The 12 Best Thrift Stores in New York City for Vintage and Designer Finds

Thrift shopping is an endurance sport. You can't walk into the experience with a single piece in mind, but put in the time, and you may come away with a whole bag of unique items. New York City is a town particularly well suited to thrifting: Sprinkled throughout the boroughs are scores of shops to browse—both tightly curated and totally unedited. The best thrift shops channel the city's energy, whether that be uptown society or downtown trendsetters. Shopping in the city, you might be lucky enough to score vintage Alaïa or Chanel donated by a celebrity, fashion editor, or business executive. In addition, many thrift stores are nonprofits that rely on donations and donate proceeds to important causes like AIDS research or support for the homeless.

"I would guess 95 percent of my clothes are thrifted aside from workout clothes and undergarments and a few pants," Liana Satenstein, a writer and the founder of Schmatta Shrink, says. "The quality of vintage is always incredible, and I never pay a lot. Plus, there is the thrill of the hunt. A dopamine kick!" Thrifting pieces as an alternative to buying them new is an easy way to guarantee you'll never wear the same exact dress or shoes as anyone else. It's also a more environmentally conscious way to shop, since you're not supporting the market for new items.

"My favorite finds tend to be more about quality versus a brand," Romina Cenisio, a designer and creative whose work focuses largely on conservation, says. "I found a teal three-piece silk pants suit in perfect condition from the '90s. The blouse is actually like a corseted tank top, which felt like it was made for me, and it's made in Italy so you know the craftsmanship is on point. The quality is incredible, and it's pieces like this that blow my mind. How has this suit lasted probably three decades, but some things I buy now start to unravel after a few months?"

If you're looking to branch out beyond online consignment shopping but tend to get overwhelmed by the thought of walking into a roomful of clothes, Cenisio suggests starting your tour of the best of New York's thrift stores with a few general needs in mind. "This means that I can narrow down and focus on certain colors, textures, fabrics, or patterns, so I can visually scan the racks and pull something out if it falls into the category of what I'm looking for," she explains.

While both Satenstein and Cenisio have made impressive designer discoveries through their thrifting (Satenstein says she'd choose to save her spring 1999 Chloé hummingbird top from a fire), both suggest not relying too heavily on designer names. "Some of my best vintage is incredibly well-made, no-name pieces from defunct Italian labels," Satenstein says. With that in mind, find 12 of the best thrift stores in NYC below to help get you started.