-23rd) |
Nestled on the border of the Gramercy Park and Kip's Bay neighbourhoods in Manhattan lies the thrift store trifecta - a trinity of some of the best second-hand stores I've had the pleasure of frequenting here in New York. All within a half-avenue radius of each other (and three short blocks from my apartment), these thrift stores have furnished me with some of my most treasured belongings at my home away from home.
Admittedly, I haven't always been big on thrift stores - I used to harbour fear that whatever I would tote home would bring along with it some evil spirit or bad karma (I'm not kidding), so I avoided such establishments and reasoned that I was protecting myself from the need for future exorcisms. But I digress. These three thrift stores - Vintage Thrift, Housing Works, and City Opera Thrift Shop - have introduced me to the world of consignment and the thrill of the hunt!
At Vintage Thrift you'll find a smorgasbord of old-school art, furniture, housewares, books, records, Broadway Playbills and, of course, vintage and regular pre-loved clothing and accessories.
They often have a great selection of high-end fashion pieces, from Marc Jacobs to Salvatore Ferragamo and Oscar de la Renta to Prada. Most recently I spied two beautiful vintage Hermès scarves (!)...that I couldn't justify purchasing. Tragic, I know.
They often have a great selection of high-end fashion pieces, from Marc Jacobs to Salvatore Ferragamo and Oscar de la Renta to Prada. Most recently I spied two beautiful vintage Hermès scarves (!)...that I couldn't justify purchasing. Tragic, I know.
The price point of Vintage Thrift is fair, however high end fashion items are marked as such (high end) and oftentimes run a little on the expensive side. The good news? Vintage Thrift often has great promotions and sales that can significantly knock down the price of a striking pair of, say, Miu Miu heels, for example.
And if the glow from donning a gorgeous vintage frock or designer pair of jeans isn't enough incentive to hand over your paper or plastic, proceeds from Vintage Thrift benefit the United Jewish Council of the East Side. Ah, Tzedakah! (Hebrew for charity.)
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Housing Works ($$) 157 East 23rd Street |
The uniqueness of Housing Works lies in their online auctions, where you can find the best of the best goods. Auction lots range from couches to art pieces and antique jewelry to candlesticks! A charitable eBay, if you will, the Housing Works online auctions make a lot of money for the organization and they're an awesome place to hunt for treasures.
The only drawback to Housing Works is that they won't sell you an item on their floor that isn't priced. I once found two beautifully upholstered lilac-coloured chairs that would have been more than perfect for my apartment, but they hadn't yet been given a price tag, so I had to leave without them. When I went back the next day, they were already snatched up. Alas, Housing Works Gramercy remains a staple on my thrift list!
And now on to my favourite pre-loved boutique! In my opinion, City Opera Thrift Shop has the best selection of everything under the sun and it is the most reasonably priced store in the trifecta. They have fun events and killer sales and always seem to be on point when it comes to the seasons and trends of the time.
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City Opera Thrift Store ($) 222 East 23rd Street |
Manhattan is home to dozens of thrift stores, most of which contribute at least a portion of their profits to charitable causes. And if you haven't yet gotten over your fear of buying second-hand, or it's just not your style, don't forget to donate your own unwanted clothing and furniture!
Check out the thrift store trifecta for yourself, and always remember: one person's trash is another person's treasure!
Happy hunting!
xo,
SM
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