One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, especially if you are vintage shopping in New York City. In a city this big, it can be hard to know where to start with each store holding a different curation. Here is a list of some of the most unique vintage stores by neighborhood. 

The Bendel’s of Bushwick 

Nestled within the graffiti covered Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick, lives a whimsical two-level emporium called Risk Gallery & Boutique. Upon walking in, it’s hard to ignore the array of colors and whimsical decor in the store. From the pink princess-like dresses, cheerful sequin jackets and sparkling jewelry, the store is filled with unique treasures. 

Located at 205 Central Ave, Lindsay Risk opened the 3,200 sq. feet store with the mindset of bringing a giving a lux boutique experience mixed with a Marc Chagall color palette. The lower level serves as a multi-purpose space as a studio and event space. Risk’s paintings are featured throughout the store walls, and she sells painted canvas clothing she designs herself.  

The 41-year-old Michigan native and lifelong artist studied advertising and fine arts at Fashion Institute of Technology. While interning at Henri Bendel, she worked as a bartender at Whiskey Blue for ten years. After quitting her job and moving to Bushwick with her husband in 2013, Risk opened her original Bushwick gallery-boutique in 2015.  

“I always knew I wanted to own a store,” Risk says, “After quitting my job, I took some time to work on my paintings while selling the clothes I had. I would invite my friends over for dinner and wine and pretend I was running a store. That’s when I came up with the idea to open my boutique.” In 2018, Risk moved her store to a new, larger space at 205 Central Avenue, about a mile southeast of her previous location.  

Ranging from $100 dresses to $148 fur coats, pieces in the store are vintage pieces from the 1890s through 1990. There are no brand labels, and the newer items are designed by local artists in New York, Europe, and Bali. “Our dresses from Bali are currently a customer favorite,” Risk reveals. 

“I like to rotate the merchandise every three to six months and give an opportunity to different designers.” Risk finds most of her items at estate sales and live auctions in Connecticut and Upstate New York. Besides operating her retail store, Risk works as a personal stylist and provides pieces for fashion shoots and costumes for TV shows including The Americans and The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel. 

Risk hopes to open her second location in Wooster Street in Soho later this Fall. “It will be a smaller version and a little fancier since it’s a different clientele,” she explains, “I hope to continue impacting change people’s lives with clothing.” 

Risk Gallery and Boutique: www.riskgalleryboutique.com 

The Best Denim in the East Village

Across the East River in Manhattan, 9^th Street Vintage sits on a quiet tree-lined street in the East Village. The 400 sq. feet store may be small, but it is packed with an assortment of early century vintage pieces like old-Victorian dresses and nightgowns, lace blouses and vintage denim, which the store is best known for. 

Owner Meri Civorelli was born in Long Island, New York and studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating, the 39-year-old stayed in the city and opened her brick-and-mortar store in 2012. With her love for 70s fashion and music, her influence can be seen throughout her store from bell bottom jeans and peasant dresses. 

Most pieces in the store date back to a decade with high-end prices from a 1920s $800 chiffon dress to a $245 floral dress from 1970. Ranging from $150 to $1,200, the denim at 9th Street Vintage has been hand selected by Civorelli, who scouts her denim from flea markets and has worked with some of the best sources, including famous denim collector, Brit Eaton.  

“One of my favorite brands to look for are Levis in dark denim wash,” Civorelli says. “Right now, we are seeing a trend the western look and our cowboy boots are doing really well.” 

Civorelli’s goals for the store are to focus on ways to upcycle her merchandise, adding a mending and repairs service along with running her store. She uses old fabric to patch up and repair worn out denim and clothing. 

“Customers can come in and bring their garments to be repaired for a small fee,” Civorelli says, “I love the idea of bringing the old back to life. There are so many creative ways to reuse old materials and seeing my customers give their cherished items a second life brings me joy.”  

9^th Street Vintage: www.9thstvintage.com 

Luxury in The Lower East Side 

A dozen blocks away, Morphew in the Lower East Side located at 92 Orchard Street has some of the most coveted luxury vintage pieces in downtown Manhattan. While the neighborhood may be bustling with small bars and restaurants, the store is open and pristine with its white walls and modern decor.  

Founder Bridgette Morphew started her first business, Victim Clothing, as a college student making and selling T-shirts. The 46-year-old had a hunch for discovering and revamping old clothes and started monetizing her talent. After college, the Florida native left for New York City and launched Paradox, a design-consulting firm.  

In 2013, Morphew later opened the first Morphew showroom in the Garment District on 36^th Street with friend and co-designer Jason Lyon. Two years later, she moved her business to the 2000 sq. feet flagship store on 92 Orchard Street. The store carries old vintage pieces from unknown designers to high-end pieces from a $12,800 Dolce & Gabbana fuchsia fur coat to a $788 Lanvin lace dress.  

“Bridget and Jason are really the nucleus of Morphew.” says Joel Alexander Morales, Morphew’s flagship store manager, “From markets to Paris and Milan, they work with pickers globally and domestically to find our merchandise.” 

Morphew also has their own designer line, Morphew Atelier, a collection of handmade pieces crafted with luxury vintage materials. “Vintage is in our DNA,” Morales says, “It inspires our line.” From antique laces to rare and valuable silk lamés , many of the textiles used for the collection are no longer manufactured.  

“Our pieces go through a delicate handwashing process to bring the item back to life.” Morales says, “because we don’t have the certain type of fabric, to duplicate and manufacture it again would be too expensive.” 

Clients looking for a special occasion piece can hold fittings in the lower level that holds a small room called the “vault” which can only be accessed for appointment only. Numerous celebrities have shopped at Morphew, including singer Bebe Rexha, who was shot in a Morphew Atelier Victorian Lace gown for her music video “Sabotage.” Model Emily Ratajowski attended the Versace 2018 Met Gala after party wearing a metal mesh gold Morphew dress. 

Morphew has two other locations in the Hamptons and Miami, each curated for a different clientele. “Right now, we are hoping to expand with a bigger location in New York,” Morales says. “New York is our home because it represents our brand- it’s about the energy and the hustle.” 

Morphew: www.morphewworld.com