New York City Vintage Clothing

Stella Dallas, 218 Thompson St. Stella Dallas aims at a small target: the store's entire collection consists of women's wear from the 40s to the 60s. They've mined that narrow niche for all it's worth, however, and this eclectic, treasure-filled shop is the result. Cheap, colorful dresses hang out front in good weather while racks of bags, boots, and designer scarves await you inside, along with more dresses and shirts. Maybe best of all, the small but well-chosen selection of hats is seemingly tailor-made for hip retro fashion. Music from the appropriate decades sets the tone. Additional location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at 281 N. 6th St. Most items $15-40. Dresses $20-40. Hats $40-80. Open daily 12:30-7:30pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
International Boutique, 500 LaGuardia Pl. International Boutique will give you the usual thrift shop array of cheap clothes, from shoes to pants and jackets to many T-shirts. But after all, the store is here to offer you “clothing for body and soul,” and on that note, the front of the store is more packed with religious memorabilia and knick-knacks than your grandmother's living room. Many religions are represented: you can get Jesus holograms alongside menorahs and Buddha plates nestled next to crucifixes. It's a strange mixture, but it's stood the test of over 40 years. Must be the neighborhood. Most clothing items $8-30, jackets $25-70. Open daily noon-8pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Andy's New and Antique Clothing, 18 W. 18th St. (www.andyscheepees.com), Andy's packs a lot of vintage into its two floors. “Antique” is pushing it; most items here date from the '50s to the '70s, with a smattering of '80s—we're guessing that the garish AC/DC and Aerosmith T-shirts rep most of that decade. The warm-weather season brings in flowery dresses for the women and polyester shirts for the men. With the cold come military-style coats, flannel, and lots of leather. Out-of-season clothing is kept downstairs, so you can buy patterns whatever the forecast. Most items $20-60. Open M-Sa noon-9pm, Su noon-8pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Hamlet's Vintage, 162 Bleecker St. (www.hamletsvintage.com), Hamlet's occupies a fairly small and plainly decorated space, but it's packed with heaps of relatively inexpensive items geared to eclectic and wide-ranging tastes. Highlights include the cheap jacket rack and the sizable belt collection. Even indecisive Hamlet could find something he'd like here! Sorry, we had to. Most items $10-80. T-shirts $15. Belts $10-30. Jackets $20-25. Dresses $50-80. Open noon-8pm daily. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Encore, 1132 Madison Ave. and 84th St. (www.encoreresale.com), You can afford clothes on Madison Avenue, you just might have to look a little harder for them. This secret consignment treasure trove is tucked away on the second floor of a store building and protected by a magic buzzer. Press the button to be let in and prepare to go fashion wild. July to mid-August closed Su. Discounted designer prices. Open M-W 10:30am-6:30pm, Th 10:30am-7:30pm, F 10:30am-6:30pm, Sa 10:30am-6:30pm, Su noon-6pm. Takes credit cards.
Allan and Suzi, 416 Amsterdam Ave., at 80th St. (www.allanandsuzi.net), Whether you're looking for a retro Gucci dress or the perfect silver helmet to go with that purple tutu, no other store comes close to matching the breadth, diversity, or sheer randomness of Allan and Suzi's collection. Go on, get some sequined stilettos to match. Open M-Sa 12:30-6:30pm, Su noon-6pm. Takes credit cards.
Tokyo Joe, 334 E 11th St. Hit this tiny shop for sweet deals on Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss suits ($48-92) or shirts by Nanette Lepore and Anna Sui ($9-32). You may have to splurge a little on your Louis Vuitton or Juicy Couture handbags, though ($28-750). Dresses $14-140, shoes $21-96, jeans $18-45. Open daily noon-9pm. Wheelchair access.
ENZ's, 125 2nd Ave., between 7th St. and St. Mark's Pl. (www.enznyc.com), A store that sells 1950s-style, vintage-inspired clothing items and accessories, dipped in a kind of Goth-sauce. This means a lot of blacks, reds, cherries, and checkered patterns. While you're here, you can also pick up your very own copy of the Burlesque Handbook ($17). T-shirts $28-35, skirts $86-92, dresses $148-178. Open M-Sa noon-9pm, Su noon-8pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Patricia Field, 302 Bowery, between Bleecker and Houston St. (www.patriciafield.com), A whirlwind of sequins, spandex, and sparkles as well as sundresses with tamer patterns (items from $5-20) start at the front; kink (exciting underwear, huge, high-heeled shoes, thigh-high fishnets, and stripper poles) is in the back. In between is all manner of dresses, pants, shirts, jewelry, and other unclassifiable clothing and accessory items. Items $1-840. Open M-Th 11am-8pm, F-Sa 11am-9pm, Su 11am-7pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Buffalo Exchange, 332 E. 11th St. (www.buffaloexchange.com), Buffalo Exchange doesn't discriminate between new and used, as long as the clothing is in line with the hottest trends in current fashion. If you need to get rid of some of your old threads, bring them in for 30% cash back or 50% in-store credit. You may be able to get an additional discount by knowing the answers to important fashion trivia (e.g. Who invented the stiletto? Hint: it begins with a “C” and ends with “hristian Loubutin”). Women's pants $9-30, women's shirts $6-25, bags $12-60, dresses $10-30, men's shirts $9-30, men's pants $14-40, shoes $9-125. Open M-Sa 11am-8pm, Su noon-7pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Metropolis, 43 3rd Ave., between 9th and 10th St. A vintage store with a lot of 1990s grunge items and patterned dresses, Metropolis also boasts an impressive T-shirt collection. Prices Vary, mostly low to mid-range vintage prices. Open M-W noon-9pm, Th-Sa noon-11pm, Su noon-9pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Viceversa, 241 Bedford Ave. (www.viceversavintage.com), It's a tough call to single out any vintage clothing store in this most vintage-obsessed of neighborhoods, but smallish Viceversa is an appealing option. Its bare-bones storage space is filled to the brim with shoes, belts, and a generous selection of both men's and women's wear. Most items $10-25. Open M-F 1-8pm, Sa-Su noon-9pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Beacon's Closet, 88 N. 11th St. (www.beaconscloset.com), Beacon's Closet has somehow managed to eke its way to the top of Williamsburg's vintage-clothing totem pole, but its buying policies (only 35% in cash back) may be too restrictive for some. Still, you've probably come here to shop—and the time-tested selection is unbeatable. There's also a smaller and more accessible branch in Park Slope. Store selectively buys clothing: 35% cash, 55% store credit. Most items $5-25; shirts $7-20, shoes $10-25. Open M-F 11am-9pm, Sa-Su 11am-8pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.