When it comes to shopping in NYC, there’s always somewhere to go. But sometimes, that never-ending list of places to go can leave visitors—and even locals—with a serious case of analysis paralysis. Finding all of the must-sees in an enormous pile of skippable spots is, to be trite, like finding a needle in a haystack.
But luckily, we at Vogue consider ourselves dedicated and discerning shoppers—and we’ve decided not to gatekeep our favorite spots in New York City. While we love classic spots like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, we’re sharing our favorite concept and vintage stores, too.
Below, the Vogue staff divulge our favorite brick and mortar stores in the city, from the Upper East Side to Brooklyn.
1. Outline
365 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
For all the buzzy The Row, Lemaire, and Dries Van Noten items you’ve been eyeing on Ssense…there’s no better place to check them out in person than at Outline on Atlantic Ave. The Brooklyn boutique keeps a tight edit of classic-meets-trendy pieces from established (Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Cecilie Bahnsen, Pleats Please) and emerging names (Wales Bonner, Flore Flore, Super Yaya), and also sells the dreamiest fresh flower bouquets. Dropping in on a sunny Sunday is a treat! You won’t want to leave empty handed! —Talia Abbas
2. Sincerely, Tommy
343 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Situated in the center of Bed-Stuy on Tompkins Avenue, Sincerely, Tommy has become something of a Brooklyn landmark since its 2014 opening. Founder Kai Avent-deLeon offers a tasteful curation of clothing, jewelry, homewares, and wellness essentials that makes it hard to walk out of the boutique without buying something—if not at least a latte from its café. I like to go in when I have nothing to wear, am eager to discover an emerging brand, or am in desperate need of a unique gift. —Kiana Murden
3. John Derian
6 E 2nd St, New York, NY 10003
I could spend hours wandering around decoupage artist John Derian’s three stores in the East Village, pouring over everything from paperweights, cake trays, lampshades, to ornaments. (Although be warned: in December, there might be a line of people out the door waiting to peruse his impeccable holiday decor selection.) You’ll be hard pressed to leave without some sort of trinket. —Elise Taylor
4. Treasures of NYC
My favorite place to shop in Manhattan will always be Treasures of NYC. TNYC’s curation is unmatched—it's is my secret weapon for finding unique designer vintage pieces, without having to do the work myself of deep diving into the depths of the interweb or endlessly scrolling. The store (or the Treasures Clubhouse, as they call it) is available to visit via appointment, giving shoppers the chance to have a fully immersive and private experience exploring what hidden designer treasures are waiting to be found. My only challenge when stepping foot inside the clubhouse is trying to control myself! —Conçetta Ciarlo
5. James Veloria
75 E Broadway #225, New York, NY 10002
Hidden inside a Chinatown mall under the Manhattan Bridge, James Veloria may appear unassuming, but inside, the colorful treasure trove is filled to the brim with vintage and archival designer pieces in excellent condition. Stocked with loads of Vivienne Westwood, Maison Margiela, and Jean Paul Gaultier (just to name a few) you’ll struggle to keep your credit card in your wallet. Its impeccable collection, plus the über-helpful staff, and the lively interior design make for an unforgettable shopping experience. When it comes to shopping in NYC, it’s a true can’t-miss. —Hannah Jackson
6. Tokio 7
83 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003
Tokio 7 is by far my favorite store in New York City. The small East Village consignment store is my go-to spot for scoring designer pieces from Comme des Garçons, Loewe, Raf Simons Junya Watanabe, and more. Want to know why it's especially good? I've run into Cool Girl Chloë Sevigny shopping there not once, but twice. —Christian Allaire
7. Procell Vintage
5 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
Great for when I'm stuck in a style rut or in need of a new cool logo/concert T-shirt to add to my roster of jeans-and-tees and skirts-and-tees. I know Danielle Goldberg has sourced there before too, which makes me feel validated, justifiably or not. —Madeleine Schulz
8. Tiny Doll House
314 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075
What could be more thrilling than a thimble sized salad bowl or a working tiny lamp? Tiny Doll House is the kind of store you imagine Alvy Singer secretly going into to calm his nerves. It will do the same for you. —Chloe Malle
9. Seven Wonders Collective
319 Grand St, New York, NY 10002
203 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
37 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Seven Wonders Collective is a vintage lover’s dream store. With three separate locations across Brooklyn and the Lower East Side, their curation of vintage pieces is unmatched. They fill their racks with the help of over 30 vendors, and in the past I’ve come across (and snagged) pieces from Fendi, Jacquemus and more. On my most recent trip in, I came across a stunning Y2K Prada skirt that is in pristine condition. —Taylor Lashley
10. 180 the store
180 Duane St, New York, NY 10013
A place of calm and inspiration for me in NYC is 180 the store where I always discover new labels and want to leave with almost all of the inventory! —Laird Borrelli-Persson
11. Essentiel Antwerp
74 Wooster St, New York, NY 10012
The Essentiel Antwerp store in Soho is delightful. It's bright and colorful, and the ambiance is wholly welcoming; not an ounce of pretension in the air (which, unfortunately, isn't always the case when shopping in Manhattan.) There’s a cozy green couch in the back—perfect for contemplating your purchases. —Leah Faye Cooper
12. Chickee’s Vintage
135 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
I try to not come to Chickees because every time I come here I end up walking out with something whether it be a great pair of vintage Levi’s or a T-shirt. But they have the best selection of curated vintage for those who are willing to spend some money. —Irene Kim
13. Berriez
544 Park Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
The events of my night last night illustrate my choice’s perfection well: I was able to get to Berriez in Brooklyn at 5pm, find a perfect vintage/handmade look for the Them Now Awards (with the help of brilliant stylist Kali Renae) within my budget by 5:30, and be at the awards guzzling a Negroni by sunset. Emma Zack is one of the most creative and thoughtful business owners in the plus fashion space, and I love knowing I can make an appointment at Berriez and leave with something eye-catching and sustainably made and slightly deranged, usually chosen and/or styled for me by Emma or one of her staff members. I've discovered half my favorite independent designers (including Nena Hansen, Nancy Stella Soto and Gia/IRL) at Berriez, when I think about it! —Emma Specter
14. DÔEN
384 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
My favorite weekend activity is taking a stroll from my apartment down through the West Village and then happily stumbling into the Doen shop on Bleecker street. The store is what I wish my bedroom looked like: racks of beautiful floral dresses and delicate blouses amidst wooden antique furniture and dried flower arrangements. No matter how many Doen dresses I acquire, every time I step into the West Village I somehow find myself needing yet another easy, everyday yet effortlessly chic vintage inspired dress. Maybe it's the Doen designs, maybe it's being in the West Village or maybe it's the couple of hugo spritz I had at Cafe Cluny prior—either way, it's a lethal combo for my credit card! —Florence O’Connor
15. ESSX
140 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
With racks upon racks of Y/Project, Martine Rose, Simone Rocha, and Maison Margiela (among many others), this aptly named Lower East Side spot is filled to the brim with the coolest clothes of the moment. Not even a year old, ESSX is a burgeoning community space—including the fashion-hungry teens who come by after school. With plans to zhuzh up their space already underway, plus their already intimate setup, and welcoming staff, it’s no wonder why people love ESSX. —H.J.
16. Bergdorf Goodman
754 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
I won’t pretend this is a novel suggestion. But it is an emotional one: growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut, my mom, sister and I used to take the train into the city during the holidays to look at the windows and beautiful clothes at Bergdorf Goodman—then have lunch there afterwards. Even if you are not looking to buy anything, you can find such inspiration in the displays and designer wares. If you are…well, the customer service is second to none, especially for those visiting the bridal salon. —E.T.
17. Colbo
51 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Even though Colbo is technically a menswear store they have some great vintage pieces in the back like Charvet shirts and Ralph Lauren button-ups that are very unisex. Plus they host several great pop-ups from many brands around the world. They also have a great coffee bar and the best and most helpful staff members like Eldar, Brandon, and Sjournee who also happen to have the most impeccable style ever and are also great at assisting customers with their shopping. —I.K.
18. The Primary Essentials
372 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Whenever I’m want for design inspiration, I pass by The Primary Essentials, another mainstay on Atlantic Avenue that’s home to an eclectic assortment of art books and magazines, one-of-a-kind ceramics, and beautiful textiles (among many other well-made, aesthetically-pleasing kitchen essentials that elevate the everyday). The store is peaceful and minimal—a welcome refuge from the chaos of nearby Downtown Brooklyn. —T.A.
19. Dover Street Market
160 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
Considering their broad selection of clothing, it’s no wonder that Dover Street Market has been able to expand to several locations across the world. DSMNYC stocks the buzziest brands, from The Row to Willie Chavarria and Kiko Kostadinov. Don’t worry if you’re shopping with people with totally different taste—there’s something for everyone here. —H.J.