when in ny

Since my recent trip to new york, I've had a couple of emails from people asking about shops that i would recommend stopping by.

you all know that I favour second hand over new stuff (although a little american apparel to keep things topped up doesn't hurt) so rather than embarking on a 5th avenue extraganza, I favoured snooping downtown on the lookout for vintage boutiques and sounding out a couple of flea markets.

although it always helps to share the love where great second hand shops are concerned, I'm generally of the opinion that you can come across a gem anywhere, so lots of my stops included random goodwill or salvation army stores.

the picks below are ones that are refreshingly affordable, because i'm sure like me you're probably sick of bveing told to check out places that, yes, are pretty but also 5 times over your budget.

pippin
112 west 17th street, between 6th and 7th
if you're impartial to a shiny ring or eight, this this jewellry shop. will satisfy your magpie tendencies. the prices range widely and for a nice change there is a large section on the left with cheaper but non the less unique rings, neckaces and broaches fit for any of the swedish princess bloggers.

the antiques garage
112 west 25th st between 6th and 7th
9am-5pm sat and sun open only at the weekends, in the novel setting of an old car park building this market has hundreds of stalls. you can pick up clothes, old jewellry and wardrobe fillers, but it also sells some great old pieces for your house as well as cameras (i bought my polaroid here) and knick knacks form decades gone by. don't forget to do a little sweet talking to haggle down prices.

hells kitchen flea market

west 39th street between 9th & 10th avenues

open 9am to 6pm sat and sun

beneath an underpass in hells kitchen you can almost smell the ghost of edie sedgewick rummaging besides you through old naval jumpers and real fur coats. there are some great clothes stalls here and a tip; you're actually better off going on a day when it is cold and threatening to rain as the vendors are more willing to lower prices and get the hell out of there after selling what they can. i especially liked athena vintages stall; it felt like I could have been in Paris and was presented wonderfully.

fox and fawn
112 suffolk street between rivington and delancey.
if you only go to one place, this is it. you promise? because I swear (i'll tell you the same as I told abby) you'll want to try on everything all at once and curl up in the corner and have someone stroke your head while you dream of bunny rabbits and clothes. and then you'll compose yourself, try on a stack of lovelies and leave with something(s) that you'll cherish, without giving your bank account a massive beating.

there were some places that I didn't manage to stop by (until next summer..) but I've heard good things about them :

screaming mimis
382 Lafayette St.
packed full of handpicked vintage, i get the impression that SM is along the same lines as london's absolute vintage and beyond retro, but a little pricier than some of the earlier mentioned ny stops. however, it is a favourite of stylists and stylish civilians alike who cite it as among the best of the vintage stores in ny.

beacon's closet
88 n. 11th st. brooklyn or 220 5th ave. brooklyn
the tip top vintage mecca will require a trip over the bridge, but you should be heading over there anyway if you know anything about fashion as it has been home to a serious influx of interest since the start of the noughties. not sure about the prices of stock over here, but I've heard it's really worth a visit.

resurrection
123 east 7th street
or 217 mott street
favoured by chloe sevigny, although she does admit that it is a little steep, so screaming mimi's is probably the cheaper option. however the boutique which has opened in an old funeral parlour 12 years ago is one of new yorks most famous stops with nicolas guesquiere, kate moss and well, bloody everyone among it's customers . so i'd go there to get a feel but then go to the smaller shops for a more personal experience.

please be sure to share the love and comment about any other places you think i've missed out or that deserve a mention.

all pics fox and fawn