Where to Go Shopping in NYC From Vintage Boutiques to Chains (2024)

Where to Go Shopping in NYC From Vintage Boutiques to Chains (1)

Grab your wallet—here’s the skinny on where to go shopping in NYC for clothes, shoes, accessories and more

Written by

Kevin Aeh
&
Time Out contributors

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Whether you’re on the hunt for prime vintage, cheap (but cute) threads or avant-garde designer merchandise, shopping in NYC never disappoints. That is, if you know where to go (or dig). Luckily, we’ve done the dirty work for you and uncovered the go-to spots to snag discounts, accessories, throwbacks and anything else you need to cross off your never-ending laundry list. From trendy boutiques in Soho to thrift shops in Bushwick, you’ll find exactly what you envisioned at these shops—if not more! Looking for stores in a specific nabe? Try our shopping guides by neighborhood.

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Best places to go shopping in NYC

Photograph: Courtesy Bulletin
1.Bulletin
  • Shopping
  • Nolita

Williamsburg’s beloved indie-brand boutique recently opened a sister store in Nolita to help fierce feminists suit up for the resistance. Be your best ally and shop for female-designed goodies, such as embroideries of plus-size bods, pins with pithy phrases and “I Ain’t Sorry” Beyoncé QUEEN tees.

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Photograph: Courtesy Bird
2.Bird
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Park Slope
  • price 4 of 4

We know: Brooklynites have been bemoaning the arrival of big-brand chain stores for the past few years. But guess what? The borough has been home to an awesome minichain for quite some time. Bird, the fashion-forward women’s boutique where prices run the gamut, has been in business for more than 15 years and shows no sign of stopping. Four locations exist; fingers crossed that more aren't too far behind.

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3.Story
  • Shopping
  • Gifts and stationery
  • Chelsea
  • price 2 of 4

Every four to six weeks, this Chelsea gem shuts down and reopens with a totally new theme. Mirroring the editorial style of a magazine, the store collaborates with guest curators and architects for each cycle. Check out the shop's website for information on the next chapter.

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Photograph: Courtesy Cody Guilfoyle
4.The Break
  • Shopping
  • Greenpoint

There are many reasons why vintage lovers shop The Break, but here’s the gist: The owners believe in the power of a well-curated stash, and they understand what shoppers really want—low prices. Aside from excellent, avant-garde branding and an extremely pleasant in-person shopping experience (on a recent visit, we were given a gratis glass of rosé and were invited to join an impromptu dance party while trying on throwback threads), the merchandise you'll find on the racks is incredible. From teddy faux-fur coats to oversized, pinstripe blazers and floral blouses straight from the ’70s, the shop is loaded with real deal steals.

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Photograph: Maggie Shannon
5.Canal Street Market
  • Shopping
  • Soho

Shop for downtown-chic clothing, art and jewelry from a slew of vendors at this large indoor bazaar that is a cross between Chelsea Market and Artists & Fleas. When the shopping fatigue sets in, visit the food hall serving bubble tea by Boba Guys and dim sum from Nom Wah Kuai. The space also hosts events, such as panels led by established authors.

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6.The Sill
  • Shopping
  • Flower shops
  • Lower East Side

This online plant purveyor has filled its first brick-and-mortar with various seedlings in stylish, locally made pots. The store focuses on greenery that’s easy to care for, so no green thumbs required here. Stand-alone plants start at $4; pre-potted ones go for $38 and up. Experts say keeping a houseplant in your home can improve your health and help purify the air. Sign us up!

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  • Shopping
  • Markets and fairs
  • Soho
  • price 1 of 4

You guyslove Artists & Fleas (it’s one of the most searched-for stores on our website)—and it’s easy to see why: Every weekend, a rotating selection of around 60 vendors, including local craftspeople, designers and artists, sets up shop in a Williamsburg warehouse. The browsable mix includes everything from original T-shirts and handmade jewelry to home-decor items and even pet accessories. There are two other locations (one in Chelsea Market and one in Soho)which means we now have triple the opportunity to scoop up one-of-a-kind finds.

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8.Beam
  • Shopping
  • Kitchen and bath
  • Williamsburg
  • price 3 of 4

Sure, Brooklyn’s decor scene is a bit of a cliché: Most shops are strewn with Edison bulbs and mason jars filled with wildflowers. But this ’Burg joint, with its bold colors and cheeky posters—is "Constantly f*cking challenge yourself" motivational enough for you?—feels like a breath of fresh air.

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Photograph: Courtesy John Muggenborg
9.Spark Pretty
  • Shopping
  • East Village

No shop in New York understands the need to express yourself through a cold-weather protector than one of Manhattan's new vintage shops Spark Pretty. After the success of the store's '90's Forever pop-up, ownersAmanda Dolan and Meagan Colbyput down permanent roots in the East Village. Spark Pretty describes its aesthetic as “I Want My MTV” meets '80’s hair bands, crossed with the flash of '70’s glam-rock. We can dig it. We're particularly loving the Lisa Frank denim jackets for sale, in addition to other rare vintage styles such as a crystal-encrusted, hand-painted Tony Alamo designer jean jacket. You'll also find other throwback apparel items including bellbottoms, studded skinny jeans, pins, patches and shoes.

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Photograph: Courtesy Newscast Creative
10.Primark
  • Shopping
  • Staten Island

Get your plastic ready because you’re about to overload your closet with casual-cool duds at this shop. But, don’t worry, this splurge will hardly make a dent in your bank account. Why? BecausePrimark—the trendy, dirt-cheap, UK fashion brand—now has a store in New York! (Er, well, the Staten Island Mall.) The massive outlet (55,100-square-feet, with 41 fitting rooms) has all your wardrobe essentials, including apparel, shoes and accessories for both men and women. You can even nab home goods and beauty products, too. Best of all? You can leave with multiple bags filled-to-the-brim with new clothes without feeling any shopper’s remorse. (Seriously, you can get a pair of shoes for $12.)

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11.Brooklyn Reclamation
  • Shopping
  • Design and interiors
  • Williamsburg
  • price 4 of 4

If you love vintage-style duds and wish your entire apartment was an extension of your closet, think of this as your one-stop shop for retro and repurposed furniture. Expect to find barnwood frames ($20–$95), metal-locker baskets ($20) and recycled rugs ($40–$65).

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Photograph: Driely Carter
12.Concrete + Water
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Williamsburg

This lifestyle shop in Williamsburg sells high-quality goods during the day, but will host occasional trunk show gone turnt at night. The 1,300-square-foot boutique carries menswear, womenswear and home goods from emerging brands and well-known designers such as Samantha Pleet and more.

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Photograph: Courtesy Dover Street Market New York
13.Dover Street Market
  • Shopping
  • Boutiques
  • Midtown East

Okay, we’ll admit the prices at this London import aren’t exactly budget-friendly, but that doesn’t stop us from visiting this Murray Hill mecca of high fashion. Dover Street Market features seven small floors of cutting-edge wares by big-time designers and a few up-and-comers. Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons carefully culls the merch, which includes loads of exclusives, including a few (sort of) reasonably priced graphic tees for under $100. Shopping here is like visiting a contemporary gallery, and we don’t just mean the sleek clothing.

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14.Kith
  • Shopping
  • Shoes
  • Noho
  • price 3 of 4

The revamped space at this sneaker and streetwear emporium feels like a brand-new store. In the fall of 2014, it added an additional 3,000 square feet, and includes glassed-in mannequins and a long entranceway boasting white plaster sneakers hanging from the ceiling.

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15.Frankie
  • Shopping
  • Boutiques
  • Lower East Side

We were bummed to see local fave Pixie Market (trendy clothes! übercheap prices!) close up shop. But before we could settle into a deep depression, the owners reemerged with Frankie. Think of it as the mature and ultra-chic version of Pixie Market. The shop caters to the career-minded woman, so instead of co*cktail dresses or crop tops, you’ll find more sophisticated items from international indie labels.

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Photograph: Jennifer Calais Smith
16.Kikkerland
  • Shopping
  • Kitchen and bath
  • West Village
  • price 2 of 4

Quirky products rule at this Village charmer. Founder Jan van der Lande collaborated with Kevin Brynan, the owner of now-closed gift shop Mxyplyzyk, to create the first store for Kikkerland, which has been churning out must-have utilitarian gadgets for the past 20 years. All the items sure to put a smile on your face.

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Photograph: Shutterstock
17.Saks Fifth Avenue
  • Shopping
  • Department stores
  • Midtown East
  • price 4 of 4

The 10-floor department store is arguably the king of Fifth Avenue, and there’s no shortage of reasons why. A purveyor of everything from bags and shoes to beauty, jewelry and clothing for men and women, there’s really nothing you can’t find at this historic high-end outlet.

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Photograph: Alex Strada
18.Loveday 31
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Astoria
  • price 2 of 4

It’s only a matter of time before Astoria becomes a true shopping destination. (A bevy of hip bars has opened in the ’hood—boutiques have to be next, right?) And when more stores arrive, hopefully they’ll be along the lines of this small vintage shop, which sells everything from badass boots to sparkly sweaters but specializes in gently worn dresses from the 1950s through the ’90s.

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19.O.N.A
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Prospect Heights
  • price 2 of 4

Owner Magdalena Jaworska worked as a buyer and manager at Williamsburg shop Otte before opening this contemporary womenswear store, stocked with reasonably priced threads and accessories from indie designers. O.N.A., a play on “she” in Jaworska’s native Polish, features clothing racks made from galvanized pipes, and reclaimed-wood tables and shelves. Top picks include Blank Jeans, Olive & Oak frocks and Greylin cutout blouses.

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20.Mixology
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Upper East Side

If you struggle with the art of mixing trendy duds with basics, consider the contemporary styles found at this Upper East Side boutique, the key to unleashing your inner mixologist. While the brand is considered a fast-fashion chain due to its affordable pricing, the shop carries bohemian designer labels, including BB Dakota, UNIF and For Love & Lemons, giving the store a leg up on its competitors H&M and Forever 21.

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Photograph: Courtesy Wooden Sleepers
21.Wooden Sleepers
  • Shopping
  • Boutiques
  • Red Hook

After running a successful online shop and flea-market booths, Brian Davis found a permanent home for his curated collection of vintage men’s classics in Red Hook. The store focuses on military items (versions of De Niro’s Taxi Driver jacket go for about $150), outerwear and Americana gear for guys from as early as the 1930s. Sweaters start around $80; small items like wool caps are $10 and up.

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22.Rent the Runway
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Flatiron

After spending time as a shop-in-shop at Henri Bendel, this popular high-end dress-rental service has a freestanding store in the Flatiron District. For $25, you can book an appointment and meet with a personal stylist who’ll help you find the perfect designer dress for your next big event. The store features a rotating selection of dresses from more than 200 designers like Opening Ceremony, Vera Wang and Marchesa. Wedding parties can also rent out the shop for the day.

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Photograph: Courtesy Olivia Wolfe
23.American Two Shot
  • Shopping
  • Womenswear
  • Soho

The addition of a coffeeshop within a clothing store was a major trend in 2014, but American Two Shot was already ahead of the curve when it opened a couple of years prior with Café Integral at the front of the shop. Grab an espresso and browse the latest indie-label offerings for men and women. And the java will come in handy: The downtown shop often hosts late-night parties.

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Photograph: Driely S.
24.Harlem Haberdashery
  • Shopping
  • Boutiques
  • Harlem

File this under “If it’s good enough for Jay Z…” Harlem Haberdashery was founded by the folks behind clothing label 5001 Flavors, which dressed the rapper for his “Empire State of Mind” video. For those of us who aren’t shopping for locally made urban-meets-preppy clothes to wear in a music video, there are graphic T-shirts and custom-tailored suits. Fun fact: The boutique is housed in a brownstone where Malcolm X once lived.

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    As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or access to my training data. However, I can provide information on various topics based on the data I was trained on. For the article you mentioned about shopping in NYC, I can provide information related to the concepts mentioned in the article. Here's what I found:

    Shopping in NYC

    The article discusses various places to go shopping in New York City, including boutiques, thrift shops, vintage stores, and department stores. It mentions specific stores in different neighborhoods, such as Nolita, Park Slope, Chelsea, Greenpoint, Soho, Lower East Side, Williamsburg, and more. The article highlights the unique offerings and features of each store, such as feminist-themed merchandise, well-curated vintage items, downtown-chic clothing, indie labels, and affordable fashion options.

    Specific Stores and Neighborhoods

    The article mentions several specific stores and neighborhoods in NYC for shopping. Here are some of them:

    1. Bulletin - A boutique in Nolita and Williamsburg that offers female-designed goodies and feminist-themed merchandise.
    2. Bird - A fashion-forward women's boutique with multiple locations in Brooklyn, including Park Slope.
    3. Story - A store in Chelsea that changes its theme every four to six weeks, collaborating with guest curators and architects.
    4. The Break - A vintage store in Greenpoint known for its well-curated and affordable merchandise.
    5. Canal Street Market - A large indoor bazaar in Soho that offers downtown-chic clothing, art, and jewelry from various vendors.
    6. The Sill - A plant store in the Lower East Side that focuses on easy-to-care-for greenery.
    7. Artists & Fleas - A market with locations in Williamsburg, Chelsea Market, and Soho, featuring a rotating selection of vendors selling clothing, jewelry, home decor, and more.
    8. Beam - A store in Williamsburg known for its bold colors and unique home goods.
    9. Spark Pretty - A vintage shop in the East Village that specializes in '80s and '90s styles, including rare vintage items.
    10. Primark - A UK fashion brand with a store in the Staten Island Mall, offering affordable clothing, shoes, accessories, home goods, and beauty products.
    11. Brooklyn Reclamation - A store in Williamsburg that sells retro and repurposed furniture.
    12. Concrete + Water - A lifestyle shop in Williamsburg that sells high-quality goods and hosts occasional trunk shows.
    13. Dover Street Market - A high-fashion boutique in Midtown East with seven floors of cutting-edge designer wares.
    14. Kith - A sneaker and streetwear emporium in Noho with a revamped space and a wide selection of products.
    15. Frankie - A boutique on the Lower East Side that offers sophisticated items from international indie labels.
    16. Kikkerland - A Village store known for its quirky and utilitarian gadgets.
    17. Saks Fifth Avenue - A 10-floor department store in Midtown East that offers a wide range of luxury products.
    18. Loveday 31 - A small vintage shop in Astoria that specializes in gently worn dresses from the 1950s to the '90s.
    19. O.N.A. - A contemporary womenswear store in Prospect Heights that features reasonably priced threads and accessories from indie designers.
    20. Mixology - A boutique on the Upper East Side that offers contemporary styles and bohemian designer labels.
    21. Wooden Sleepers - A store in Red Hook that focuses on vintage men's classics, military items, and Americana gear.
    22. Rent the Runway - A high-end dress-rental service with a freestanding store in the Flatiron District.
    23. American Two Shot - A clothing store in Soho that also features a coffeeshop and hosts late-night parties.
    24. Harlem Haberdashery - A boutique in Harlem that offers locally made urban-meets-preppy clothes and custom-tailored suits.

    Please note that the information provided above is based on the article you mentioned and the search results I found. It's always a good idea to verify the information and check for the latest updates before making any decisions or plans.

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