There’s a certain charm about vintage stuff that is unbeatable. When you are trapped in the complexities of modern life, they seem to send a gentle reminder of the simplicity of days gone by.
So, where can you get your hands on some great vintage items? Hester Street Fair is one place where the best names in vintage products come together to give you unbeatable products. Here are some of the places you can start with. You won’t be disappointed with what you find here.
Treasures & Pleasures
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George Yzquierdo’s Treasures & Pleasures (212-750-1929) seems to have been aptly named. It has a selection of vintage jewelry & accessories that span 150 years. And, it’s so easy to find what you are looking for since the gems are grouped by time period, color, and theme. You can get your hands on made-in-France Chanel double-C earrings from the’90s for $300 or a tribal-mask–reproduction necklace for $175. Don’t worry, there are items that are a little less steeply-priced!
Hairy Mary’s Vintage
Next in line is Hairy Mary’s Vintage. This place includes not only vintage but also upcycled garments. Here you can find women’s vintage sundresses in the range of $45 to $125, while men’s shirts and jackets are cheaper, falling in the range of $20 to $25. In addition, you will also find a great collection of classic, patinated Coach Bags that cost between $35 and $95.
Q P and Monty
Yet another place you can put on your list is Q P and Monty. It’s your one-stop-shop for “vintage houseware, clothing, accessories, collectible objects, and prints and posters.” And when you go down to this eclectic shop, you also have the pleasure of meeting the charming couple that runs this enterprise – Pamela Moore and Ignacio Quiles. Most of the things in their shops have been personally picked by them on their various road trips. Even if you don’t pick up something for your house, you are sure to enjoy the trip to this place.
Saru Star
For some handmade jewelry, you couldn’t find anything better than Sayo Granich-Lee (917-804-1069). She makes all of her silver, brass, and copper jewelry by hand and sells it under the brand name of Saru Star. And more interestingly, the stones encrusted in her jewelry are made from crystallized NYC dirt. One thing’s for sure, New York dirt was never so beautiful or so expensive either since this jewelry is in the range of $40–$80.
American Collectables booth
Suzanna and Donald Kaplan’s American Collectables booth (917-603-0679) is the place for serious vintage collectors. Most of the things you lay your eyes on are rare finds. Four of those beautiful candy-colored glass dishes for ice-cream can be yours for $12, and sheets of uncut baseball cards come at $20 for 132 cards. And, if you are on the lookout for something specific, they will do their best to track it down from any part of the country. You can count on them to do so.
Alexandra Abuza’s booth
When you walk past Alexandra Abuza’s booth (207-664-8010), you will be fascinated by the Martha Stewart style rustic display and you are sure to stop for a while and take a look. Exactly what Ms. Abuza hopes that you will do! Here you can get stylish accents for your house, all that have been picked up by Abuza on her trips upstate. Rare blue jars in sets of three can be picked up for $25 or that beautiful mid-century enamel-and-metal desk can be yours for only $75.
Nenenn 155
Your next stop is at Nenenn 155 – a booth run by two brothers – Lionel and Constant Bernard. Their village was destroyed by the earthquake in Tahiti and since then, they transformed their vintage accessories business into one for selling cotton dresses ( each for $75) and leather sandals (each for $25) that have been crafted by Haitian artisans. All proceeds go toward rebuilding Tahiti. This is your chance to do some good for society and get your hands on some really beautiful handmade items.
Extinct Optics
If you are on the lookout for some great vintage eyewear, you need to be at Extinct Optics run by Maxwell Stainback. Where he gets all the great stuff in the shop from is a secret he is going to carry to the grave with him, but as long as they are there, you might as well make a grab for them. 1988 Gucci shades for $300, Yves Saint Laurent cat’s-eye sunglasses for $180, all-wooden frames made in Italy for $100, and European-made tortoise and plastic styles starting at $45…take your pick and go home with a steal!
Dealer’s Choice Jewelry
You may have bought costume jewelry several times but have you ever had an educational experience while buying them? The best place to update your knowledge on the history of jewelry would be Dealer’s Choice Jewelry run by Adrienne Lorber. Her knowledge on the items of jewelry in her shop is vast, even encyclopedic. Ms. Lorber will arm you with knowledge on how to tell a quality stone from a cheap one and other essential trivia you need to know if you buy jewelry regularly. And of course, feel free to add to your existing collection from some of the beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and rings from here.