Taking on the City in Style: PhotoBook’s Guide to the Best Thrifting in NYC
Taking on thrifting in New York City can feel like trying to tame a beast — it’s daunting, overwhelming, and even a bit intimidating with so many different options to choose from and so many different areas to learn. When I first moved to the city, I took it upon myself to find the best spots — and even though I’m still learning the ins and outs of the city we all know and love to this day, many grueling trips and hours spent browsing through options taught me a thing or two.
New York has a little bit of something for everyone, which is why thrifting in the city can be so satisfying — there are endless options and opportunities to score. But it can also be a staggering experience without proper guidance. So you are able to cut a few corners and get to the gratifying parts of thrifting and vintage shopping, PhotoBook has compiled a short list of some of our favorite places in NYC — continue reading for the inside scoop.
One. Beacon’s Closet
If you’re looking for a spot with amazing brand names at even more awe-inspiring prices, then Beacon’s Closet is the place for you. The trendy haven has four locations in New York, with its flagship in Greenpoint and three separate locations in Park Slope, Bushwick, and Greenwich Village. My personal favorite is the Greenwich Village location — it’s situated right by the campuses of Parsons School of Design and NYU, so I’m convinced all of the well-informed fashion students bring their guilt-purchases to this particular Beacon’s. Dior for $30? Say no more!
Two. L Train Vintage: Urban Jungle
Are you really a New Yorker if you haven’t seen herds of city-goers carrying around the iconic L Train reusable tote? When I first moved to the city, I knew I had to check out L Train since the entire Manhattan area is basically a walking ad for the thrift store. It wasn’t until I visited the Brooklyn location, which goes by the alias of Urban Jungle, that I understood what the buzz was all about. If you’re going to visit Urban Jungle, prepare to roll up your sleeves and spend some time sifting through vintage styles. The store is situated inside a giant warehouse with multiple rooms, so it usually takes some dedicated searching to find those hero pieces, but the selection and prices really can’t be beat. From $6 silk slip dresses to $10 Levi’s, Urban Jungle really has it all.
Three. Cure Thrift
Cure Thrift is an aestheticly pleasing, curated vintage heaven. The store itself looks like it was cut straight out of a magazine, as it is accented with quirky vintage furniture (which can also be purchased!) The selection is not as large as your typical thrift store, as each piece is curated, but they definitely have a good eye for whimsical and rare pieces.
Four. FunnyPrettyNice
FunnyPrettyNice is the Y2K shop of your dreams! This playful vintage store boasts the cutest vibrant graphic tees, trucker hats, and mini skirts and dresses fit for a night out in the city. Each and every visit to FunnyPrettyNice is such a fun experience, as the staff is bubbly and friendly and the pieces are even more vivacious. If you want to add some 2000s spunk to your wardrobe, then FunnyPrettyNice is a must. The store even does Instagram story sales as well, so if you can’t stop into the Manhattan location, you can join the fun from your phone.
Five. 28 Scott Vintage
Another Brooklyn gem is the tucked away 28 Scott Vintage. The store looks unsuspecting from the outside, but as you enter the location, you’ll quickly observe its charm. 28 Scott Vintage is home to men’s and women’s curated vintage pieces as well as homewares. If you get really lucky, you might just catch 28 Scott on a good day, as the thrift store has been known to occasionally carry archive designer pieces from brands like YSL and Missoni.
Source: https://www.28scott.com/about
Six. Seven Wonders Collective
It only seems logical to leave perhaps the most wonder-filled vintage store for last, as Seven Wonders truly carries pieces that will leave you blown away. This particular store is also curated — so prices are a bit steeper — but it’s almost as if the curators made a deal with the design gods themselves. Upon my visit, each piece I came across truly was better than the last. From pink leather jackets, to rare archive Fendi bags, to perfectly preserved Prada kitten heels from the 90s — Seven Wonders has some of the most wonderful pieces the area has to offer.
Article by Kayla Curtis-Evans, Contributing Sustainable Editor PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
