New York has no shortage of meticulously curated designer vintage boutiques, but nothing beats the rush of unearthing a gem-in-the-rough in a thrift store bin.
The best thrift stores feel like treasure troves, with equal parts bargain-bin finds, pre-loved designer investments, and vintage must-haves: trusty Levi’s jeans folded next to Manolo Blahnik kitten heels, or a perfectly worn-in leather jacket hiding behind a rack of office basics. Time your run to your favorite secondhand location’s restock hours (and skip the weekends to avoid New York’s crowds), and you’ll catch new arrivals as they hit the shelves: designer denim, cashmere cardigans, and those hype-worthy sneakers from last year that vanished the minute they hit shelves.
While the terms are often used interchangeably, thrift stores, vintage boutiques, and consignment shops operate differently. Thrift stores rely on donations, typically support a cause, and can offer excellent deals (if you’re willing to dig through tightly packed racks), with brands ranging from fast fashion to contemporary. Vintage stores, by contrast, source by specific eras and/or designer labels, with edited selects and higher quality control — and price tags to match. Meanwhile, buy-sell and consignment stores sell goods on behalf of individuals, often offering a mix of modern and vintage apparel at mid-range prices. (While the former gives cash or store credit to consignors upfront, the latter pays after the items sell, with both taking a commission.)
For a true thrift experience, chains like Housing Works, Goodwill, and Salvation Army are fail-safe options to find well-priced wardrobe essentials. Meanwhile, secondhand standbys like Crossroads Trading, Buffalo Exchange, and 2nd Street are best for seasonal trade-ins and wallet-friendly designer upgrades. That said, if you want a more uniquely New York City experience, there are many one-off, more curated brick-and-mortar shops and mini-chains that still offer an affordable experience akin to thrifting.
Many secondhand stores, both thrift and not, on the list below are as affordable as they are full of fashion finds. From Brooklyn’s best vintage neighborhood haunts to Lower East Side’s and East Village’s TikTok-famous thrift shops, we present here the best used clothing stores and secondhand boutiques in New York.
285 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Williamsburg’s Single by Stella Dallas is for shoppers who don’t get a thrill from rack raiding. Despite being one of the biggest secondhand stores on the list, it is also the most organized. The racks aren’t just broken down by products (“sweaters,” “jeans,” etc.), as is the case in most NYC vintage shops, but further, by sub-categories (“cashmere knits,” “fisherman sweaters,” and “carpenter jeans”), and then by color.
While there is a focus on classic Americana staples—with a sizeable selection of pre-loved Wrangler and Levi’s denim, Carhartt work jackets, and Ralph Lauren sweaters—the store also sells apparel from the ‘50s and ‘60s. There is an expansive lineup of shoes, too, ranging from cowboy, L.L. Bean, and Dr. Martens boots to sneakers from Converse, Vans, and Nike. If your budget is on the more upscale side, pop by Single’s next-door sister shop, Stella Dallas Living, which has a stunning collection of evening dresses from the ‘20s and ‘30s, delicate Edwardian shirts, and beaded occasion bags.
671 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
There is a size-inclusivity problem in the secondhand space: Even the best NYC vintage shops carry mostly straight-size offerings, leaving anyone over a size US 16 unable to participate in the sustainable fashion movement. Plus BKLN aims to rectify this, with its Greenpoint brick-and-mortar dedicated to dressing plus-size shoppers.
In addition to only selling clothing above a size 12, Plus BKLN stands apart from other secondhand stores with its décor, a dopamine-boosting explosion of bright colors and prints. The brand selection runs the gamut from fast fashion (sometimes the only affordable option for plus-size consumers when buying new) and mainstream retailers such as Free People and Anthropologie to independent brands like Tamara Malas, Henning, and Marimekko. The store will delight the social media-fluent set with Instagram-popular items like Selkie’s puff-sleeve dresses and Wildfang’s jumpsuits. Don’t leave without checking out the Clearance rack for the best discounts and the vintage jewelry shelves.
10 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011
74 Guernsey St, Brooklyn, NY
92 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Thrift-loving New Yorkers have strong opinions about which Beacon’s Closet location is superior. Regardless of whether you go into the Manhattan, Greenpoint, or Park Slope store, though, all will agree with this: Give yourself ample time to browse. While Beacon’s Closet offers some of the best bargain thrifting in New York, it also requires shoppers to do the most digging. (Though the racks are organized by product categories, colors, and gender, the sheer volume of clothing and the mix of brands — ranging from fast fashion to contemporary, designer, and vintage — is overwhelming to even the most thrift-savvy.)
Do the work, though, and the pre-loved finds pay in dividends. On my last visit there, I spotted a $70 Jason Wu dress and a $50 Simone Rocha bag among other deals. Beacon’s Closet also has one of the biggest — and most affordable — selections of designer shoes. Think: $45 Gucci sandals, $35 zebra-print Manolo Blahnik heels, and $70 Comme de Garçons sneakers. While the conditions vary widely, from pristine to seen-better-days, often even the most in-need-of-TLC pairs are nothing that a New York cobbler can’t fix. Years ago, I bought $15 satin Christian Louboutin kitten heels; an additional $30 resole and paint touch-up turned them into one of my most-worn (and complimented on) pairs to this day.
Multiple locations across the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan
Shoppers who value utility over occasion dressing will find plenty to pick from at this casual-minded chain of secondhand stores. The menswear selection leads with vintage Carhartt overalls, L.L.Bean work jackets, Timberland boots, and sportswear. In addition to carrying the usual secondhand wares (graphic tees, sweatshirts, jeans, etc.), the racks are heavy on workwear separates like blazers, slacks, and shirting at great prices (see: $20 Eton button-downs) and prep-coded sailing anoraks, field jackets, and polos from heritage brands like Paul Shark, J.Crew, and Ralph Lauren. The big-ticket deals abound in the cold-weather section, with the most recent sightings including a $125 Canada Goose puffer coat, under-$50 winter jackets from North Face and Columbia (some even with tags on), and $60 wool coats.
500 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
197 N 9 St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
You’d be hard-pressed to walk out of Monk Vintage, which has two Williamsburg locations, without buying any of its well-priced, contemporary secondhand clothing. There are myriad under-$100 options from mid-to-luxury fashion names like APC, Frame, Ulla Johnson, L’Agence, Kule, Loeffler Randall, and more. In the cold-weather season, pay special attention to the outerwear racks with relative deals on investment pieces like a Burberry raincoat ($150), a Max Mara teddy jacket ($350), and more. If designer labels hold little appeal, there are also more standard (and more reasonably priced) items: men’s flannel shirts, faux fur jackets, and vintage leather jackets.
91 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
An East Village institution, Cure Thrift carries everything from vintage silk nightgowns and robes to evening jackets from Bill Blass and modern apparel from the likes of Sandro and Theory. On top of wardrobe staples, Cure Thrift has one of the more eclectic and bold assortments on this list, with racks full of graphic sweaters, colorful coats, and retro hats.
But it s the occasion pieces that make this boutique one of New York’s go-to thrift stores. There’s a surplus of dressy options from voluminous maxis to sequin minis, though shoppers should be ready to pay a premium for the more special pieces like Betsey Johnson prom dresses from the ‘00s, Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, and flapper-style beaded sheaths. The store also sells handbags and shoes, with the latter including normcore styles from Blundstone, Birkenstock, and UGG, as well as vintage cowboy boots and loafers. Don’t overlook the furniture and home goods, which are also for sale, as well as an on-site charm bar where shoppers can customize a bracelet, necklace, or earrings.
544 Park Ave, Suite 510, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Berriez is another plus fashion-focused secondhand destination. The fifth-floor showroom — which is open on the weekend for walk-ins, and by appointment-only Monday through Friday — carries equal parts vintage and modern, as well as pieces from beloved (and sadly, now-defunct) size-inclusive brands like Mara Hoffman and Wray.
Rather than product categories, Berriez’s offering is broken up by sizes, from S to 3X, and features popular size-friendly names like Reformation and Madewell, independent labels like Paloma Wool and Hanifa, and vintage designer darlings like Missoni, Escada, and St. John. In addition to a cubby full of Levi’s denim, the store also has racks dedicated to clothing from emerging designers, like Gia/IRL and Imli Dana, and collaborations that, recently, saw Berriez teaming with the indie brand KkCo to expand its size range.
154 Allen St, New York, NY 10002
As the Furby figurine in the window display suggests, this TikTok-famous store on the Lower East Side doesn’t shy away from the relics of the 2000s. In fashion terms, this translates to polo shirts from Abercrombie Fitch and Aeropostale, tattoo-esque mesh shirts from Ed Hardy, and halter dresses and going-out tops from Baby Phat.
Split into women’s and men’s sections, the space holds several racks dedicated to jeans. Here you will find early aughts artifacts ranging from crystal-adorned and printed skinnies and flares from Miss Sixty and Guess to baggy numbers and jorts from Dickies and JNCO. On the luxury end, Rogue carries Y2K ubiquities like Juicy Couture velour tracksuits, bodycon animal-print Just Cavalli dresses, and graphic Blumarine pants. While a colorful leather jacket or a designer item can cost $100 and up, Rogue balances it out with budget options, on-sale items, and a dedicated under-$25 rack.
64 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
56 Bogart Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206
This secondhand boutique does the editing for you. Browse through hangers featuring mall brands like Banana Republic and Aritzia’s Babaton, contemporary labels like ALC, and designers like Jacquemus, Moschino, and Fendi. While Funny Pretty Nice’s pricing is higher than the general thrifting experience, it s fair by vintage (and New York) standards, with numerous skirts, pants, and sweaters under $50 and many luxury items under $200. In past visits, standout pieces have included $45 John Galliano cargo jeans, $75 Bob Mackie midi skirt, and $150 Courrèges shirt. The store also sells a nice selection of retro nightgowns and silk slips.
258 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012
132 N5th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249
16 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
107 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222
From statement quilted pants, patchwork jackets, and cheeky tees to everyday separates, Awoke Vintage houses high-quality secondhand pieces for every occasion. The store, which originally hails from Australia, is organized by color and features ‘00s seminal brands like Esprit, designer items from Burberry and Bally, and American mainstays Eddie Bauer and Carhartt. Additionally, Awoke specializes in clothing sourced from Italy and vintage denim from Levi’s, Diesel, and Tommy Hilfiger. While the shoe and handbag selection is on the smaller side, Awoke makes up for it with its jewelry offering and accessories.
513 W 26th St, New York, NY 10001
This Chelsea thrift store has been operating (and supporting New York City Opera!) for more than four decades. The fashion spans from designer to vintage, with a focus on more upscale offerings compared to City Opera’s thrift counterparts (and slightly higher prices). While there is a wide selection of apparel, organized by color, the non-profit is a go-to for secondhand furniture and home goods. The costume jewelry is another draw. Check the store’s Instagram page for its collection releases, which most recently included an opera costumes and accessories edit and a vintage pop-up.